AfricanBioServices AfricanBioServices in an EU-funded research project investigating ecosystem services in the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem in eastern Africa. The main aim of the research project is to understand how the ongoing climate change, human population growth, and land-use change affect biodiversity and human well-being, and use this information to derive novel solutions for a future sustainable development. Frankfurt Zoological Society We are continuing our engagement in close collaboration with Tanzania National Parks and provide critical financial and logistical support and know-how for resource protection, ecological and threat monitoring and park management to the Serengeti National Park. We are involved in anti-poaching efforts, aerial surveys, conservation, rhino protection, and community engagement.
Savanna Grasslands and Ecology Group Our research focuses on the ecology and conservation of grassland and savannas ecosystems. We are interested in understanding the unique co-evolution that has occurred between plants and large herbivores in African savannas and the consequences of these interactions for ecosystem processes across large scales.
Serengeti Animal Tracker A smartphone app that enables real time tracking of wildebeest and zebra migration.
Serengeti Biodiversity Program The Serengeti Biodiversity Program aims to collect, maintain, analyse and build on 60 years of biotic and abiotic data that defines the dynamic nature of the Serengeti ecosystem including weather, vegetation, fires, wildlife, and people. We manage a core Information Resource Centre that allows us to monitor the impacts of long-term global trends (such as climate change) with particular emphasis on ecosystem services of the Serengeti. In particular, we use the long-term data generated by Program to train the next generation of national and international conservation biologists. The data are integrated into a routine monthly feed-back system between research and management that summarizes the status and health of the ecosystem and facilitates an adaptive management strategy.
Serengeti Digital Library More information coming soon.
Serengeti Lion Project & Kope Lion Project The Lion Project has been studying African lions in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area since the 1960’s. At any given time, our field teams keep track of about 330 lions in 24 prides in the Serengeti, and 50–60 lions in 5 prides on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater. This daily monitoring has produced one of the most extensive data sets on any mammalian species anywhere in the world - over 5,000 lions have been included in the Serengeti and Crater studies over the past 40+ years, and genealogical data from these two populations extend over 12 generations. The daily records include information on the lions’ location, group size, diet, food intake, health and reproduction.
Snapshot Serengeti We have maintained over 200 camera traps deployed in a systematic grid across 1,125 km2 in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, to evaluate spatial and temporal inter-species dynamics. The cameras have operated continuously since 2010 and images are classified by citizen scientists. Multiple users view each image and record the species, number of individuals, associated behaviours, and presence of young. Consensus data aggregated from ~25 classifications per image yields data that is on average >95% accurate. The consensus classifications and raw imagery provide an unparalleled opportunity to investigate multi-species dynamics in an intact ecosystem and a valuable resource for machine-learning and computer-vision research.
Tanzanian National Parks Authority (TANAPA) The primary role of the Tanzanian National Parks is conservation. TANAPA manages 16 national parks in Tanzania, and is charged with the functions of protecting natural resources, park facilities, and tourists; park management and development; ecological and wildlife health monitoring; tourism development; and community involvement in conservation efforts.
Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) The Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute is responsible for conducting and coordinate wildlife research in Tanzania. Functions of TAWIRI include: promoting the development, improvement, and protection of the wildlife industry; carrying out, promoting, and coordinating wildlife and environmental research; maintaining, developing, and funding wildlife research; developing and improving techniques related to wildlife and environmental conservation and management; researching wildlife disease; disseminating research findings and wildlife statistics; promoting wildlife training; and advising the government regarding wildlife and wildlife research.