KWS successfully moves black rhinos to a newly established sanctuary - Borana Rhino Sanctuary

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has successfully translocated a number of rhinos from Lake Nakuru National Park and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to the newly established Borana Rhino sanctuary in Laikipia.

The rhinos were moved from Lake Nakuru National Park while the others were translocated from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The composition was so designed to avoid in-breeding. The week-long exercise (August 26-31, 2013) was funded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Zurich Zoo and US F&W in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service.

The translocation is aimed at establishing a new rhino population and keep the established populations in Lake Nakuru National Park and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy productive by maintaining their numbers below their ecological carrying capacity levels.

The rhino conservation policy since 1989 has centered on the creation of intensively protected fenced sanctuaries. Black rhino has steadily increased within the sanctuaries necessitating removals to avoid negative density dependent effects. However, many established sanctuaries still remain overstocked hence new secure habitats are required.

The current Conservation and Management Strategy for the Black Rhino in Kenya 2012-2016 sets targets on restocking former free ranging areas which can support large populations, as well as the creation of intensive Protection Zones (IPZ) and secure sanctuaries in order to achieve its strategic objective of population expansion to reach a confirmed total of 750 black rhinos by end of 2016.

 Focus is placed on promoting creation of more government, private and community rhino sanctuaries to achieve the vision of a metapopulation of 2,000 black rhinos in Kenya managed in their natural habitat in the long term. Borana rhino sanctuary which is privately owned was one of the new areas targeted in the strategic plan for rhino population expansion. 

WWF species manager, Robert Ndetei witnessed the translocation and pledged continued support to KWS in its quest to conserve the last great species and places on earth for humanity. He said the international body has had a long standing relationship with KWS and cited among others collaborations in the establishment of rhino sanctuaries among them Lake Nakuru, Tsavo West and the creation of Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) in Tsavo West National park.

 Mr Patrick Omondi, the KWS Deputy Director of Wildlife Conservation, thanked all partners who made the exercise successful. He said KWS will continue to partner with private land owners in the conservation of wildlife and commended the management of Borana Rhino Sanctuary for meeting the prerequisites for rhino conservation. He encouraged communities to set aside more land for wildlife conservation.

The original post is credited to KWS .

HANDS OFF OUR ELEPHANTS - The message is loud and clear!

CONSERVATIONISTS ISSUE A RED ALERT AS POACHING OF JUMBOS INTENSIFIES

Nairobi, July 26^th…Conservationists in Kenya have issued a warning that poaching could exterminate elephants in the next 10 years unless measures are undertaken to stem this crisis.

Led by WildlifeDirect, a world life conservation charity organization, they now want the Government to respond to the crisis as a national disaster and work with all sectors to address it.


According to Dr Richard Leakey, former Director of KWS and the Founder of WildlifeDirect, there has never been such a level of killing as we are experiencing today, unless we do something now elephants will be gone from the wild within the next decade. Leakey is credited for bringing an end to poaching in 1989

“Today the situation is worse. Until the elephants are physically counted by an independent group we need to be very wary. We need to change things urgently and find creative solutions. Kenya’s wildlife belongs to the citizens of Kenya’s who must stand up to defend this heritage.  I believe that partnerships with private sector are critical. We cannot afford any further delay and we have to be tough!” warned Dr Leakey.

WildlifeDirect has announced their partnership with Key stakeholders in Government, NGOs, Private Sector, local celebrities, community leaders, corporate organizations to mobilize the nation in a joint effort to save elephants.

The movement dubbed HANDS OFF OUR ELEPHANTS calls for action by Kenyans of all walks of life to help. The campaign seeks to create awareness about the crisis, and demand for a massive surge in anti-poaching and investigations at ports to crack down on corruption and trafficking of ivory, followed by convictions that send criminals to jail for tens of years. The public can help by providing information through the use of a wildlife crime hotline. 

Speaking during the Press briefing, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Environment and Natural Resources, Prof Judy Wakhungu, said the government is fully supportive of this initiative. She added that the new wildlife legislation will soon be presented to parliament for endorsement. 

