Cheetah Project Mara-Meru

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Cheetah Project Mara-Meru

Mara-Meru Cheetah Project aims to secure habitats for the long-term survival of cheetahs

Since the beginning of 20th century cheetah population in the world reduced dramatically from over 100,000 to 7,100 individuals and the major cause is a human activity at a global scale. Therefore understanding human-cheetah interface is essential in promoting the survival of this species on a long term. The Mara-Meru Cheetah Project was founded to work in the human dominated areas of Kenya – Mara

Ecosystem and Meru Conservation Area. The Project is led by an expert in cheetah ecology and behavior Dr. Elena Chelysheva, who has been studying cheetahs for over 30 years in captivity and in the wild. In 2000, Elena was invited by the Kenya Wildlife Service to work as Assistant Researcher at the first Maasai-Mara Cheetah Conservation Project. In 2001, Elena Chelysheva developed original method of cheetah identification, based on comparison of spot patterns on the front and hind limbs and spots and rings on the tail, published in 2004 and now widely used by the researchers. Collected over the years, vast photographic data of Mara cheetahs formed the basis for building Mara Cheetah Pedigree, which helps to assess population trends over the years, reveal parental relationship between individuals, cheetah lifespan, personal reproductive history and survival rate of cubs. The project team has been working in the Mara since 2011, and has achieved the following:
• Forming the Mara Cheetah Pedigree since 2001 to date, which plays a key role in determining the population trends over the years, lifespan of the cheetahs, survival rate of cubs and personal reproductive history and success.
• Monitoring of cheetahs through behavioral observations, deepening the knowledge of cheetah adaptations in the human-dominated areas.
• Saving cheetah litters from uncontrolled fire together with the rangers; monitoring families with cubs, sick and recovering individuals; assisting the Kenya Wildlife Service veterinarians in treating sick cheetahs.
• Assisted the Narok County Government in working out new Park Rules and Regulations for Maasai-Mara National Reserve for better protecting of cheetahs and other animals from harassment. The Project findings on cheetah behavior contributed to the edition of seven new rules into the Maasai-Mara Park Rules and Regulations. These are intended to curb/minimize human interference in natural behavior of wild animals such as hunting, feeding, mating etc., which are essential for the survival of the vulnerable animals like cheetahs.
• Visits to the ranger posts, tourist facilities, and conducting conservation workshops with the educational talks on cheetah ecology and behavior, teaching rangers and guides cheetah identification techniques and update them on the current cheetahs in the different areas of the Mara.
• Conducting community interviews, which has enabled the project team to identify gaps in the current environmental education and to conduct conservation educational lessons, design and donate coloring educational books “Let’s go wild” alongside with the textbooks to the kids at the local schools, meant to fill the gap in environmental education. The Project is working in affiliation with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Narok and Transmara County Councils, and with assistance of Coordinator of Maasai-Mara Cultural Village Tour Association (MMCVTA).

07/05/2026

NASIEKU IN SEARCH FOR FOOD – WATER TO THE RESCUE

Today, Nasieku made several unsuccessful attempts to get food. When the hunt fails, drinking water helps the cheetah reduce hunger and maintain its strength until the next successful hunt.

30/04/2026

RUKA IN THE RAIN

Wild animals face many challenges, including harsh weather conditions. Heavy rains not only hinder cheetahs' river crossings but also reduce visibility and, along with strong winds, their ability to detect danger. If a cheetah fails to hide under a bush, it must periodically scan its surroundings to be alert if a lion or other predator unexpectedly appears dangerously close.

A severe thunderstorm with heavy rain caught Ruka in an open field near the main road, and he, clearly uncomfortable, wandered further into the field to disappear into the thick grass amid the rain.

22/04/2026

EARTH DAY
What would Earth be without the cheetah?

Through thousands of years, Cheetahs escaped extinction, and now they need us on their race to survival. Let's save cheetahs for posterity together!

15/04/2026

RUKA RECOVERED

Good news – Ruka has fully recovered and no longer limps. Yesterday, he demonstrated a full-speed chase and successfully killed an Impala. After dragging the kill into the bushes, Ruka enjoyed his meal undisturbed. Hiding prey under bushes reduces the chances of being discovered by vultures, which in turn attract kleptoparasites – jackals, hyenas, and sometimes lions. A full belly will help him last two or three days until his next hunt.

10/04/2026

CHEETAH RESILIENCE - RUKA HUNTING

In the wild, cheetahs often suffer injuries, the causes of which, mostly remain unknown. It's important to determine whether the cheetah is capable of caring for itself. Sometimes external wounds appear minor, but internal damage prevents the cheetah from moving freely enough to avoid attacks from other predators or from hunting effectively, and in such cases, the cheetah may require assistance. However, even visible wounds do not often prevent cheetahs from hunting and hiding from enemies. In such cases, it is necessary to provide the animal with sufficient space for hunting and peace for proper rest, during which recovery occurs.

This morning, male Ruka aged 7 years and 7 months was found with a minor limp (we didn't see any visible wound), although he was completely healthy the day before yesterday. Fortunately, after several days of unsuccessful attempts to find food, he hunted a Thomson's gazelle fawn this morning and, after feeding, showed interest in hunting again. We are very grateful to the vigilant guides who quickly informed us about the injured male. We thank the MCU and section patrol teams who were quick to arrive on site for support. We are grateful to the caring guides for giving the male space to hunt and rest during the day. Our team monitored Ruka throughout the day to ensure his comfort and speedy recovery.

06/04/2026

CALLING FOR TROUBLE – NOMA AND OLONYOK ARE LOOKING FOR A FEMALE

During estrus, females roam large territories, leaving marks on various objects, including termite mounds, logs, and trees—places often marked by males. By spraying urine in a posture reminiscent of the male's—standing with her tail raised—the female thus announces her reproductive status.

