First-ever large carnivore census in Amboseli

Kenya Wildlife Service in partnership with Tanzania Wildlife Division and the African Wildlife Fund (AWF) will from Tuesday, February 14, 2012 begin a joint first-ever large carnivore census in the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro cross-border ecosystem.
The 10-day census programme which has been funded jointly by KWS and AWF to a tune of KSh1.2 million is set to determine the abundance and spatial distribution of large carnivores across the cross-border ecosystem.

 The programme has also been supported by Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and group ranches within the Amboseli and West Kilimanjaro ecosystem.

The targeted large carnivore species for this survey include the lion, hyena, cheetah, leopard, jackal and wild dog. The census is aimed to provide baseline information to set up a long-term monitoring programme for large carnivore populations in the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro cross-border ecosystem.