Thursday, October 3, 2024 The famous Mara-Serengeti ecosystem , encompassing Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park , is under severe threat from climate change , posing risks to both wildlife populations and the tourism industry. Known for the Great Migration —an annual spectacle where millions of animals move in search of water and grass—this ecosystem supports a rich array of predators, scavengers, and local communities that depend on tourism for their livelihoods. The health of this ecosystem is intricately tied to weather patterns , and disruptions caused by extreme weather events are endangering wildlife, vegetation, and water sources.
A new study conducted by researchers from several global institutions, including the University of Hohenheim and the Free University of Berlin , shows that in the past 60 years, the region has experienced increased rainfall variability, severe droughts, and a temperature rise of 4.8°C to 5.8°C .
These changes are leading to reduced wildlife numbers, disrupted migration patterns, and heightened competition for resources between humans, livestock, and wildlife. Key Climate Findings: The study links these changes to global climate systems , such as the Southern Oscillation Index and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) , which are being affected by global warming . The increasing frequency of El Niño and La Niña events, along with warming oceans, have exacerbated the severity of droughts and floods in the region, p.
