THE ELMENTEITA CLINIC

Posted on May 19, 2011 by beaty limo

: Our interaction with the community at the Clinic to obtain their opinions on the project.

The patients waiting to be served

Doctor and patient in the treatment room after treatment.

This is a community project located at the Elmenteita Centre few meters South West of Soysambu Conservancy. The project is funded by Soysambu Conservancy and the Constituency Development Funds .The Conservancy has put up a water tank outside the building for the water storage and supply at the clinic and also put up some pipes to supply the water from the source : Congreve Area.
At present, the conservancy provides a doctor and some medicines every Wednesday for dispense, Immunization ,Vaccination and family planning services . For good health and better Conservation, join Soysambu Conservancy in promoting the living standard of the communities surrounding us through medical provision.
Shared by: Community Education and Awareness Department.

SOYSAMBU BIODIVERSITY

Posted on May 11, 2011 by beaty limo

The Great White Pelicans some landing on the Island to join the Flock on Lake Elmenteita the only breeding ground in East Africa.

Augur Buzzard(Butte a. augur):The Bird of prey resting on the Acacia tree checking for any available Prey.

The Flamingos on the shores of Lake Elmenteita.

The Lesser Flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor) on the shores of Lake Elmenteita.

Black and white Colobus (Colobus guereza) in the Acacia xanhtopholea (Yellow Barked Acacia)Forest.

Soysambu conservancy is a privately owned land and declared as wildlife conservancy way back in the year 2007.It is a non-profit making organization with Diverse Fauna (Mammals) and Avifauna (Bird life). The avifauna comprise of both Terrestrial and the Wetland birds found in the 75% portion of Elmenteita within the Conservancy.
The recent animal census indicated that there is an increase in the number of animal species like the Eland ,Grant’s Gazelle, water Bucks,Warthogs,Bush Bucks,Reed Bucks,Vervet Monkey,Rock Hyrax and the Baboon, the population of the Semi-Endangered Ruth’s child Giraffe is quite promising.
The Conservancy has over 40 Mammal specie and over 450 Avifauna or Birds species. The total number of animals counted on 7th May .2011 for the wet season census was 8,615.Thanks to all who joined us in the Census Exercise.
Shared by: Community Education and Awareness Department(Beaty)

Soysambu Conservancy Wet Season Animal Counts

Posted on May 3, 2011 by beaty limo

Shared By Duncan Oduor-Soysambu Research Centre.

The wet season animal census in Soysambu conservancy will be conducted on Saturday 7^th May 2011 from 6:30am to 12noon.The Conservancy is divided into 9 blocks. Aerial count will also be done. The census results provide estimate animals numbers in the conservancy and also help in assessing the population trends for different species over time. This will be the main objective of the exercise and assessing both livestock and wildlife biomass and advise on how it could be balanced or improved. The information is relevant for better management of Soysambu Conservancy to avoid overstocking and over exploitation to ensure sustainability to both wildlife and livestock.

Lone Buffalo

Soysambu Conservancy and Delamere Estates organize the exercise in conjunction with KWS, other stockholders and volunteers. Counting will be done by sc staff, personnels from KWS, Delamere Estate Staff and volunteers and commences at 6:00am and end at about 12 noon after all the blocks are covered.

Method of counting the animals.

Soysambu Conservancy is sub-divided into 9 counting blocks:

1.Jolai A

2.Jolai B

3.Headquarter Area

4.Melia A

5.Congreve

6.Melia B

7.Soysambu

8. Mbaruk

9. Lakeside.

The blocks are covered by using 4×4 cars and aerial in block 9 because of dense vegetation reducing visibility on the ground. Briefing will be done on 6^th May 2011,3:00pm at Headquarters area and Research centre for data forms, maps where the participants get assigned to various vehicles having an experienced team leader. Counting teams assemble after census to summarize their data but all has to report before 12:30pm.The whole sc is fully covered by driving through main roads and network of other subsidiary routes. Each group consists of at least one observer and a recorder tabulating the results. The data is entered into a game census forms. The teams return to the Headquarters sum up their results without categorizing them into ages and sexes per block awaiting final report compilation at the Headquarters. Donations by volunteering or assigning your car for this important exercise is very much welcome. All are Welcome.

ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMME

Posted on April 19, 2011 by beaty limo

To achieve a better produce and valuable products the contributing factors to such a produce should always be taken care of, this is why Soysambu Conservancy is putting in efforts in maintaining a clean environment by mobilizing the surrounding community to collect litter within and around the Conservancy. The activity helps in the reduction of environmental pollution, helps in the improvement of the animal health by ensuring that the food material grazed on by the animals does not contain any toxicants, it enhances the maintenance of a clean environment.
The activity took place on 13th April 2011, participants during this activity included the following; Soysambu staff, BORNFREE Staff, KWS Staff, WCKvolunteer students, African Venture Students, Teachers and pupils of both Echariria and Kiboko primary school .The cleanup ended at noon and the group was given a talk on the importance of a clean environment, then a video show on the impacts of Game meat. Lets join together in maintaining a clean environment by being responsible in the way we dispose our litter. The team for the day was; A clean Environment for a better Conservation.

Shared by: Community Education and Awareness Officer (Beaty Limo)

Soysambu Conservancy Fencing Project

Posted on March 29, 2011 by beaty limo

Shared By:Duncan

Historically throughout most of the world, wildlife and livestock would roam freely and were fenced out of areas, such as gardens or fields of crops, hay fields where they were unwanted. Over time, especially where crop agriculture became dominant and population density of both humans and animals was significant, parks, reserves, livestock owners and conservation areas were fenced to reduce conflicts.

The earliest fences were made of available materials, usually stones or wood, and these materials are still used for fences today. In areas where field stones are plentiful and naturally available, fences can be built up over the years as the stones are collected from the natural piles, the transport and labour is the main requirement.

Soysambu Conservancy Stonewall Fence.

The Soysambu stonewall project was started in late 2008 on the Southern side of the lake and stretched from the shore of Lake Elmenteita to Sleeping Warrior Hill broken by the Gilgil-Elementeita road bordering Ututu and Horse Shoe Crater areas. This project has been extended to the North Western side of the Soysambu in areas bordering Kiungururia areas. This stonewall will be improved with electric fence on the top as there are pole reinforcing in the middle of the stone after intervals. By erecting few strands of wires on the top,solar powering and stones on the ground, the fence will be able to control trespassing domestic hunting dogs, livestock and reduce trespass from the community.

The Soysambu’s dry-stone fence has no mortar. The artisans place the stones so that their own weight and peculiar shapes hold them together from within. At first sight the stones can seem well fitted. Small stones occupy odd spots; loose fill can be seen spilling out. These fences are said to stand for over 150 years under the pressure of the years and the forces of life.

Electric fence.

The Soysambu electric fencing was erected in 2009 along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway (A-104) stretching for about 12 kilometers mainly to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts on the roads and neighboring community. Electric fencing generally became widely available in the 1950s and has been widely used both for temporary fences and as a means to improve the security of fences made of other materials. This solar powered fence is made using lightweight steel wire (usually 14-17 gauge) attached to posts with insulators made porcelain or plastic. With a small power house in the centre at Kiunguroria Gate as a control to the left and right ends of the fence .A fence charger in the powerhouse places an electrical pulse from ground to the wire about once per second. The pulse is narrow and usually around 5-20 kV. Animals receive an uncomfortable but harmless shock when contacting the wire, and learn to stay away from it.

Smooth Wire Fence

This fence type was mainly used in dividing the Soysambu Ranch into paddocks for the livestock. Smooth (or plain) wire is essentially the same product as barbed wire with no barbs – either a two-wire twist or a single strand. Its primary advantage is that it is less likely to cause lacerations and cuts if an animal becomes entangled in it or rubs against it. Animals lean on mild steel smooth wire, stretching it out of shape or loosening it from the posts, and for this reason it is often used in high-tensile form, which more easily springs back to its original length. The Soysambu smooth fences have been damaged in most parts by the wildlife calling for a change in fencing type. Smooth wire fencing is often used as an inexpensive material to safely contain livestock and that run a high risk of entanglement, now in conjunction with a line of electric fence on the highway.

Maintenance of the fences.

All these types of fences require regular maintenance to ensure their effectiveness. Cattle and wild life are strong enough to go through most types of fence by main force, and occasionally do so when frightened or motivated by hunger, thirst, or mating drive. Weather, flood, fire, and damage from vandals or motor vehicle accidents can do similar damage and may allow livestock to escape to the unwanted areas.

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