Boots on the ground podcast

In this new and exciting episode, I’m chatting with Taylor Rabe and Yamat Lengai to gain their perspectives on Human-Wildlife Conflict from the American west and East Africa. We talk through their childhood, how their upbringing shaped the people they are today and also about their respective roles in the Organizations they represent. We also dig into what coexistence looks like now and more about...

On #WorldEnvironmentDay Mara Elephant Project wanted to highlight how we’re using technology and data to monitor and restore the ecosystem’s health and there is no better person than MEP Data and Reporting Manager Francis Odero to explain. Francis is an active member of #GenerationRestoration having grown up in Kajiado in Kenya fascinated by the role tech and data plays in better understanding the...

In this episode, I’m talking with Meena Amani, a wildlife photographer with a big passion for animals. We talk through her childhood and upbringing, her work at the Animal Track Sanctuary, the illegal pet trade and what she and her team are doing to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals. We also dive into her storytelling side, and the power of art in today’s world plus a whole lot more of other in...

In this Podcast, I’m talking with Daniel Ole Sambu, Program Coordinator, Predator Protection Program. We talk through his humble upbribging in the vast Amboseli ecosystem, what drives his passion for wildlife conservation and all about Big Life Foundation and the Predator Compensation Fund Program that he is in charge of. We also dive into some of the biggest threats facing wildlife in the Ambosel...

In this podcast, I’m chatting with Nuria Salim, founder Watoto Go Green, an organization that works to address the environmental education gap in the Kenyan curriculum by offering creative project based learning to vulnerable children in Meru County. We talk through her journey and what got her to where she is now, Watoto Go Green and how it came to be, environmental education to young children th...

In this Podcast, I’m talking with David Saruni, Security Administrator in Loisaba Conservancy. We talk through what inspired him to work with Wildlife, what has over five years working for Loisaba Conservancy in the Security department taught him and what his typical work day looks like. We also dive into the the role of community conservancies in Kenya and David also narrates the ground breaking...

In this Podcast, I’m chatting with Olivia Adhiambo, Climate Policy Director for Africa Region at Wildlife Works. We talk through her upbringing, early education and passion for environmentalism, her 10 years plus of experience in conservation focused policy advocacy and all about Wildlife Works and what a typical work day in her role entails. We also dig into the Kasigau REDD+ project, the importa...

In this Podcast I’m chatting with Cpt. Gilbert Macharia Kibe, MD of Air Transport Consulting Ltd, a company devoted to the growth and development of aviation. We talk through his childhood and how he got into the aviation world, what has been in the aviation sector for more than four decades taught him and his professional career serving in various capacities around the world. We also dive into dr...

This #InternationalWomensDay, join Mara Elephant Project Research Assistant Sylvia Ondabu as she details how a city girl ended up working up in conservation in the Mara and the women at MEP that Inspire her. Enjoy🐘❤️

This World Wildlife Day, I’m grateful to be talking with Marley Sianto Sikawa, a Maasai Lady with a vast experience and passion for East African tourism, conservation, cultural preservation and a travel enthusiast with a heart for her people. We talk through her upbringing and education, what drives her passion for what she doea, and her earlier years of the Miss Tourism Peagent and what that mean...

In this episode, I’m talking with William Ouma, the head of operations at Expert Drones Afrrica. William is a very talented and passionate young man with a key focus on using drones for good while enpowering the next generation to think bigger in terms of what they can achieve and do with technology. We talk through his upbringing, his current role at Expert Drones Africa, the state of drones in K...

Mara Elephant Project is sponsoring six episodes of Boots on the Ground Podcast, and we couldn’t think of a better first episode than spotlighting one of their key partners, Kenya Wildlife Service Vet Dr. Michael Njoroge who leads the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Mars Mobile Vet Unit. His over 20 years of experience as a wildlife Vet across Kenya has made a considerable contribution to the wellbeing o...

In this Podcast, I’m super excited to be chatting with Trish Sewe, a phenomenal woman I look up to in the communications and storytelling space. Trish is currently working as the Chief Operations Officer at Wildlife Direct and is also leading the implementation and management of all aspects of the National Geographic’s Team Sayari and Nature Positive Kids Outreach project. Tune in to hear her incr...

