Superheroes in Green Fatigues

Most superheroes that we know wear a cap and a uniform. Well, so does Reut Ole Naikuni, his special uniform is the green fatigues of a wildlife ranger working in the Maasai Mara Reserve. He wears his green beret emblazoned with a lion badge on his head with utmost pride and it sure does look good on him. This badge is his life and he has committed his life to protecting the beautiful wildlife of the Mara.

Reut is one of the rangers tasked with the monitoring and protection of endangered wildlife within the Maasai Mara Reserve based at the recently established Maasai Mara Security Center. Once fully operational, the center will manage the monitoring of different animals within the National Reserve and its immediate environs. At the moment, two of the animals that are covered by this project are the black rhino and the Cheetah. For him to be a part of this elite and select group of rangers, he had to understand the task at hand, be trained in different conservation techniques and to have the zeal to protect animals.

On a normal day, he and his fellow rangers under this programmeme, are up as early as 5 AM in order to get to their workstation, the newly established Maasai Mara National Reserve Conservation Center, constructed and equipped by the Narok County Government for wildlife surveillance, monitoring and security operation. The center utilizes the services of a system known as the Long-Ranger Wide Area (LoRaWAN) and EarthRanger (ER). This system utilizes radio signals and a real-time software application in the ranger’s mobile handset or computer to relay different messages. These sensors send live locations of the monitored animals to the mobile phones of the rangers while on patrol.

Having worked in the conservation of wildlife space for almost thirteen years now, Reut thinks that the introduction of technology has really been a game changer in every possible way. It has eased the work of the rangers as now while doing their normal patrols around the reserve, their movements are targeted especially with the monitoring of endangered species of animals.

As I listen to Reut rave on with eloquent passion about the new system- a sophisticated software that involves animal tagging sensors, a central monitoring unit and a mobile phone application, I get carried away by his knowledge on animal behaviour and the excitement he has on the possibilities of the new technology. He calls this new system ‘a revolutionary step in wildlife conservation’. He narrates in detail and with authority the different methods that have been used and are used to determine how different animals are protected through mastering their character and natural behavioral traits. He breaks down the key traits of the black rhino, its aggression and elusive nature as well as its day-to-day pattern which is an essential part of the tracking exercise.

Unlike its relative, the white rhino which is a grazer and is drawn to the open plains, the black rhino is a browser and is hence more inclined to bushy and forested regions of the reserve making their physical tracking a little bit difficult.  This, however, has not stopped Reut and his fellow rangers from protecting the black rhino. The entire population of rhinos is named, tagged and are under surveillance in a coordinated system involving all the ranger stations but emanating from the new monitoring center.

As a member of the famous big five and as an endangered species, the rhino has been on their surveillance radar using the Kifaru System for years using a data collection system and a great number of patrols to ensure they are safe. This system basically involved physical patrols, data collection, messages and follow ups where the animals were photographed and counted and entry entered daily leading to a monthly report.

From the look of things and from the way in which he explains the task he has at hand; Reut appreciates and loves what he is doing to conserve and protect the endangered species of wildlife. He confesses that the new system is not yet fully operational at maximum accuracy but he believes that with due time and as days go by, just like all software systems, it will continue to be upgraded to ensure the most effective and efficient results.

He adds that;