24/03/2026
J. Carlson a Life Net Nature supporter summarized the recent giraffe monitoring project with MMCWS. Enjoy the read. He used an AI assistant, btw. (Photos: youngest team member, Chetana from India, receiving Maasai welcome gifts from Jackson Kipei, a member of MMCWS, and, an adult female giraffe impeded (or protected?) by the new electrical fencing associated with the large Angama parcel.
Wildlife Conservation with Maasai in Kenya 2026
Field Report Summary
In January 2026, thirteen Life Net Nature (LNN) volunteers headed to Kenya’s Siria (Oloololo) Plateau to team up with Maasai Moran Conservation and Walking Safaris (MMCWS). From their base at Twiga Camp, they spent their days tracking endangered Masai giraffes along Maasai lands bordering the famous Mara Triangle—and their evenings sharing stories, walks, and cultural experiences with their Maasai hosts and trainees.
The heart of the project was simple but powerful:
How many giraffes—especially calves—are using Oloirien Group Ranch (OGR), and how are new electric fences and land privatization affecting them?
Armed with binoculars, cameras, and notebooks, the team carried out foot and vehicle surveys, photographing the right side of each giraffe to identify individuals. By the end of the expedition, they had documented 71 different giraffes at OGR. Even better, calf production looked healthy: the calf to cow ratio was about 65%, matching previous years. On most surveys, they found two to four nursery groups—mothers and calves clustered in short, dense acacia thickets that serve as “nursery” habitat.
But the landscape is changing fast!
Electric fences now slice through much of the traditional study area, hemming in wildlife and blocking old movement paths. Some calves became separated from their mothers, and several giraffes were injured or killed by fences or weapons. One long known female, Giraffe 094, was found speared and shot with an arrow—a stark reminder of rising conflict with herders and farmers defending maize and other crops. At the same time, large fenced properties may be slowing overgrazing and stopping even more land from being converted to agriculture, so the overall impact of privatization is complicated and still unfolding.
This area matters enormously for wildlife:
Predators like lions are less common on OGR and the Siria Plateau than inside the Mara reserve, making it a safer nursery zone. Many pregnant and nursing giraffes and elephants climb up to the plateau to give birth and raise their young. Calves here are more likely to survive than those born in the heavily predator filled reserve below. Photo ID work since 2014 shows over 100 different giraffes use the area each year, and so far there’s no clear sign of an overall population decline, even though some nursery habitat has already been lost to fencing and development.
Maasai partners were at the core of everything:
Local coordinators and guides ran camp operations, ensured safety, handled transport, and generously shared traditional ecological knowledge. Four young Maasai trainees gained hands on experience in guiding, wildlife monitoring, and tourism; LNN is now helping some of them pursue formal guide training and certification. The project also created short term jobs for camp staff and night watchmen, putting conservation directly to work for local livelihoods.
Outreach and ecotourism added energy and joy to the expedition:
The team hosted a lively giraffe themed education day at Partakilat Primary School, with activities tailored to every grade. Volunteers and Maasai hosts explored the landscape together on walking safaris, enjoyed a full day game drive in the Mara Triangle, went birding, and shared cultural exchanges that ended in community celebrations—traditional songs, dancing, and a vibrant women’s craft market.
By the end of the trip, the 2026 project had:
• Repeated giraffe counts and calf follows on OGR
• Documented new fences, access limits, and habitat changes
• Supported and mentored Maasai trainees
• Built local awareness and pride in giraffe
The big picture is mixed: fencing and privatization are clearly injuring giraffes, cutting off movement, and shrinking nursery habitat—but they may also reduce overgrazing and slow the spread of agriculture in some areas. Because the long term effects on giraffe numbers and health are still uncertain, continued monitoring and close collaboration among LNN, MMCWS, and partner organizations is essential to keep this landscape safe for giraffes, elephants, and the Maasai communities who share their home.