“We need the help of partners and we will also do our part. Under this new legislation, anyone found dealing in trophies of ivory or rhino horn will be liable to a fine of not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both, while poachers will be liable to a fine of not less than three million shillings or imprisonment for a term not less than five years”, said Prof Wakhungu.

Kenya Airways CEO, Titus Naikuni, a key partner in the campaign noted that his airline will not allow delivery of poached goods across the borders and any staff found engaging in illegal activity will be dealt with.

Speaking for Vision 2030, Director General Mugo Kibati added that “Kenya has hardly begun to tap the economic potential of her wildlife tourism. We welcome this initiative as it will ensure that Kenyans realise the country’s economic aspirations. Tourism is key to the economic pillar of Vision 2030 and without wildlife, there will be no tourism. Losing elephants threatens the very stability of our country. ” 

The demand for ivory in the Far East, particularly China, has attracted criminal cartels to Kenya who are feeding the insatiable demand for ivory in the Far East, especially China and Thailand. Conservationists warn that unless the demand is extinguished, poachers will wipe out Africa's elephants. 

CEO Wildlife Direct Dr. Paula Kahumbu lauded the government for welcoming the initiative which brings Kenyans together to save the country’s heritage. 

 “Kenya traditionally has been at the frontline in combating elephant poaching but we have lost that ground in recent years. It is essential that we work together and restore our leadership position in the world to ensuring that we protect our endangered species, and a global heritage. While we crack down on wildlife crime in Kenya, we also need the help of governments of Africa, Thailand, China, and USA whom we are asking to ban the domestic markets of ivory as legal markets are a cover for laundering illegal ivory. We will also appeal to the hearts of anyone buying ivory in these countries as they are contributing to the slaughter of African elephants”. 

The HANDS OFF OUR ELEPHANTS campaign is a plea to every member of the public and all sectors of the economy to champion the campaign against elephant poaching. The First Lady, Mrs Margaret Kenyatta is the campaign patron. A similar effort has been announced by Hilary Clinton in USA who seek to coordinate actions of the US based conservation community around this crisis. 

The situation facing Kenya is grave. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, (KWS) poaching is escalating out of control, the country lost 384 elephants to poachers in 2012 up from fewer than 50 just five years ago. For every matriarch killed several young will also have died. The country is also witnessing a surge in poaching by local communities who are using traditional methods including poison arrows, spears and traps.  Tanzania with 70,000 elephants report that they are losing 10,000 elephants per year, and conservationists warn that these poachers will move to Kenya once Tanzania herds are depleted. 

For more information, kindly contact: Vata Nganda, Senior strategist TBWA Kenya on 0736436157 or Email: vata.nganda@tbwa.co.ke

 

Responsible Travel: Part 3

Hopefully we have made a responsible traveler out of you, thereafter we spelled out the differences between a genuine green destination and a green washed one. In the third part of our responsible travel series, we take you through what you should look for in a green tour operator as a continuation from our part 1 and part 2. A green tour operator is really where it all begins and to prove that, here are some pointers in what you should look for in a green tour operator:

1.      Find out about the carbon profile of your business, sometimes a less-obvious area of inquiry than ecotourism practices. Make an effort to reduce your carbon footprint by adopting energy-efficient initiatives and using less carbon-intensive modes of transport. If you provide accommodation and food for your guests, research the carbon footprint of those areas of the business. For example, locally sourced and seasonal ingredients incur far less of an emissions burden than those hailing from far away, imported for an ecologically-disconnected menu

Work with the camps and lodges to create alternatives to flying and driving safaris by suggesting nature walks, cultural talks and tours, cycling safaris, boat safaris etc

2.      Do you have a relationship with the local community you explore? A less-sustainable tours and travel agency may not funnel much or any of its proceeds toward social issues in its region, while a more conscientious one incorporates locals into its operations and takes the time to give back to the community that draws in its patrons. This touches on sustainability in more ways than one. Locals that feel involved and respected in a tourism venture structured around its familiar landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage are more likely to value those components and make responsible decisions regarding the preservation of natural resources.

