August Internship 2003

Author(s)

Save the Elephants

Date Published

It was very successful and more recently, we invited two other students to our research centre. We welcomed two girls, Halima and Patina to STE in August. They were both incredibly keen to learn more about our work and were thrilled when they heard that they had been accepted to come and spend two weeks with us in Samburu. Both girls come from Archers Post, a nearby town. Daniel Lentipo, STE Community Program Officer, briefed them about camp regulations upon their arrival.

He provided them with their two week program. During the first week, the two girls accompanied David Daballen, on his long term monitoring visits in the field. He gave them the relevant introductions to the field work that STE carries out. Both girls were incredibly scared being out in the field, as this was their first experience with wild animals. Being within close proximity to the elephants was very frightening for the two girls and they were initially nervous.

However, they soon got used to it and loved going out with David each day. They learnt how to individually recognise elephants, how to differentiate between elephant families, and other aspects to the social lives of elephants. The girls learnt about elephant movements through the use of GPS collars. David showed them different collars and their functions. Both girls were incredibly fascinated by the work being carried out by STE. They had a very special opportunity to fly with Iain. This was their first flying experience and both girls loved to fly with Iain, taking any opportunity to do so.

Daniel shows the interns radio-tracking. Daniel took the girls out during his downloading trips and also introduced them to the computer world! He taught them how to type and the basics of a computer. Both girls were very grateful to have had the chance to work on computers for the first time. Halima and Patina went out with Shivani Bhalla, who carries out lion research in Samburu. She showed them the different ways in identifying lions and introduced them to the well known females in Samburu.

They were also lucky enough to see a cheetah with 2 cubs in Buffalo Springs and a young male leopard who walked within 5 feet of Halima’s window! Shivani introduced them to other aspects of wildlife and conservation in Samburu and at the end of their two week stay, the girls sat an exam on general knowledge on wildlife. David and the interns out in the field We hope to continue our internship program in Samburu as it has proven to be incredibly successful to date.