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Kenyan authorities are proud of the fact that they’ve boosted the population in the country to 539 or thereabouts over the past 20 years. However, even without human “help” it appears that the black rhino has been heading for extinction for thousands of years. Why? They just aren’t very well adapted in evolutionary terms so the question really is: Will humans bring about the abrupt extinction of this unique species or will they go out of existence on their own terms? Black rhinos are ornery creatures, males often killing rivals over territory and access to females, and with a gestation period of 460 days they breed at a glacial rate. The white rhino, a grazer rather than a browser, is much more numerous throughout Africa but they are under incredible pressure as well. We were fortunate to be able to see four of the seven northern white rhinos, a subspecies, left in the world. They live in their own protected enclosure within the park and the hope is that the two females will breed and bring the subspecies back from the brink of extinction. Time will tell . . . We spent our mornings out in the field in five different research teams, measuring the Acacia drep trees in various plots that have been monitored continuously since 1999. When we weren’t doing that, we marched on prescribed eight-kilometer transects, measuring elephant dung, and performing animal counts, hand-held GPS systems firmly in hand, and always with our armed guard alongside. Associate Academic Dean and Registrar Lydia Hemphill and her group had a black rhino mother and calf charge by them . . . close enough so that their guard had to discharge his weapon to scare them off!
Away from the bush we saw extremes of wealth and poverty: from the beautiful Fairview Hotel, an oasis in the city of Nairobi, to dirt-floor country schoolrooms where uniformed students proudly recited their lessons in a building that didn’t look as if it was fit for farm animals. Their school motto, “Succeed we can, because we must,” certainly looked like it was being fulfilled, despite the conditions. Young Kenyans spoke candidly about the political corruption that seems endemic to their political system, yet they are optimistic that democratic reforms will lead to change. However, with over 40 languages spoken within the borders of Kenya and dozens of tribal groups, national political unity has been an elusive goal for most of Kenya’s young history, and, according to some of the young people we spoke with, tribal identity still trumps national identity. As a US History teacher, my own horizons and vision were expanded in Kenya, as I thought about individual choice in the modern world and the ways in which history often continues to influence the present. Whether the issues are freedom and democracy in a post-colonial reality or the role and responsibility of the United States in a rapidly changing world, my perspective was altered as we saw Kenya in all its magnificence and diversity—from beautiful, modern Nairobi to the natural splendor of Ol Pejeta. We witnessed the challenges facing this developing country, (not the least of which is the tension between the needs of a burgeoning human population and the desire to preserve Kenya’s unique natural environments), and felt privileged to be a part of progress, and yet, we came away knowing there are miles to go. ••
Toward the end of their Kenyan journey, Nick Albertson and Lydia Hemphill visited Starehe Boys Centre and School in Nairobi. There, they spent some time with Alfonce Nzioka, who was excitedly preparing for his senior year as a member of Deerfield’s Class of 2012. Alfonce is the tenth boy who has come to the Academy from Starehe, thanks to an ongoing relationship between Starehe and Deerfield that began through the efforts of Associate Head of School and Director of College Advising Martha Lyman. Students from Starehe have been perfect matches for Deerfield—perhaps because Starehe is founded on principles similar to Deerfield’s, including “character formation” and “leadership development.” Students such as Alfonce, who have travelled so far from home to further their education, truly live up to Starehe’s motto:
“Natulenge Juu,” which translates to
“Let us aim high.” deerfield.edu
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