Latest news with #Lewa
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA bound: 5 things to know about Hawaiʻi's rocket team
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A team of engineering students from Hawai'i Pacific University is preparing to launch big dreams into the sky and into space history. The students are part of a national NASA competition that puts their rocket-building skills to the test against 70 other teams of student engineers. The 2025 NASA Student Launch Competition challenges college teams to design, build and launch high-powered rockets. HPU is the only university in Hawai'i competing in the event. The competition culminates with a final launch on May 3 in Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Their team is called Lewa, the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi word for 'air'. It includes eight electrical engineering students mentored by Assistant Professor Arif Rahman, Ph.D. 'We are incredibly proud to represent Hawai'i in this national competition,' Rahman said. 'We named our team 'Lewa' to honor Hawai'i's heritage. Air symbolizes both the medium we're launching through and the boundless possibilities ahead of us.' So, what's the competition going to look like and what will it mean for the winning team? Here's what NASA Student Launch is a nine-month, hands-on experience where students develop the skills to launch a rocket and follow the same design process NASA uses for real missions. From early sketches to flight tests, teams must go through design reviews with NASA experts at every step. 'This NASA student challenge is an amazing real-world platform for our electrical engineering students,' Rahman said. 'It allows them to collaborate with aerospace professionals and refine the skills that will shape their future careers.' HPU's rocket is designed to fly exactly 4,600 feet high. A recovery system with parachutes will bring the rocket and its payload safely back to the ground. Teams are judged on altitude, flight safety, documentation and how well their payload performs. 'Our rocket took seconds to launch, but it was built on months of grit, teamwork, and relentless problem-solving,' said Gabriel Garcia-Monroy, a junior and team lead. Out of 70 teams nationwide, HPU is the only one from Hawai'i. That means Lewa isn't just representing their school. They're representing an entire state. NASA created the Student Launch program to support real missions like Artemis, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually reach Mars. Students work with NASA subject matter experts and use their designs to help with space exploration research. Supported by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement and Next Gen STEM, the competition prepares students for careers in science, engineering and aerospace. After launch day, teams must study flight data and submit a Post Launch Assessment Review, just like real NASA teams. You can click to learn more about the competition, to see the teams competing, to access NASA's YouTube channel and to learn more about HPU's electrical engineering degree program. Whether you're watching from Honolulu or Huntsville, one thing is clear: the students at HPU are aiming high and bringing Hawai'i with them. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'We're excited to showcase our work in Huntsville and stand alongside teams across the country,' Rahman said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Euronews
03-03-2025
- General
- Euronews
World Wildlife Day: Conservationists say green corridors can help animals thrive in Kenya
Conservationists in Kenya are warning of shrinking wildlife spaces in the east African country that generates substantial revenue from wildlife tourism. While conservation efforts over the past two decades have led to the recovery of many threatened species, the animals are losing wide swaths of habitat because of threats stemming from climate change and destructive human behaviour, activists warn. But, this World Wildlife Day, they also cite an opportunity in ' wildlife corridors ' - strips of land connecting areas that would otherwise be separated by human activities. By allowing free movement of animals and reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, such corridors support the growth of wildlife populations. Elephant, rhino, zebra and white lion populations are on the rise One conservation group that is trying to create such corridors is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which lies about 260 kilometres north of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Lewa is owned by a nonprofit that has acquired more land in recent years in a bid to connect Mount Kenya forest preserve to rangelands in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is home to 14 per cent of Kenya's remaining black rhinos, in addition to other mammal species ranging from lions to zebras. An annual wildlife census was underway when the Associated Press (AP) visited Lewa, where animal numbers have been going up over the years. The census involved the manual counting of each animal, with both ground rangers and aerial teams participating in the days-long effort. 'All this is an effort to ensure that we undertake the responsibility of accounting for every species that is found on Lewa, especially the most critically endangered ones and the threatened ones," said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation and wildlife at Lewa. 'We make sure it's a full census.' Lewa's elephant population increased from 350 individuals in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, according to figures provided by the conservancy. Similar growth was seen among white and black rhinos, a major draw for visitors. But rising wildlife populations strain ecosystems and need to be matched by stronger efforts to protect habitats and create new corridors, Maringa said. 'As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them to climate change, relate them with people and human-wildlife conflict," he said. 'Maybe you are enjoying seeing a lot of elephants or buffalos. But at the end of the day what does that mean? You have to make sure you think ahead of the population.' Kenyan authorities report wildlife population growth trends across the country Figures from the wildlife authority show that elephant numbers have grown from around 16,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 37,000 in 2024. Black rhinos have increased from fewer than 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Critically endangered Grevy's zebras now number over 2,000, while lions have grown to approximately 2,600. But that success is threatened in some areas by growing human populations: Kenya's population has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025. How can wildlife corridors help ease human-wildlife tensions? Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, is encouraging conservancies such as Lewa and private landowners to open up wildlife corridors for free animal movement, with translocation efforts also underway to redistribute animals from crowded ecosystems into less populated areas. KWS, in a recent statement, cited the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, an expansive protected area in southern Kenya that hosts key elephant migration routes, as 'increasingly under pressure due to human activities affecting the free movement of wildlife.' Similarly, the wildlife corridor known as Kitengela, which connects Nairobi National Park to the grasslands of southern Kenya, has faced fragmentation due to human settlements and infrastructure development. Beside climate change, rapid urbanisation driven by population growth is a major factor in the shrinking of wildlife corridors, according to KWS. There is also the additional problem of wildfires, with Kenya Forest Service reporting over 180 wildfires that have damaged more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation across the country since the beginning of this year.
