ABOUT THE EXPEDITION:





Kenya's Forest Monkeys

We will be observing the behavior of the females in a troupe of Sykes monkeys (or Blue monkeys)
Ceropithicus mitis.

The field station is in the Mwamba bird observatory and the Gede ruins, a protected archaeological site containing Arab ruins. near the coast






The PI, Steffen Foerster is a grad student at Columbia University. His study is assessing gluccocorticoid levels as an indicator of stress, as well as anecdotal observations of individual and social behaviors. Although these particular monkeys are not currently endangered, their habitat is being encroached upon, and interactions with humans, all too common worldwide for wild animals has affected their behavior. Of particular note is the availability of food, both due to scraps and leftovers as well as direct feeding by tourists. The stress of competition among the animals for food sources and mates is the primary focus of this reserach. We have received a briefing complete with photographs and samples of behaviors and how to record them.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my idol, Jane Goodall and spend many hours each day following, watching and recording every scratch, sniff, nibble and noise these monkeys make for 2 weeks.

After flying into Nairobi, I will check into a hotel in the city and collapse. We wil then take a short flight to Malindi, and then a car ride to the field station. I believe the field station has a wireless connection for me to access from the laptop generously loaned to me by TechBoston Academy to continue this blog - otherwise, use of a local internet cafe has been recommended.....stay posted