We provided transport and guides for the trip, which included a visit to Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy and Meru National Museum. STE research assistants David Daballen and Sammy Lemantampash accompanied the staff and students. Teachers and students of the Lpus-Leluai School during their trip to LEWA and the National Museum on 26 March 2001 the students and teachers visited LEWA Downs Wildlife Conservancy and the Meru National Museum.
The students were able to see the rare black and white rhinos, as well as touch a rhino that was darted by vets for treatment, and were given a lecture on the various species of flora and fauna found at the LEWA Downs and on the changing cultural perspective towards conservation. The students visited the Meru National Museum and gathered notes on all the displays there. The students were also required to participate in debates on conservation issues and write reports as a follow-up to the conservation tour.
Learning about the white rhino close up The Conservation Education tour was a great success and STE plans to facilitate another trip for the remaining students over the next few months. The students and teachers are now developing a conservation framework on how to improve the school surroundings by addressing issues on recycling and the use of available resources.STE’s Grassroots Conservation Programme focuses on developing a conservation ethic that builds on local knowledge of wildlife, which is intended to stimulate learning and promote positive attitudes towards conservation.
Much of this comes from creating opportunities for local school children to visit the various conservation projects around Samburu, observing wildlife up close and listening and learning about the value of wildlife and conservation projects in the area. Sammy and a ranger examining a warthog Students observing a darted rhino being treated.