Voice of America
03-03-2025
- General
- Voice of America
'Wildlife corridors' are encouraged to support Kenya's recovering animal populations
As nations mark World Wildlife Day, conservationists in Kenya are warning of shrinking wildlife spaces in the east African country that generates substantial revenue from wildlife tourism. While conservation efforts over the past two decades have led to the recovery of many threatened species, the animals are losing wide swaths of habitat because of threats stemming from climate change and destructive human behavior, activists warn. But they also cite an opportunity in what are known as wildlife corridors — strips of land connecting areas that would otherwise be separated by human activities. By allowing free movement of animals and reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, such corridors support the growth of wildlife populations. One conservation group that is trying to create such corridors is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which lies about 260 kilometers north of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Lewa is owned by a nonprofit that has acquired more land in recent years in a bid to connect Mount Kenya forest preserve to rangelands in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is home to 14% of Kenya's remaining black rhinos, in addition to other mammal species ranging from lions to zebras. An annual wildlife census was underway when the AP visited Lewa, where animal numbers have been going up over the years. The census involved the manual counting of each animal, with both ground rangers and aerial teams participating in the dayslong effort. 'All this is an effort to ensure that we undertake the responsibility of accounting for every species that is found on Lewa, especially the most critically endangered ones and the threatened ones," said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation and wildlife at Lewa. 'We make sure it's a full census.' Lewa's elephant population increased from 350 individuals in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, according to figures provided by the conservancy. Similar growth was seen among white and black rhinos, a major draw for visitors. But rising wildlife populations strain ecosystems and need to be matched by stronger efforts to protect habitats and create new corridors, Maringa said. 'As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them to climate change, relate them with people and human-wildlife conflict," he said. 'Maybe you are enjoying seeing a lot of elephants or buffalos. But at the end of the day what does that mean? You have to make sure you think ahead of the population.' Kenyan authorities report wildlife population growth trends across the country. Figures from the wildlife authority show that elephant numbers have grown from around 16,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 37,000 in 2024. Black rhinos have increased from fewer than 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Critically endangered Grevy's zebras now number over 2,000, while lions have grown to approximately 2,600. But that success is threatened in some areas by growing human populations: Kenya's population has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025. Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, is encouraging conservancies such as Lewa and private landowners to open up wildlife corridors for free animal movement, with translocation efforts also underway to redistribute animals from crowded ecosystems into less populated areas. KWS, in a recent statement, cited the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, an expansive protected area in southern Kenya that hosts key elephant migration routes, as 'increasingly under pressure due to human activities affecting the free movement of wildlife.' Similarly, the wildlife corridor known as Kitengela, which connects Nairobi National Park to the grasslands of southern Kenya, has faced fragmentation due to human settlements and infrastructure development. Beside climate change, rapid urbanization driven by population growth is a major factor in the shrinking of wildlife corridors, according to KWS. There is also the additional problem of wildfires, with Kenya Forest Service reporting over 180 wildfires that have damaged more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation across the country since the beginning of this year.
