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African Impact’s aim is to assist their partners (researchers) to conserve and protect endangered species. In order to do so, everyday volunteers go on game drives and collect data. Along with these data, we also make ID Kits for some of the more endangered animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, etc. The main purpose of an ID Kit is to allow researchers and us to identify the animal. In an ID kit one can find the animal’s name, front and side pictures, some of the distinctive characteristics, estimated age, and some other notes. Using a lion ID kit as an example: On the left, is a completed ID kit for the lioness, Narnia - NN, NF1. On the ID kit is the name of the animal, pride, gender, and the distinctive characteristic-for a lion, its whisker patterns. There is also some basic information for that lion. On the right are some of the other whisker patterns of other lions. We are still working on getting more data to complete their ID kits. When going on game drives the guides pick up different animal tracks. Not long ago, they picked up a leopard’s footprint. They then set up camera traps, hoping to get photos of the animal. Just 15 minutes after we set up the camera trap and left, the camera got a photo (right) of the leopard. The photo allowed us to start a new ID kit for the leopard. For a leopard, its distinctive characteristic are some of the special rosettes (spots) we can identify. Right now the leopard is our main focus. Game drives have been routed through that area, and more camera traps have been set up. We are hoping to get more data and more photos so that we can know more about it as well as complete its ID kit! At the main base of African Impact, there are many researchers working on projects to save the Big 5 (buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino) and other species. We (the volunteers) help by going on game drives to collect data that will help the researchers do their research. We sit on the game viewing vehicles and when we see animals, we record the number, location and physical characteristics of the animals. The information is written on clip boards. We also try to take photographs of the animals so that we can make ID kits. The location of the animals is determined by GPS. The data information sheets we fill out on each game drive is as follows:
a) Rhino Sightings. b) Big 5 and Predator Sightings c) Predator Monitoring d) Raptor Recording (types of eagles and vultures, etc.) e) Sightings Rate (all species) f) Lions - Social Interaction g) Lions - Group Dynamics h) Lions - Activities i) Elephant Sightings In total, there are 9 different data sheets. Each person on the game viewing vehicle is assigned a different data sheet. In the first week, we did eight (3 hours long) game drives, and on each we were given the responsibility to fill out a different data sheet. It takes a lot of concentration to record all the details, but the guide who is with us is always helpful and provides assistance whenever necessary. Today we started our conservation work! We chopped down Acacia bushes with machetes. The purpose of doing this is to prevent them from growing higher. Once Acacia bushes have grown too high, the grass the antelope and rhino graze on won’t be able to get enough sun because of the shade. Our job was to cut down bushes before they grow too high. Here are some photos and videos from today: Today we went on our first game drive! Michael and Lily went on one jeep while Andre and I went on another. We went driving through a large reserve called Buffalo Land which is ten minutes away from our lodge. During the drive the coordinators would drive close to an animal, stop, and then explain to us what animal we are looking at, as well as some interesting facts. Some of the volunteers on he truck had to record scientific data. We were lucky enough to see two herds of buffaloes, some vultures, giraffes, zebras, and many species of antelopes. Here is just a glimpse of the animals we saw today:
What do you want to see the most? I want to see animals, beautiful views and anything new. What do you want to do the most? I want to pet a lion. What do you want to get out of this trip? I want to get good at photography, talk to different people, and enjoy life. Jeannette Yen |
The Africa TeamStudents from BigByte are on an adventure in South Africa, and they're here to share all the marvelous things they've seen. ArchivesCategories |