I can’t believe how fast my time at STE has flown! I have two weeks left here until I return home to Australia. I will most definitely miss the field above anything else – every time we go out I find it exciting, without exception.
Going out in the field with Shifra always provides a great opportunity to simply be able to watch the elephants in their natural habitat, while behavioural data is collected. I love watching the babies the most, as they begin to learn how to use their little trunks and explore their new surroundings and family members. Elephants find great pleasure in playing with sticks, which is always enjoyable to watch!
The opportunity to collect ‘focal follow’ data for Shifra’s research while elephants are drinking data arises far less often than some other group activities (e.g. feeding, resting), so whenever elephants are at the river we spend as much time as we can observing them. I tend to go mad taking photos when these opportunities arise!
This week we have also had the company of Vella from the Education Department. She spends much of her time in Nairobi, but has been staying with us while visiting a range of schools in the surrounding area to interview potential students for scholarships through the STE Education Program. In addition, she visited a number of students already sponsored through STE to check up on how their studies are going, and if they are facing any challenges in learning at school. Whilst being here myself I have met a number of the sponsored students, and can truly recognise how invaluable the Education Program is.