Field Notes from Mugie Game Ranch
Leaving bustling Nairobi in our caravan of land rovers and trucks, and after numerous police road stops and blocks, we passed a town called Gilgil, which lies north of Naivasha. It wasn't long until we began spotting a plentitude of zebra in the distance. We soon left paved roads, and traveled on dirt paths for hours and hours until we reached Mugie. Located on the Laikipia Plateau in central Kenya, the Mugie Game Ranch is a seemingly endless savannah, filled with an amazing display of flora and fauna. Here, you can see elephants, black and white rhinos, lions, hippos, zebras, a multitude of ungulates, and smaller species such as hyena, galagos, and if you are lucky - even baboons. The reticulated giraffe can only be found in this area of Samburu, and the rare Grevy's zebra is also found here.
Click to view the following field notes:
Wednesday, June 18 - Innaugaral Lectures :Dr. Jack Harris, Rutgers University
Dr. Marion Bamford, University of Witwatersrand
Program Interns
Dr. Dave Braun, University of Cape Town
Thursday, June 19 - Vegetation Study and Lion Conservation Project:
Dr. Marion Bamford, University of Witwatersrand and grad student
Dr. Alfreda, National Museums of Kenya
Program Interns
Friday, June 20 - Taphonomy Studies:
Dr. David Braun, University of Cape Town and grad student
Saturday, June 21- Ecology and Pounding Exercises:
Dr. Jack Harris, Rutgers University
Program Interns
Sunday, June 22 - Footprint Studies:
Program Interns
The Basics
" The word "hominid" refers to members of the family of humans, Hominidae, which consists of all species on our side of the last common ancestor of humans and living apes. (Some scientists use a broader definition of Hominidae which includes the great apes.) Hominids are included in the superfamily of all apes, the Hominoidea, the members of which are called hominoids. Although the hominid fossil record is far from complete, and the evidence is often fragmentary, there is enough to give a good outline of the evolutionary history of humans."