When males find such markings, they try to find a female as quickly as possible and attract her attention with loud calling chirps, hoping to hear a response or see the female. Cheetahs can hear these calls from over 3 km away, but other males also hear them and come running to investigate. If the males meet in the presence of a female, they may seriously fight. If the female is not nearby, the males can avoid a fight if one can escape.

Females in estrus cover vast areas, marking various objects, including termite mounds, logs and trees – points that males often mark. By spraying urine in male-like posture with the tale up, female is spreading the news about her reproductive status.
When males find such markings, they try to find a female as quickly as possible and attract her attention with loud calling chirps, hoping to hear a response or see the female. Cheetahs can hear these calls from over 3 km away, but other males also hear them and come running to investigate. If the males meet in the presence of a female, they may seriously fight. If the female is not nearby, the males can avoid a fight if one can escape.

Yesterday, Nempiris was actively marking trees, which could be an indicator of estrus. In that area, we have been observing 2 females – Nempiris and Nashipae and three males—Obik, Noma, and Olonyok. Today, Noma actively patrolled that area, carefully sniffing tree trunks, tufts of grass in the field and hummocks, calling out loudly. Toward evening, Olonyok heard him from afar. Fortunately, Noma spotted his rival approaching from a distance and fled. After the chase, the two separated, and Noma headed back, calling again. Olonyok soon followed in his footsteps, calling loudly and fading away in the darkness. We'll be monitoring how things unfold.

02/04/2026

ONE DAY – FOUR WELL-FED CHEETAHS

As opportunistic hunters, cheetahs hunt at any time of day, whenever the opportunity arises. This adaptation allows them to avoid both inter- and intra-species competition. Yesterday morning, we observed two males with full bellies: Olonyok after his big meal on Monday evening, and Obik after an early morning kill.

Far away from them, two other cheetahs were successfully hunting near each other. However, by the time Nasieku caught her second kill of that morning, a new and very shy male, M179 (he doesn't have a name yet), had almost finished eating his big breakfast in the dense undergrowth of a ravine. He later passed within a few meters of Nasieku, who continued eating. After a hearty meal, cheetahs may not hunt for 2-3 days and spend most of the time lying in the shade away from busy routes and often in secluded areas of the reserve, gathering strength for hikes and hunts.
In the video: Olonyok, Obik and Nasieku

27/03/2026

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO CONSERVATION

Conservation education and awareness is part of the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project's initiatives aimed at promoting human-wildlife coexistence. Recently, our team visited Wildlife Tourism College of Maasai Mara for training sessions with the students and their tutors.

Among the areas covered were: cheetah behavior, ecology, and the day-to-day realities of coexistence in a shared ecosystem. Building knowledge in these areas is not just essential for tour guiding, but for developing problem solving, critical thinking, and responsible decision-making across various disciplines. Passion, commitment and curiosity stood out amongst the students, some of the essential values enabling deep understanding which is significant in balancing development with sustainability. Their understanding today is an investment in the long-term protection of ecosystems and the species living in them.

17/03/2026

HELPING OLONYOK

For a population in the wild that currently numbers less than 7,000 cheetahs (the last count was conducted exactly 10 years ago, in 2016), every individual is important. That's why we strive to help cheetahs survive in the Maasai Mara. Sometimes, short-term, timely assistance can prolong a cheetah's life. In rare cases, during hunts or encounters with other predators, cheetahs develop lameness, which resolves more quickly the less stress placed on their limbs and the more regular and nutritious their nutrition. A male in a coalition recovers faster because his groupmates share their prey with him. For example, Milele recovered within six months while his brother Mbili was hunting regularly. A solitary cheetah has no one to rely on, and although it can survive on small prey, recovery is much slower without treatment. In such cases, KWS vets come to the rescue.

When the oldest male, Olonyok (now 11 years and 5 months old), recently began limping, a single remote injection of an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication was sufficient. Olonyok rested in a closed area, regaining his strength, and then began hunting independently again. We are deeply grateful to the SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit led by Dr. Aminga for swift response and to the Mara Cheetah Unit (MCU) dedicated rangers, with whom we share long hours of monitoring cheetahs in the field.

Every year, cheetahs find it increasingly difficult to survive in the wild, and we can all help by at least maintaining a distance when they hunt and rest. Cheetahs have quite high cognitive abilities. To avoid disturbance, they hide in closed or hard-to-reach areas. At the same time, living in an environment with developed tourism, they react appropriately to vehicles. If desired, cheetahs not only approach cars, but also walk alongside and between them, giving tourists the opportunity to take close-up photos and videos. We simply must be patient and respect the animals' privacy.

08/03/2026

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

Today, we congratulate all women, but especially those who have chosen the difficult path of environmental protection in different parts of the world. We salute strong women who have dedicated their lives to cheetah conservation, and in particular Dr. Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia, Dr. Rebecca Klein of the Cheetah Conservation Botswana https://web.facebook.com/CheetahConservationBotswana, Mary Wykstra of Action for Cheetahs in Kenya https://web.facebook.com/Action4cheetahs, Cherie Schroff of the Tsavo Cheetah Project, and Brenda Kantai of the Mara Cheetah Unit. Thanks to your daily, long-term hard work and the tireless work of your colleagues with animals, local communities and stakeholders, with adults, students and children, cheetahs have a chance to face tomorrow. Your dedication and high professionalism, your resilience in overcoming challenges, and your strength of spirit inspire thousands of people around the world! May you be accompanied by success, comprehensive support and good luck in everything!

Address

Maasai-Mara National Reserve, Narok County
Nairobi

Telephone

+254705138175

Website

http://marameru.org/, https://www.instagram.com/maracheetahconservation/

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