Project partners:
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), International Foundation of Animal Welfare(IFAW) & Basecamp

Background:
The population of cheetah in the Masai Mara is rapidly going down.  In 2000 Angela and Jonathan Scott reported 60 individuals inside the reserve and the surrounding group ranches. Until May 2002, a total of 40 individuals were found; showing a decline of more than 30 %. 
The primary aims of the first phase of the project was to establish the present cheetah population in the Mara, gather information about what was threatening the cheetahs and suggest measures to counteract the problems.

Aims:
To evaluate the status of the cheetahs in and around the Masai Mara to determine the steps needed to secure a future population in Kenya.To seek and understand the effects of tourist interactions with cheetahs and other wildlife.

The results:
In 2002 field studies were carried out within the Masai Mara game reserve and the adjacent group ranches. 160 field days, 1280 hours in 8 months helped establish the number and distribution of cheetahs, as well as  identifying and giving names to each individual. 
The problems facing the population growth for the cheetah are several. Predation and injuries caused by lions, leopards and hyenas, conflicts with pastoralists, diseases and harassment from tourism disrupting the cheetah hunting all have negative impact on the survival of the cheetah.

The way forward:
We aim to set up a red alert veterinary team, based in the Mara,  to protect pregnant females and females with cubs, but also to treat injuries from  predators. 
Continue to run a monitoring and surveillance field team, re-inforced by an individual cheetah identification database involving the use of trekking devices.
Support an anti harassment team of the Masai Mara game reserve patrolling regularly and enforcing the reserve rules and regulations.
Create awareness on predators behaviour and introduce better livestock management  to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, targeting pastoralists, schools and the tourism industr.
Project sponsorship and participation

When on safari, your information can help!
Talk to your tour guide driver if you wish to participate in our cheetah research.

If you spot a cheetah while out on safari, please act as follows:

• Respect the animal and do not approach too close, never any closer than 20 metres. 
• If there are other vehicles, please wait for your turn. Never stay for longer than 5 minutes.
• The cheetah only hunts during the day. If surrounded by many vehicles they are unable to hunt, and their cubs are exposed to predators.
• Do not disturb the animal. They are very sensitive to noise and interference by vehicles so please keep your voices down. Make sure the driver turns off the engine.
• Note the date and the location of the cheetah sightings! Check with your driver for an accurate position. Prepare to mark the location at our cheetah distribution map on camp when back from safari.
• Note the group size and ages of the cheetahs as well as the behaviour you witness.
• If you can take a picture, the most useful photos to assist in identifying individual cheetah include the tail and back legs.
• The face and the front side is also useful. 
• Mark the back of each picture with the date and the location, and your name and adress.