The Independent
03-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
'Wildlife corridors' are encouraged to support Kenya's recovering animal populations
As nations mark World Wildlife Day, conservationists in Kenya are warning of shrinking wildlife spaces in the east African country that generates substantial revenue from wildlife tourism. While conservation efforts over the past two decades have led to the recovery of many threatened species, the animals are losing wide swaths of habitat because of threats stemming from climate change and destructive human behavior, activists warn. But they also cite an opportunity in what are known as wildlife corridors — strips of land connecting areas that would otherwise be separated by human activities. By allowing free movement of animals and reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, such corridors support the growth of wildlife populations. One conservation group that is trying to create such corridors is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which lies about 260 kilometers (160 miles) north of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Lewa is owned by a nonprofit that has acquired more land in recent years in a bid to connect Mount Kenya forest preserve to rangelands in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is home to 14% of Kenya's remaining black rhinos, in addition to other mammal species ranging from lions to zebras. An annual wildlife census was underway when the AP visited Lewa, where animal numbers have been going up over the years. The census involved the manual counting of each animal, with both ground rangers and aerial teams participating in the dayslong effort. 'All this is an effort to ensure that we undertake the responsibility of accounting for every species that is found on Lewa, especially the most critically endangered ones and the threatened ones," said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation and wildlife at Lewa. 'We make sure it's a full census.' Lewa's elephant population increased from 350 individuals in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, according to figures provided by the conservancy. Similar growth was seen among white and black rhinos, a major draw for visitors. But rising wildlife populations strain ecosystems and need to be matched by stronger efforts to protect habitats and create new corridors, Maringa said. 'As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them to climate change, relate them with people and human-wildlife conflict," he said. 'Maybe you are enjoying seeing a lot of elephants or buffalos. But at the end of the day what does that mean? You have to make sure you think ahead of the population.' Kenyan authorities report wildlife population growth trends across the country. Figures from the wildlife authority show that elephant numbers have grown from around 16,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 37,000 in 2024. Black rhinos have increased from fewer than 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Critically endangered Grevy's zebras now number over 2,000, while lions have grown to approximately 2,600. But that success is threatened in some areas by growing human populations: Kenya's population has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025. Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, is encouraging conservancies such as Lewa and private landowners to open up wildlife corridors for free animal movement, with translocation efforts also underway to redistribute animals from crowded ecosystems into less populated areas. KWS, in a recent statement, cited the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, an expansive protected area in southern Kenya that hosts key elephant migration routes, as 'increasingly under pressure due to human activities affecting the free movement of wildlife.' Similarly, the wildlife corridor known as Kitengela, which connects Nairobi National Park to the grasslands of southern Kenya, has faced fragmentation due to human settlements and infrastructure development. Beside climate change, rapid urbanization driven by population growth is a major factor in the shrinking of wildlife corridors, according to KWS. There is also the additional problem of wildfires, with Kenya Forest Service reporting over 180 wildfires that have damaged more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation across the country since the beginning of this year.
Associated Press
03-03-2025
- General
- Associated Press
‘Wildlife corridors' are encouraged to support Kenya's recovering animal populations
LEWA, Kenya (AP) — As nations mark World Wildlife Day, conservationists in Kenya are warning of shrinking wildlife spaces in the east African country that generates substantial revenue from wildlife tourism. While conservation efforts over the past two decades have led to the recovery of many threatened species, the animals are losing wide swaths of habitat because of threats stemming from climate change and destructive human behavior, activists warn. But they also cite an opportunity in what are known as wildlife corridors — strips of land connecting areas that would otherwise be separated by human activities. By allowing free movement of animals and reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, such corridors support the growth of wildlife populations. One conservation group that is trying to create such corridors is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which lies about 260 kilometers (160 miles) north of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Lewa is owned by a nonprofit that has acquired more land in recent years in a bid to connect Mount Kenya forest preserve to rangelands in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is home to 14% of Kenya's remaining black rhinos, in addition to other mammal species ranging from lions to zebras. An annual wildlife census was underway when the AP visited Lewa, where animal numbers have been going up over the years. The census involved the manual counting of each animal, with both ground rangers and aerial teams participating in the dayslong effort. 'All this is an effort to ensure that we undertake the responsibility of accounting for every species that is found on Lewa, especially the most critically endangered ones and the threatened ones,' said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation and wildlife at Lewa. 'We make sure it's a full census.' Lewa's elephant population increased from 350 individuals in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, according to figures provided by the conservancy. Similar growth was seen among white and black rhinos, a major draw for visitors. But rising wildlife populations strain ecosystems and need to be matched by stronger efforts to protect habitats and create new corridors, Maringa said. 'As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them to climate change, relate them with people and human-wildlife conflict,' he said. 'Maybe you are enjoying seeing a lot of elephants or buffalos. But at the end of the day what does that mean? You have to make sure you think ahead of the population.' Kenyan authorities report wildlife population growth trends across the country. Figures from the wildlife authority show that elephant numbers have grown from around 16,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 37,000 in 2024. Black rhinos have increased from fewer than 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Critically endangered Grevy's zebras now number over 2,000, while lions have grown to approximately 2,600. But that success is threatened in some areas by growing human populations: Kenya's population has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025. Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, is encouraging conservancies such as Lewa and private landowners to open up wildlife corridors for free animal movement, with translocation efforts also underway to redistribute animals from crowded ecosystems into less populated areas. KWS, in a recent statement, cited the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, an expansive protected area in southern Kenya that hosts key elephant migration routes, as 'increasingly under pressure due to human activities affecting the free movement of wildlife.' Similarly, the wildlife corridor known as Kitengela, which connects Nairobi National Park to the grasslands of southern Kenya, has faced fragmentation due to human settlements and infrastructure development. Beside climate change, rapid urbanization driven by population growth is a major factor in the shrinking of wildlife corridors, according to KWS. There is also the additional problem of wildfires, with Kenya Forest Service reporting over 180 wildfires that have damaged more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation across the country since the beginning of this year.