Give some of your net profit back to the local community and wildlife projects.

Choose a project that interests your company, such as rhino conservation or village water supplies, and set yourself a goal. Create the timeline with your staff and then inform your clients of your goal. Update everyone involved on your progress throughout the year.

3.      Specialize in tours of natural areas. Strike a balance between exposing outsiders to the wonders of a particular ecosystem and protecting that very ecosystem against excessive use and disruption. For example, tours that use baiting to attract animals may be unsustainable. Such activity habituates creatures to human presence and accustoms them to handouts, which alters their normal behavior; thereby decreasing their chances of long-term survival while increasing the likelihood of an antagonistic encounter that could lead to an animal's destruction

4.      Read through comments from other travelers, which may give a fuller picture of the tour company's attitude and practices.

5.      Give your clients tips on what to purchase i.e. refer your client to a local handicraft shop in the area they will be visiting. When buying gifts for your clients, purchase locally made items.

Set a policy on waste reduction and recycling. Ensure your staff is aware of it. Perhaps you can create a competition for the office staff that uses the least amount of paper or recycles the most paper.

6.      What pre-departure environmental information do you provide the traveler?

Create pre-departure information that provides helpful hints on wildlife conservation information and what natural products to buy or not buy when visiting East Africa

7.      Encourage your staff to write on eco- travel for magazines, websites and ezines? That’s free publicity for you while educating travelers at the same time!

8.      Train your staff to be eco-friendly. Have an eco-policy briefing for your staff.

9.      Get involved in regional initiatives to conserve the environment. Start looking for partners that will help you, help themselves and protect the wilderness areas at the same time!

Responsible Travel: Part 2

Following our first series of our responsible travel and that you are now bent on becoming responsible travelers.

Our second series puts its focus on the destination entity i.e. how the destination can encourage responsible travel. There is so much destinations can do, in fact listing the do’s would be endless. Not to worry though, we will be glad to give tips on how to be a responsible travel destination. So we will try a different approach.

What destinations should do to steer clear from green washing.What is greenwashing? 

Green washing is disinformation that is disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible image i.e. a marketing gimmick.

The causes for greenwashing in travel are no different than in other sectors. Businesses run the risk of falling into the greenwash trap while attempting to increase sales to create differentiation in a highly commoditized travel market.

1.       The hidden trade off. A claim suggesting that a product is ‘green’ based on a narrow set of attributes without attention to other important environmental issues. An eco-lodge should have standards and policies they adhere to complying with responsible tourism.

2.       Proof

An environmental claim that cannot be substantiated by easily accessible supporting information or by a reliable third party certification. Join an eco tourism or responsible travel organization where your lodge can be rated without prejudice and the ratings made public.

3.       Vagueness -a claim that is so poorly defined or broad that its real meaning is likely to be misunderstood by the consumer

4.       Worshiping false labels. A product that, through either words or images, gives the impression of third party endorsement where no such endorsement exists (fake labels). There are hundreds of global tourism eco labels, certifications, accreditations, guidelines and codes of ethics that are adopted by destinations, hotels, transportation and attractions. The lack of an easily recognized certification can lead to the impression that the tourism product is certified “green” when no proper information is provided as to how it is achieved and audited.

5.       Irrelevance an environment a claim that may be truthful but is unimportant or unhelpful for consumers seeking environmentally preferable products e.g. recycling. Let your guests know what you recycle, how you recycle, why you recycle and how they use the recycled product or how the recycled product is of benefit if not to them, then to the community. It is not enough to tell your guests that you recycle. Show them the impact of recycling.

6.       Lesser of two evils

A claim that may be true within the product category, but that risks distracting the consumer from the greater environmental impacts of the category as a whole. What emits less carbon? A car, a train or a plane? Bottom line is that all of these forms of transports are powered by non-renewable energy and it ultimately comes down to relative choices about which option is less harmful to the environment.

