We continue to share comments from the Director of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Edmond Bonjour as Class XXI travels across parts of Kenya for their International Capstone study experience.
“Today, the OALP drove out across the Laikipia plateau and visited El Karama Wildlife Conservancy, owned by Bella Nicholson and the Grant Family. The 15,000-acre land area under the conservancy allows for sustainable production of valuable livestock and agricultural products. Using methods compatible with wildlife, El Karama produces and sells regionally important livestock. Sahiwal cattle are hardy and dual purpose – beef and milk. Fleckvieh cattle, which have a German origin, are used in their dairy. There are about 1,200 cattle on this property. Dorper sheep, about 500, are used for meat in the local market.
“Wildlife and livestock are managed and roam together. There are threats from lions attacking cattle and therefore watchmen are with them during the day and are posted at night. Each herdsman has a maximum of 180 head. Lions have become less afraid of humans because of tourism. A night watchman was recently killed by a lion. The money from the OALP contribution to visit this conservancy will be used to buy materials to build the very first small shelter for night watchmen on this property.
Sheep are destructive to grasses because they pull out the roots, so herdsmen keep them moving. Sheep are put in enclosed pens at night to protect them from leopards. Lambs are kept in the pens during the day. El Karama employs about 160 people from all over Kenya, plus some local part-time people. They provide movable housing for the herdsmen, and housing in permanent lodges for other employees. Although there are many national parks and conservancies in Kenya, they occupy only 18% of the country’s landmass.
As Class XXI continues to travel across Kenya- the application for Class XXII is now available on line at the OALP website. Click here for that application– which is due by May first, 2025. In person interviews will happen in June and the XXII will meet for the first time in August of this year.