In this episode, I’m chatting with Christian Mugabe, the Founder of Ngozi Naturals, a social enterprise changing the lives of local people in Rwanda and making a positive contribution to Rwanda’s conservation goals. We talk through his childhood, education, and how he got into conservation. We also dive into founding Ngozi Naturals, the impact they have achieved so far, and how he is empowering wo...

In this last episode of our series ‘Female Vets Driving Wildlife Conservation in Kenya Forward’ I’m super thrilled to be chatting with Dr. Mukami Ruoro-Oundo, a senior Veterinary officer working for the Kenya Wildlife Service. We talk through how her journey into veterinary medicine unfolded, the time she almost gave up her schooling to focus on another career, her time at a clinic in Nyali, Momba...

In our third episode of the series ‘Female Vets Driving Wildlife Conservation in Kenya Forward’ I’m super delighted to be chatting with Dr. Angwenyi, who is currently the Wildlife Health and Disease Surveillance Manager with Smithsonian’s Global Health Program in Kenya. We talk through her upbringing, education and how her passion for animals and wildlife grew. We also chat about what her day look...

In this special podcast, I’m chatting with Kyle Buster, Curator at the Watamu Snake Farm. Kyle, born and raised in Nairobi also grew up with his grandparents in Tanzania where he was immersed in the rich wildlife learning from his grandad and a Tindiga bushman, developing valuable bush skills and deepening his respect for nature at an early age. In this podcast, we chat more about his upbringing,...

In this second episode of our new series, I’m chatting with Dr. Florence, a female wildlife veterinarian based at Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. We talk through her childhood, growing up surrounded by pets, her education and passion for conservation and her dreaded Meru National Park encounter with a lion. We also dive into her time working with Chimpanzees and black rh...

In this Podcast, I’m talking with Dr. Sharon Mulindi, a dedicated wildlife veterinarian committed to wildlife health and conservation. We talk through her journey into veterinary medicine, her passion for wildlife, and how she manages a healthy work life balance. We also dig into the threats she has come across facing wildlife and wild spaces in Kenya, a sneak peek into her day as a vet, and her f...

In this new podcast, I’m talking with Catherine Machungo, Carbon State at Natural State. We talk through her career and journey into conservation, how she and her colleagues at Natural State are creating tangible technological solutions that people can utilize and how Natural State is tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. We also dig into the carbon conversation , techno...

In this podcast, I’m talking with Felix Mutwiri, the Secretary, Friends of Nairobi National Park(FoNNaP). We talk through his journey into conservation, what drives his passion, all about FoNNaP, and the threats facing Kenya’s wildlife and wild spaces. We also dive into Nairobi National Park, how they are linkingthe local communities in management of the park and the youth as well and also fundrai...

In this podcast, I chat with Dr. Arthur Muneza a Wildlife ecologist working for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation as the East Africa Coordinator. We talk through his childhood and upbringing, how he got started working with giraffe, operation Twiga and what his role entails at the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. We also dig into the biggest threats facing giraffe, Twiga tracker tagging operatio...

In this new episode, I’m talking with Napanu Stella, a biodiversity conservation scientist and a multitalented artist keen on Ecosystem Health. She is currently working as the rangelands officer with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT). We talk through her childhood experiences and interactions with nature, her passion for visual arts and live performances, what her role entails at NRT and how she...

In this new Podcast, I’m talking with Teddy Kinyajui, Sustainability Director ans Founder at Cookswell Jikos. We talk through his childhood and how he got involved with the natural world from an early age, Seedballs Kenya and some of the programs he helps run and also what seedballs are and why they’re so effective in regenerating some of our degraded ecosystems. We also dive into some of the bigg...

In this new podcast, I’m super excited to be speaking with Amish Chhagan, a wildlife photographer originally from Zambia. We talk through his first encounter with a camera and what felt like, his career progression and challenges he faced and continue facing in his career. We also dive into his creative process and what that looks like for him when doing stories or creating moments. Enjoy💚