7.       Fibbing: 

Environmental claims that are simply false. This is the least committed sin. Or it could be that it is hard to prove because the lodge’s documents are private and cannot be viewed.

Rwanda raise costs for gorilla permits

Effective 01st of June 2012, gorilla permit fees, excluding permits already pre-booked until the time of the announcement, will be increased from the present US Dollars 500 per person to US Dollars 750 per person as announced by the Rwanda Development Board.

‘This increase comes at a time when there is significant growth of the gorilla population as well as an increasing demand for gorilla tourism. We are very committed to sustain our efforts in conservation in order to protect their environment as well as the rich biodiversity that exist in our national parks.”  Mr. John Gara, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board which falls under the Rwanda Tourism and Conservation board said.

The extra charge is being subjected to further strengthen protective measures for the prized Gorillas, fund conservation, research, community outreach projects, all of which depend on income from the tourists who come to visit / track gorillas.

Mr. Gara also stated that Rwanda's gorilla conservation had shown significant success, saying that at present they had ten gorilla families that could accommodate a maximum of eight tourists per day per family a number that indicated a double over the past five years.

The Rwandese move has however sparked an open debate with their tri- "gorilla" nation Uganda and Congo DR, particularly Uganda who only last year had reneged from a uniform approach to the permit fees, subsequently reducing the costs to attract more tourists.

Rwanda whose tourism is on a high zenith compared to all her neighbouring East African countries, has immense tourism attractions such as mountain climbing at Volcanoes National Park, visiting Rwanda’s Genocide Memorial Sites: Kigali Memorial Site; Murambi Memorial Site; Nyanza Kicukiro Memorial Site; and Ntarama Memorial Site, canoeing, kayaking, and wind surfing on Lake Kivu at the edge of Rwanda’s Western Province and many other attractions. 

NB: For gorilla or chimp tracking safaris, refer to our website www.uniglobeletsgotravel.com 

 or email us info@letsgosafari.com

King of the Jungle Endangered

Known for its majesty and prestige, the lion, nicknamed "the king of the jungle" is an animal know of it's strength and beauty. For centuries, the lion has been one of the main attractions in any game park or reserve across the globe. Lions have fascinated people from all walks of life with documentaries and  movies such as the Lion King keenly emphasising on the lion and their families.

Lions vary in colour but commonly are those that sport a light yellow-brown coat. Mature male lions are unique among big cats due the thick brown or black manes that encircle their necks and protect them while fighting, whereas the mature female lions are the pride's primary hunters, often working together to prey upon antelopes, Zebras, wildebeest and other animals in the naked wild.

The Lion population in Africa has rapidly reduced since the early 1950's and today fewer than 21,000 remain in all of Africa. As a fact lions are facing an indirect threat from climate change called co-infection and periodically face outbreaks of the disease distemper though this causes few death with an exemption of the period 1994 - 2001 which caused massive die-offs with researchers saying the epidemic was due to the occurrence of a server drought. This would then factor in the issue of deforestation by humans which causes weather change and as a result drought is experienced. It is warned that droughts such as the ones that bring about co-infection in lions are predicted to become more as the climate warms which we can rightfully say,  indirectly humans are the cause of the weather change.

Lions are also facing many more human threats such as population growth and agricultural expansion, resulting in loss of natural habitat, hunting, poisoning and poaching just to name but a few.

Facts about the Lion:

• Lions are about 4 feet (1.2m) (males) in height and approximately 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4m) (males), length. 
• They weigh 330-500 lbs (150-227 kg) (males) in general, female lions are smaller than males. 
• Their lifespan is placed at 10-14 years in the wild, however if in captivity can last for over 20 years!
• Lions top speed is rated at 50 mph (81 km/hr), for short distances . 

Defenders of wildlife and conservation groups are continually advocating for the life of lions, with campaigns being put across, blogs, news papers and magazine articles being written among many other channels including Social Media. We however feel that we can do more by educating people on the topic using simple viral methods or simply, planting a tree to help sustain the environment. 

"Visit one of Kenya's parks today and see a lion and the other big five. http://www.uniglobeletsgotravel.com "