The savanna and bushland of Kenya are home to a great diversity and abundance of large mammals and birds. When we arrive in Kenya, the long rains should just be ending, the savanna grasses are tall and flowering, and the trees are green. In 2000, the rains in the Mara were short and the dry conditions were already concentrating animals to a limited supply of forage. When this happens, animals begin to concentrate and they will begin to move as a group. We found ourselves discussing many issues such as animal population sizes in and out of reserves as well as the resource needs of humans.
Elephants are the center of the conservation dispute in Kenya.
The effects they exert on their environment while meeting their basic needs is exceeded only by humans. This puts the survival of elephants in a very precarious position because their needs must be balanced with those of humans. This course on the Biodiversity of Kenya provided me with the opportunity to identify more than 65 different genera and 100 species of plants with medicinal uses throughtout Kenya. I gain a clearer appreciation of the fact that the ultimate goal of medicine, whether here in the United States or halfway around the world is the genuine attempt to overcome illness and suffering, and to enhance the quality of life. The reason for that feeling is simple.