New vehicle for Humans and Hyenas Alliance

Hi Everyone!

The Humans and Hyenas Alliance, based in Nakuru County, Kenya, is seeking a new vehicle to help us with our hyena collaring operations and community outreach since our largest vehicle recently broke down. The Humans and Hyenas Alliance (HAHA) contributes to coexistence between people and carnivores via many endeavors, such as research (i.e., on the benefits to people from misunderstood species), community outreach (i.e., participatory mapping, scavenging species safaris), and conservation (i.e., mitigating conflicts, snare removal efforts). Our work was recently featured in the cover article for the March issue of National Geographic Magazine.

We are especially in need of a collaring vehicle for our current collaborative research and conservation project, in which we are assessing the benefits to people from scavenging species, and doing interactive outreach on the same. Our aim is to collar up to 28 hyenas for this project, representing 7 clans in Lake Nakuru National Park and Soysambu Conservancy. Tracking the hyenas will not only contribute to research, but will also help us to better prevent and mitigate conflict and poisoning events, as well as identifying snaring hotspots in the region to better target snare removal. A bonus of having a new large vehicle is that we would be better equipped to bring a larger number of local students on scavenging species safaris within the conservancy.

Donated funds will go toward purchasing a used Toyota Prado (see below) or similar vehicle. Any excess funds will be allocated to vehicle maintenance and repairs and to supporting our upcoming scavenging species safaris for youth.

Main photo: Drs. Mukami Ruoro and Christine Wilkinson observe a sleeping spotted hyena. All operations conducted with proper permits and ethical approvals. Photo by Christine Chepkisich.

In-text photo: Dr. Christine Wilkinson adjusts a UHF receiver while standing in front of a Toyota Prado. Photo by Jen Guyton.