March 21. There are 5 zebras in Lewa with radio collars and our goal today was to find them. Each zebra’s collar transmits a signal at a different frequency which can be picked up using a special antenna. We found three of the collared zebras very quickly. They were all Plains zebras. We located the signal for the fourth zebra after lunch, but it was in an area that was difficult for us to get to. We finally reached a spot where we could see it, but it was too far away for us to do a behavior observation, as we had done with the previous three. We never heard the signal for the fifth zebra.

Joseph, our scientist, looks for the collared zebras twice a month. When they are spotted, a behavior observation is done, like the one I described earlier this week. Tracking the collared zebras provides some different types of data from that we’ve already collected this week. It enables scientists to map the movements of the zebras over time. This may relate to changes in vegetation and may help the scientists to identify areas where there is more food for zebras. Home ranges can also be identified by mapping the areas where the zebra is seen. Scientists also note which zebras the collared zebra hangs around with. This information is important for understanding the social bonds within a herd.