Our thanks to Edmond Bonjour, the Director of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program at Oklahoma State University. He is allowing us to share with you his daily thoughts from the Capstone experience in Kenya for Class XXI. Day two was all about the Safari.
“The OALP had a stop in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy where they described the rhinoceros rescue. Baraka is a blind black rhino. The Conservancy also operates a livestock program that serves to benefit local pastoralists and wildlife. Through the conservancy’s community development program, it provides funding to surrounding communities to aid health, education, water, and infrastructure projects. They also support the provision of agriculture and livestock extension services and the development of community-based conservation tourism venture. We then drove to see a black rhino and her baby, crossed the equator, and saw an elephant in the marsh.”
“The next stop for the OALP in Ol Pejeta Conservancy was the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Chimpanzees are 98.6% similar to humans. This 250-acre facility provides a haven for orphaned, abandoned, and rescued chimpanzees. It is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen. They currently have 17 chimps, but none are bred here. The gestation period for a chimp is 8 months and they are breastfeed for 2.5 years. They have two chimps who are 45 years old and chimps can live to 60 years. They are omnivores and eat three meals per day. However, they are not fed meat at this facility.
“The final quest for the OALP was to find a lion at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Luckily, we were successful! There are 7-8 prides on this property. The lone female we saw was resting, but then started to stalk some nearby wandering warthogs. We think it was too hot (mid/upper 80s, sorry Oklahomans) so she did not pursue. We also saw a few spotted hyenas and more elephants on our way out.
Kenya is nine hours ahead of Oklahoma time- and Class XXI is already well into their third day of traveling- three farms will be visited by the class- including Kisima Farm on the slopes of Mt Kenya. Kisima is an extensive, highly productive, mixed working farm in Timau, Meru County, Kenya. Founded in 1919, and incorporated in 1943, the agribusiness is 100% Kenyan owned and operated. While arable crops and floriculture are the primary focus, Kisima also manages a successful forestry program and supports numerous thriving community development projects. We look forward to reports on the Thursday travels of OALP in our next update.
More information can be found on the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program website. Applications will soon be open for Class XXII.
