Category Archives: Conservation

SOYSAMBU CONSERVANCY JOINS THE 8TH EDITION OF CYCLE WITH THE RHINO EVENT

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The Kenya Wildlife Service on Saturday, September 15, 2012 hosted the 8th edition of Cycle with the Rhino event at Lake Nakuru National Park.
Cycle with the Rhino is an annual unique cycling fund-raising competition initiated by KWS whose main aim is to rehabilitate the 74km Lake Nakuru National Park perimeter electric fence which is key in mitigating human-wildlife conflict, providing a secure rhino breeding sanctuary and protecting Lake Nakuru National Park – an internationally renowned bird’s watcher’s paradise famous for its flamingos.
Proceeds from the event also go towards community conservation education and the implementation of community social responsibility projects initiated by KWS for communities living around the park.
The Guest of Honour at the event was the German Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Mrs. Margit Hell Wig-Botte. Others to grace the event were the KWS Director, Julius Kipng’etich and two-time world marathon record holder, Amb. Dr. Tecla Loroupe.
The event brought together stakeholders, sponsors, communities living around the park and the general public through a unique and thrilling cycling competition as they cycled through the dusty hills and valleys, crisscrossing the heart of Nakuru town and its environs before culminating in a lifetime experience of a tour and adventure of Lake Nakuru National Park.
THE DAY’S CHAMPIONS WERE;
ELITE CATEGORY
1. Davis Kinuthia
2. Husein Manfred
3. Paul Ariko
BODABODA CATEGORY
1. Fredrick Musiani
2. Dominic Ooko Ouna
3. George Mwangi
SENIORS CATEGORY
1. Keneth Kamau
2. Anthony Kiarie
3. Keneth Kamau
JUNIORS CATEGORY
1. Peter Gathere
2. Jarsey Ngugi
3. Keneth karaya
AMAETUR CATEGORY
1. Brian Wardrose
2. Mbuthia Peter
3. James Kimani
Shared from;
Community Education and Awareness Desk.

8th edition cycle with the Rhino champions.

Desnaring and awareness

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The bushmeat trade has been blamed for the alarming rate of wildlife decline worldwide; however, subsistence poaching has led to the local extinction of animal species . International, national, regional and local treaties and agreements have been signed to combat the vice. Soysambu conservancy in conjunction with the Born Free Foundation had a two day community outreach   on the importance of wildlife conservation and the impact of the bush meat  trade, with  video showings.   A whole day was dedicated to the removal of snares where 33 live snares were retrieved and 43 dead snares  collected within the conservancy.   This activity coincided with the celebration of the late  George Adamson a legendary lion conservationist, on whose legacy the Born Free film and later, the Foundation were established.

Community at Kongasis watching video on dangers of bushmeat

 

Snares found inside the Conservancy by Team

 

 

 

 

 

Baby giraffe with mother and doing well!

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Baby Giraffe and Mom

Saving a Baby Rothschild’s Giraffe on Soysambu Conservancy

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Just as the sun was slipping behind the Mau Escarpment I received a call that an endangered baby Rothschild’s Giraffe was in distress. I jumped in my car and rushed there with blankets and phoned the Animal Rights Reserved mobile vet unit in Naivasha. They are about an hour or so away so all we could do was keep the baby warm and give comfort.

Gabi and Maddie comforting baby giraffe

Gabi and Maddie comforting baby giraffe

The sun was setting and there were hyenas close by so I asked our Soysambu Conservancy  rangers for assistance. Mike, who has been on the giraffe monitoring team, arrived with the Conservancy vehicle. While we waited for the Vet Unit to arrive the baby become stronger. When the mom came around we moved away hoping the baby could get up with it’s mum’s encouragement. It was just too weak from many hours lying in that position. When the mom moved away we kept it warm and rubbed it’s body and legs, trying to  get some circulation going. It finally lifted it’s head and sat up but still couldn’t stand and we couldn’t get it on it’s feet despite our best efforts.

Baby Giraffe lifts his head

Baby Giraffe lifts his head

The mobile vet unit arrived and immediately went to work getting the baby giraffe on it’s feet and examined it for injuries.

Standing for the first time

Standing for the first time

Examining Legs

examining legs

The Vet decided it was in good shape but had been lying there in the cold for so long it was numb so he massaged it’s limbs. It was amazing how quickly he responded.

Vet Massaging

Feeding milk and glucose

Feeding milk and glucose

The team then mixed a bottle of milk and glucose and after some coaxing he drank two bottles.

Walking without help

With that in him and feeling better he got up on his own and wobbled a bit but took a few steps. We decided to move as far away as possible and still observe with headlights dimmed to let it’s mom reunite with her baby. It was only a few minutes before she came up to him and touched his head and I guess, told him to follow her. She walked a few steps and he didn’t move, so she went back to him and maybe said “come on, there are hyenas about and you better come with me now”. (only my speculation) Well he followed her a few steps and stopped. She turned around and encouraged him again and he followed. Then he was looking for food so they stopped. She moved on and he didn’t follow so she came back, touched his head and he followed. This happened a few more times until they moved on. A little while later the baby sat down, I guess exhausted, and we were worried but he got back up again and followed her into the bush.

We think the mom was in the process of giving birth near the track from Kekopey to Elmenteita and she became spooked by a vehicle so took off running, the baby came out and hit the ground pretty hard. It is a tough birth in the best of circumstances. They usually get up and start feeding in about 45 minutes up to a couple hours. He had some scrapes on his legs and it was some time before he was discovered. The placenta was very close by so we assume this is the scenario.

A HUGE thanks to Animal Rights Reserved for their quick response which resulted in saving the life of an endangered species!!!

Kat Combes, CEO Soysambu Conservancy

DAY OF AN AFRICAN CHILD CELEBRATION

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In Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young students were shot.
To honor the memory of those killed and the courage of all those who marched ,the day of the African child has been celebrated on 16th June every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the organization of African Unity (African Union). The day also draws the attention to the lives of African children today. During the African Union Heads of states’ meeting of July 1990, it was resolved that June 16th be observed as the day of the African child. It was first observed in Kenya in 1991 and it has since become an annual event.
This year at Gilgil District, the event took place at Gilgil stadium and was flagged off by Rift Valley Director of children Services. Twenty three schools, children’s home, Non-Governmental Organizations and street children’s turned up for the event.
The team for the day was; the rights of children with Disabilities, the duty to protect, respect, promote and fulfill. Presentations dominated the day from the various groups, this comprised of; poems, skits and Songs .
Let’s join hands and ensure that children gets their right.
Shared from;
Community Education and Awareness Desk.

Marching around Gilgil Town