Understudied Carnivora (Mammalia) of Kenya: mobilizing specimen data from the National Museums of Kenya for conservation planning

This project sought to mobilize existing biodiversity data for 31 species of small carnivores (Mammalia, Carnivora, ≤15kg) inhabiting or potentially occurring in Kenya to assist in developing a national strategy for their conservation. Funded through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Biodiversity Information for Development (BID), the project focused on student-based data digitization and mobilization of specimens housed in the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Over a 6-month period, a cohort of 14 Kenyan students and three museum professionals digitized 1112 specimen occurrence records of 30 species of small carnivores. Professional training included participation in two workshops and one field trip. Digitized specimen records were combined with existing data to highlight conservation priorities for the 31 species that form the basis of the first National Small Carnivore Conservation Action Plan for Kenya. Although the project began with additional partners maintaining potential records of these 31 species, data curation and accessibility issues with these non-vouchered records limited successful mobilization to the NMK specimens, further emphasizing the unique value such collections possess in terms of housing resources available for public data sharing. This paper reports on the process, use, and conservation implications of these data, highlighting successes and challenges.