Cows are a huge part of Maasai culture and they are seen as a divine gift and they are the caretakers of them. Cows are used to provide milk, determine social status and they fuel the economy. These cows were at our accommodation eating all the good grass! @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

What an interesting interaction between a hyena and an African crowned crane at Ol Pejeta! The crane was aggressive onto the hyena and caused her to snap at the crane. I wonder if this was just play or if this is a normal behavior? @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Cuddle pile at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. 🦁 It seems that the lions got a kill recently and are now enjoying an afternoon nap under the sun. Did you know that it is the female lions that do most of the hunting, and yet the male gets to eat first. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Saw some cape buffalo at Ol Pejeta! Fun fact: if you break open their dried dung, it is full of termites. The termites are harvesting the fiber and taking it back to their nests @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Got to see an aardwolf! Aardwolves are in the same family as hyenas. They are insectivores that feed on termites. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

While lion tracking at Ol Pejeta we encountered a male and a group of 2 females and 2 juveniles. Towards the end of our encounter another male lion from the pride approached which encouraged the male to move closer to his females to protect them. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

The oldest female of this pride is collared, so researchers can track the whereabouts of her family and make management decisions for the game reserve! @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

@beamstudyabroad.bsky.social In the Mpala Research center, we found this beautiful female elephant who was by herself away from the herd mourning the loss of her baby. It was so fascinating to me how elephants have such deep emotions. I’m curious what other emotions elephants can feel. (5/13)

@beamstudyabroad.bsky.social I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go on a Rhino Observation Walk at Ol Pejeta! We went out with a few of the Rangers at the conservatory and we learned how to identify the Rhinos. On each rhinos ear we would see sets of notches or a small holes. (1/2)

mature adult male impalas can have a large harem of females in his protection. He will go around and check each individual female constantly to ensure they are all safe and still together. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

The female lions will bunch up near the male when another male or outsider enters the space. The male will stay alert but will not start a fight unless threatened. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Is there anything cooler than tracking White Rhino at Ol’ Pejeeta? So amazing to see how many people are working together to monitor and protect these magnificent creatures! @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

This momma warthog and her babies don't seem too bothered by the sight of these spotted hyenas in Ol Pejeta conservation center! @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

@beamstudyabroad.bsky.social Finding a Lion can be quite difficult at times, we found that out today when one of our members spotted this beautiful male Lion hiding in the tall grass. I understand now how they could so easily sneak up on prey!

Today I went on a lion tracking experience. It was amazing. We saw 6 lions- 2 males and 4 females. They were laying down right besides our car. It was amazing. The second male appeared later on. I wonder how dominance works between two males in lion society. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Dik-dik are very adorable and seemingly simple animals, but there is much more to them than meets the eye. They have a very unexpected patch of “crest hair” that can be raised. This is often done during territorial disputes or when threatened. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Sunrise near Mpala Research Center in Laikipia, Kenya. Mount Kenya is visible in the background. The long rainy season brings the Savannah to life, as evident by the plentiful greenery, and yet this morning greets us with the gift of clear skies. ☀️⛰️🌳 @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

What an incredible experience at Mpala Research Centre! Black leopards are often called black panthers. There is a genetic mutation in their DNA that causes an abundance of black pigment causing their skin to be black but they still have the pattern of a normal leopard. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Elephants in the Mpala research center are a distinct color due to the soil composition of the soil that they bath in! @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

@beamstudyabroad.bsky.social These are two Black-backed Jackals. These guys are often nocturnal so we were luck to see them the other day in broad daylight!

Big herd of elephants! Elephant herds are matriarchal and highly social. Older juveniles help protect new calves alongside their mothers, like seen here @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

Today we saw a herd of elephants during rain. It was interesting how the babies would hide under their mothers & the adult and juvenile elephants would huddle together during the storm. It makes me wonder about how proximity to each other could possibly relieve anxiety. @beamstudyabroad.bsky.social

@beamstudyabroad.bsky.social We spotted grevy’s zebras during a morning game drive! These guys differ from the plains zebras by not having their stripes protrude all the way down the stomach. They have a white belly! Mountain zebras are identified by their peculiar lump on their throat.

Last game drive and nature decided to grace us with a beautiful adult male leopard 🐆✨ Talk about ending on a high note… sir really said ‘you’re not leaving without seeing me first.’ 😂🌿. -SN