The turkana are a group of nomadic pastoralists that live on the western side of lake turkana in kenya. anthropologists working with the south turkana ecosystem project studied the turkana for two decades to gain insight into how they adapt and deal with the harsh conditions of the dry grasslands. identify the ways that the turkana have adapted in order to survive in this environment.

Explanation: The Turkana people (or commonly known as the Ngisonyokas) has lived of the lake Turkana in Kenya for many years. The harsh climate of this area has made it harder for the people who live there, but the Ngisonyokas has found their own way to battle this. First, we can start by saying that there is almost no agriculture. Since they live in very dry lands, seeds can’t flourish. But they have managed to find wild nuts and berries to help them feed themselves and their livestocks. Second, and one of the most important facts, is that they live off the products of their livestocks (milk, meat, yogurt, butter, skin). The most important species of livestocks are: camels, goats, sheep and donkeys. Each specie has its own requirement of food and water, and that is one of the main reasons Ngisonyokas are nomadic pastoralists. Ngisonyokas have no permanent settlement. They are constantly moving seeking for better water and food resources. Since precipitation is very extreme, Ngisonyokas have to move from one place to another in order to find a better land with better conditions. During the dry season, the milking and non-milking herds are separated into different households, so that everybody has something to eat and drink; milk from the livestocks contribute little to the total food supply. During the wet season, all the herds and villagers are gathered together; and milk contributes with all the foods. At last, Ngisonyokas not only move for ecological reasons, they move to be near their friends and relatives. During the most difficult times, the Ngisonyokas had created throughout the years a system of social ties, obligations and rights which helps their own people with motivation and companionship.