The Tsavo Cheetah Project
Principle Investigator: Chérie Schroff
The Tsavo National Parks, in south eastern Kenya, are probably most renowned for the notorious, mane-less, man-eating lions of the late nineteenth century… or even the numerous ‘red elephants’ covered in red dust from the sands which blanket the grounds of the vast, bio-diversity rich Tsavo ecosystem. But if you come to Tsavo, she will soon show you, if you are here long enough: solid black spots glimmering in between the grass blades of the savanna, a glimpse of large copper eyes peering through a Commophora bush, or a distinctive footprint of a cat with claw marks – that of the elusive cheetah (or duma, in the Swahili language). Currently, at least 200 cheetahs (nearly 1/4 of Kenya’s total cheetah population) are suspected to occupy the Tsavo ecosystem which covers an area of 40,000 square kilometers. But if we are to preserve this large, potentially viable population we must first obtain reliable information on numbers, distribution, conservation status and threats. The Tsavo Cheetah Project began with preparation and planning in August 2008, after three years of preliminary work. The primary aims of this initial 3 year study are to: 1) Estimate cheetah abundance in the Tsavo National Parks and adjacent Rukinga Sanctuary; 2) Understand the general distribution of the species; 3) Identify and address threats to cheetah survival; 4) Provide community education and awareness on the cheetah.
Across the cheetahs range in Africa, there exists a need for accurate quantitive data on current cheetah numbers and distribution. However, cheetahs are very difficult cats to count, partly due to their shy, elusive nature and to the fact that they are largely non-territorial and mobile. Cheetahs also occur at rather low density, unlike the majority of large African carnivores which can be found in large clans, packs, and prides. Through a combination of reliable, non-invasive and relatively non-intrusive monitoring and census techniques, this project will contribute to the calibration and development of the spoor count method; a cost-effective, repeatable monitoring technique, which can be utilized across a variety of habitats with suitable substrate, where cheetahs are difficult to locate.
The Photographic Survey: A cheetahs spots are like fingerprints; cheetahs each have their own individual, identifiable spot pattern. Through photographic capture-mark-recapture (CMR) models, we will obtain a reliable estimate of cheetah abundance and a photographic database of Tsavo cheetahs. Cheetahs are photographed by the research team when seen, in both Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks and adjacent areas. GPS coordinates, habitat, weather, date, time, number of cheetahs sighted and photographed, approximate age, condition, behavior and sex are recorded. “Tsavo Cheetah Photographic Survey” sheets will soon be distributed to lodge operators, tour drivers/guides, researchers and KWS personnel in and adjacent to the Tsavo East and Tsavo West NPs. Sheets provide guidelines and instructions on the appropriate way to photograph and identify cheetahs and to record relative information. Award prizes, such as lodge accommodation will be awarded as an incentive for tourists and others to submit quality photographs and recordings which follow stated guidelines. Frequent intercommunication with lodge operators, tour drivers/guides, researchers and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel in and bordering the Parks provide for further promotion of submission of cheetah photographs and locality information.
Spoor Counts: The word ‘spoor’ is derived from the Afrikaans language meaning ‘animal-track’. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari have been practicing the, now, age-old art of ‘spoor tracking’ for thousands of years, as a hunter and gatherer society. In more recent years, they have become quite the experts on spoor tracking for science and conservation in southern Africa. Kenya, however, possesses her own native peoples with comparable tracking talent, skill and experience. With the assistance of two referred, local trackers from the Tsavo region, we will embark on an intensive spoor count study in the Tsavo East National Park and adjacent Rukinga Sanctuary / wildlife corridor. The majority of the substrate of Tsavo (red sandy loams) is ideal for picking up spoor. This fact makes Tsavo an optimal place to test and develop the method; on both the park roads and in the adjacent private sanctuary. All available and assessable roads in Tsavo East and Rukinga Sanctuary will be sampled for cheetah spoor. We will compute our results of spoor densities against cheetah densities obtained in our photography and camera trap surveys.
Camera Traps: Cheetahs occupy a large variety of habitats – not only wide open savanna. Thick Acacia-Commiphora woodland / bushland makes up a large amount of the vegetation in both Tsavo West and Rukinga Sanctuary. This dense vegetation coupled with the cheetah’s cryptic nature, makes it nearly impossible to find cheetahs in such areas. Camera traps are not ‘traps’ per se. They are simply a camera, mounted to a tree or post, which is triggered to take a photograph when prompted by an infrared beam of light (unseen by animals or humans) as motion is detected in front of the camera. We will first deploy five camera stations (consisting of two cameras each, one on each side of a trail) in the Rukinga study site. Based on our results, we may also employ this method in areas of Tsavo West.
Interviews: Interviews with residents will be conducted in adjacent rural communities, ranchlands and sanctuaries of Tsavo. Issues that are discussed include cheetah and other large predator sightings, increase or decrease of sightings, awareness and attitudes of the people, predation on livestock, current livestock practices, and persecution and poaching of predators. Residents and field scouts are educated on the ecology and differences of the spotted cats and photographs for physical differentiation are left with them. It is an intention to develop rapport with local residents and an ongoing exchange of communication during the study. Participation in community forums, referred to as “baraza” in Kiswahili, allow for a deeper understanding of the concerns which the local people face involving potential cheetah conflict and what strategies are necessary to combat these issues in a ‘predator-friendly’ nature.
Our project partners: Our main affiliates for the project are: Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), internationally, and Action for Cheetahs in Kenya (ACK) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), locally. We will partner with Wildlife Works in the adjacent Rukinga Sanctuary / wildlife corridor, in addition to other local conservation initiatives.
How you can help the project: priorities: We are currently in urgent need of a project vehicle. Thus far, we have had to rely on hiring a vehicle; however this is no longer practical. To donate to our project in any magnitude, or for general inquiries, please contact us at the email address below.
Help us compile information: If you set off to explore the beautiful ecosystem of Tsavo, why not get involved by sending us photographs (digital preferred) and information on any cheetahs you may encounter? Please see the photography survey section of this page and contact us for details.
Contact information: TsavoCheetahProject@Live.com
The Cheetah is a globally threatened species, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Worldwide, cheetah populations are estimated between 9,000 and 12,000 individuals, with population strongholds existing in Southern and Eastern Africa. The cheetah population in Kenya is not well-known but is believed to be at less than 1000 individuals. The main threats affecting the cheetah’s survival are habitat loss and fragmentation, a declining prey base, inter-guild competition with sympatric large predators, and conflict with humans through livestock depredation (Marker 2000, Global Cheetah Conservation Action Plan 2001). The conservation strategy for cheetahs is dependant on reliable population estimates, and an understanding of cheetah distribution and threats within protected areas, ranchlands and communities and along wildlife dispersal corridors.
