Mpala Data Hub
Source: Pasted by Robert in chat 2026-05-10 (Robert’s reply to clarifying questions session_p6).
Use: Authoritative copy for the new /research/data-hub/ (or /datasets/) sub-page. Both Home “Browse Datasets” and Research “Data Hub” resource card route here.
Companion file: MPALA_long-term-datasets-overview_24-03-2026.docx at /02. Content/ root (longer-form Mpala submission).
Mpala was established in November 1994 at the core of the Ewaso Ecosystem, a large, geographically diverse region of central Kenya defined by the Ewaso Ng’iro River and its tributaries. The region is part of the 80 percent of Kenya’s land that is arid and semi-arid. It is characterised by savannas and woodlands and is home to an estimated 550 bird species and 100 mammal species. This includes large populations of elephants and rare species like the Grevy’s Zebra, reticulated giraffe, African wild dog and black rhino.
The region is unique in that little of it is formally protected, yet wildlife abundance rivals the renowned Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems. The Mpala campus is located on the Laikipia Plateau and covers 48,000 acres. The land provides a hub for experimental and manipulative research open to scientists and students from all over the world. It provides a ‘living laboratory’ where scientists can test hypotheses in the natural environment and conduct landscape-level controlled experiments to explore curiosity-driven questions, address real-world problems, and ensure that sustainable livelihoods and economic advancement are synonymous with wildlife conservation. Mpala is open for use to researchers and students from around the world looking to understand this particular ecosystem. It has a particular mandate to build capacity among Kenyan and African scientists.
Mpala hosts, facilitates and leads on a wide range of scientific projects and collaborations. Outlined below are some of the key focal areas of research and a list of all current projects and collaborations that are active at Mpala. The focal areas are linked to the projects that are currently active. Collaboration with Kenyan scientists, scholars and students is a key part of Mpala’s mission. There are many opportunities for building this further at Mpala.
Research themes generating long-term datasets
With the eight research themes shown below, a number of long-term datasets have been generated under:
- Wildlife health, shared health and genetics
- Wildlife species population dynamics
- Ecology
- Social science
- Habitat dynamics and climate change impacts
- Landscape evolution
- Wildlife resource information management
Mpala has hosted over 50 projects since inception. Several projects have ended (29) and 19 active projects remain to date.
Data access
The institute has weather data that can be requested.
All other datasets are managed by projects, and requests may be sent to the PIs. Some of that data is available on respective websites and repositories. Some of the data is private, while some carries embargoes if it is connected to studentships and only becomes accessible after publications. All data has a metadata form to support data requisitions.
Data citation
Data should be cited just as you would a journal article, ensuring the dataset is easily located. All data should have Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs). A standard citation format includes authors, publication year, title of the data, version ID, publisher, Digital Object Identifier, access date and time, and locator. Other elements may include query parameters, direct access link, data format, third-party producer, name of editor or contributor, publication place, and data within a larger work.
CTA on the page
Primary CTA: “Contact the Research Team” -> /contact-us/?subject=data-request
Secondary note (footer of section): “A self-serve data hub is in development. Coming soon.”