By David Western and Victor N. Mose ​

Preamble
The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial counts of the Amboseli ecosystem and eastern Kajiado since 1973. The counts give a 50-year record of wildlife and livestock numbers in response to droughts and human settlement (Western and Mose 2021). ACP has commissioned the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) to conduct similar counts since 2011. The two sets of counts have given very similar results over the period of overlap. ACP commissioned DRSRS to conduct an aerial count of eastern Kajiado to assess the impact of the 2022-2023 drought by comparing current figures with the pre-drought count of February 2022. DRSRS used ACP counting protocols (Jolly 1969, Western 1976) to ensure compatibility with earlier counts.

We had intended the count to be flown in April-May at the height of the long rains to ensure maximum visibility of animals against the greenery. A three-month delay in aircraft availability put the count off until August 29th to September 1st. The delay resulted in the count being conducted during a severe dry spell when the visibility of animals from the air falls relative to wet seasons. As a result we expect the counts to underestimate the numbers of smaller species in more scattered herds and animals blending into the background.

In the event the delay was fortuitous, despite the poorer counting conditions. During the long rains in April-May an east-west rainfall gradient saw pastures green up well to the west and south of Amboseli and recovery little to the east on Kuku and Rombo. The scattered rains drew large numbers of wildebeest and zebra across the border into Tanzania beyond the counting area. Had the count been conducted in May, few wildebeest would  have been counted in the Amboseli ecosystem. The low numbers would have greatly exaggerated drought losses, By the end of August, a survey flight we conducted showed most but not all wildebeest and zebra to have returned to Amboseli.

Population estimates and standard errors for all species included in the August 29th to September 2023 aerial count.

Download full report

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

Post-drought wildlife and livestock counts of Amboseli ecosystem

Authored by : David Western and Victor N. Mose ​
Posted on September 21, 2023

Preamble
The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial counts of the Amboseli ecosystem and eastern Kajiado since 1973. The counts give a 50-year record of wildlife and livestock numbers in response to droughts and human settlement (Western and Mose 2021). ACP has commissioned the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) to conduct similar counts since 2011. The two sets of counts have given very similar results over the period of overlap. ACP commissioned DRSRS to conduct an aerial count of eastern Kajiado to assess the impact of the 2022-2023 drought by comparing current figures with the pre-drought count of February 2022. DRSRS used ACP counting protocols (Jolly 1969, Western 1976) to ensure compatibility with earlier counts.

We had intended the count to be flown in April-May at the height of the long rains to ensure maximum visibility of animals against the greenery. A three-month delay in aircraft availability put the count off until August 29th to September 1st. The delay resulted in the count being conducted during a severe dry spell when the visibility of animals from the air falls relative to wet seasons. As a result we expect the counts to underestimate the numbers of smaller species in more scattered herds and animals blending into the background.

In the event the delay was fortuitous, despite the poorer counting conditions. During the long rains in April-May an east-west rainfall gradient saw pastures green up well to the west and south of Amboseli and recovery little to the east on Kuku and Rombo. The scattered rains drew large numbers of wildebeest and zebra across the border into Tanzania beyond the counting area. Had the count been conducted in May, few wildebeest would  have been counted in the Amboseli ecosystem. The low numbers would have greatly exaggerated drought losses, By the end of August, a survey flight we conducted showed most but not all wildebeest and zebra to have returned to Amboseli.

Population estimates and standard errors for all species included in the August 29th to September 2023 aerial count.

Download full report

By David Western and Victor N. Mose ​

Preamble
The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial counts of the Amboseli ecosystem and eastern Kajiado since 1973. The counts give a 50-year record of wildlife and livestock numbers in response to droughts and human settlement (Western and Mose 2021). ACP has commissioned the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) to conduct similar counts since 2011. The two sets of counts have given very similar results over the period of overlap. ACP commissioned DRSRS to conduct an aerial count of eastern Kajiado to assess the impact of the 2022-2023 drought by comparing current figures with the pre-drought count of February 2022. DRSRS used ACP counting protocols (Jolly 1969, Western 1976) to ensure compatibility with earlier counts.

We had intended the count to be flown in April-May at the height of the long rains to ensure maximum visibility of animals against the greenery. A three-month delay in aircraft availability put the count off until August 29th to September 1st. The delay resulted in the count being conducted during a severe dry spell when the visibility of animals from the air falls relative to wet seasons. As a result we expect the counts to underestimate the numbers of smaller species in more scattered herds and animals blending into the background.

In the event the delay was fortuitous, despite the poorer counting conditions. During the long rains in April-May an east-west rainfall gradient saw pastures green up well to the west and south of Amboseli and recovery little to the east on Kuku and Rombo. The scattered rains drew large numbers of wildebeest and zebra across the border into Tanzania beyond the counting area. Had the count been conducted in May, few wildebeest would  have been counted in the Amboseli ecosystem. The low numbers would have greatly exaggerated drought losses, By the end of August, a survey flight we conducted showed most but not all wildebeest and zebra to have returned to Amboseli.

Population estimates and standard errors for all species included in the August 29th to September 2023 aerial count.

Download full report

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

Posted on September 21, 2023

By David Western and Victor N. Mose ​

Preamble
The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial counts of the Amboseli ecosystem and eastern Kajiado since 1973. The counts give a 50-year record of wildlife and livestock numbers in response to droughts and human settlement (Western and Mose 2021). ACP has commissioned the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) to conduct similar counts since 2011. The two sets of counts have given very similar results over the period of overlap. ACP commissioned DRSRS to conduct an aerial count of eastern Kajiado to assess the impact of the 2022-2023 drought by comparing current figures with the pre-drought count of February 2022. DRSRS used ACP counting protocols (Jolly 1969, Western 1976) to ensure compatibility with earlier counts.

We had intended the count to be flown in April-May at the height of the long rains to ensure maximum visibility of animals against the greenery. A three-month delay in aircraft availability put the count off until August 29th to September 1st. The delay resulted in the count being conducted during a severe dry spell when the visibility of animals from the air falls relative to wet seasons. As a result we expect the counts to underestimate the numbers of smaller species in more scattered herds and animals blending into the background.

In the event the delay was fortuitous, despite the poorer counting conditions. During the long rains in April-May an east-west rainfall gradient saw pastures green up well to the west and south of Amboseli and recovery little to the east on Kuku and Rombo. The scattered rains drew large numbers of wildebeest and zebra across the border into Tanzania beyond the counting area. Had the count been conducted in May, few wildebeest would  have been counted in the Amboseli ecosystem. The low numbers would have greatly exaggerated drought losses, By the end of August, a survey flight we conducted showed most but not all wildebeest and zebra to have returned to Amboseli.

Population estimates and standard errors for all species included in the August 29th to September 2023 aerial count.

Download full report

Recent Posts

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The outlook for livestock and wildlife in the short dry season normally stretching from January to the long rains

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

By Victor N. Mose, PhD, ACC/ACP, Nairobi, Kenya.

The MOSAIC field mission to the Amazon region, following a previous mission to East Africa

By Victor N. Mose, PhD, ACC/ACP, Nairobi, Kenya.

In a recent community meeting held at the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust offices in southern Kenya.

By Victor N. Mose and David Western

The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial sample counts of Amboseli and eastern Kajiado

By Victor N. Mose, David Western and the ACP Team

The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) continued to monitor the conditions of the rangelands, livestock and wild

By Victor N. Mose

A notable discussion at the forum focused on disparities in data availability between the Global North and South.

By Victor N. Mose, David Western and the ACP Team

The effects of the good short rains have been felt in the Amboseli area.

Contact Us

Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke