Giraffe and bird species in danger

By Nation Reporter

Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 21:00

Some species of bird and giraffe are on the brink of extinction unless urgent measures are taken to conserve them.

Scientists working in Kenya said the Sokoke Scops Owl, a small member of the species, faces extinction in East Africa due to illegal logging in indigenous forests in the Coastal and North East Tanzania.

Dr Munir Virani of The Peregrine Fund and the National Museums of Kenya found an estimated 1,025 pairs during his study in the early 1990s, and during this recent study, he and his colleague’s estimated only 800 pairs.

“The Sokoke Scops Owl is considered a flagship of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and is an indicator of the health of the forest” Dr Virani said.

The Rothschild’s giraffe is the latest African mammal to be declared “endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

There are nine recognised giraffe sub-species and the Rothschild’s is the second most endangered, with less than 670 remaining in the wild, says Kenya Wildlife Service.

 Situation in Soysambu Conservancy

By Duncan Oduor and Beatrice Limo

Out of the remaining 670 rothschild giraffes the Soysambu conservancy has a population estimate of 70,currently most of the adult females have young ones ranging five months to 2 years old.This is an indication of a healthy population and quick measures should be put in place to help conserve them.We are infact optimistic that one of the females is  calving soon,this was reported by one of the researchers :Zoe Muller who is currently taking her studies on the same.We are welcoming more students,consevationists,stakeholders and donors who have interest in helping Soysambu conservancy and the world to improve their population.Enough data has to be collected and analysed  for mitigation measures.

Rothschild giraffe in Soysambu Conservancy.