Lincoln Park Zoo

Serengeti Health Initiative

Serengeti Health Initiative

The Serengeti ecosystem encompasses the diversity of the African plains. Herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles sustain themselves on the area's rich grasslands. Predators such as lions and African wild dogs hunt along the savanna, preying on herbivores as they follow the Serengeti's rainfall. Elephants and rhinos charge over the plains; crocodiles and hippopotamuses make their home in the waters.

But while protected areas, such as Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Maasai Mara National Park, provide a haven for wildlife, habitat loss, climate change, human impact and disease continue to threaten this unparalleled ecosystem.

The Serengeti Health Initiative, led by Lincoln Park Zoo, aims to preserve the region's rich wildlife while also benefiting local people. Incorporating wildlife surveillance, vaccination programs and research on how wild animals, domestic animals and humans interact, this collaborative conservation effort is dedicated to building a better understanding of the Serengeti ecosystem, one that can help keep it healthy and whole.

Karibu Serengeti! (Welcome to Serengeti!)

A little squished, cramped and dusty, I have finally arrived back in the Serengeti (at least for a short time). This, after all, is only the beginning of my trip. I will be traveling to four different villages west of Serengeti National Park to study domestic dogs to understand the effect of vaccinations on dog demography.

After stocking up in Arusha for staples such as peanut butter and pasta, I boarded the “Coastline Express” bus that passes through Serengeti National Park. Boarding the bus was an adventure all unto itself. You see, this bus doesn’t just go through the Serengeti. It’s the only bus that goes to the towns on the other side of Serengeti National Park, so as you can imagine, there are quite a few people that want to get onto this bus.

Posted on 2 September 2010 | 1:49 pm

Rhino Return

I want to share some photos I took during that big day in Serengeti where we received five rhinos from South Africa. It was really a very big day here, and the guest of honor was H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the President of the United Republic Of Tanzania.

Click the photo to see a full slideshow of reintroduction day!

Posted on 25 June 2010 | 12:08 pm

Chunde in the Windy City

It has been amazing to be here in this city!

Chunde in front of the Lincoln Park Zoo gates.

Posted on 10 May 2010 | 10:51 am