TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS AT RISK

BY  DUNCAN ODUOR

The 2008 Red List of Threatened Species by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) portrayed 5,966 species as threatened out of the nearly 60,000 described vertebrates’ species species on Earth. An additional 2,496 species of invertebrates and 8,457 species of plants were also listed. Only 43%of all known vertebrates’ species, 4% of all plants, and less than 0.5%of invertebrates were evaluated and others may be in danger.

IUCN has estimated that 1/3 of all amphibians’ species, 1/4 of all mammals and more than one in ten birds are sliding towards extinction .Long before species are technically extinct, they become so rare as to be gone from nature. Many people, organizations and governments are now dedicated to stop the trend and protecting what remains. Beyond species-specific strategies, efforts include laws limiting hunting and trading of endangered animals, preservation of habitats such as parks, reserves, private conservancies, and even international treaties.

Locally, environmental groups have organized projects that give communities incentives to protect wildlife and habitats. Most species particularly predators and large animals require large intact areas to sustain healthy populations.

blog

The now endangered male Rothschilds’ Giraffe browsing on acasia in Soysambu Conservancy.

blg

The young pelicans on breeding islands in Lake Elementeita.

PIVOTAL ROLES OF RIVERS IN ECOSYSTEMS.

BY DUNCAN ODUOR

oukoduncan@yahoo.com

Rivers have always been potent symbols of time and change, shifting shape as they travel from the mountains to the lakes. Fast- flowing streams dominate their upper parts, growing larger and slower as they descend toward wetlands and the coasts. It is amazing that no two rivers are exactly alike. Climate, geology chemistry of the rivers and the contours of the land all determine a river’s characteristics and the varieties of life that it supports. As a rule, large fish can be found in deep, slow-moving waters of main river channels. Smaller species inhabit the shallower headwater streams. Other species native to arid regions have adapted to periods when rivers run dry or are reduced to a few standing polls until the next rainy season. Floodplains and wetlands harbor the greatest number of species .Renewed each year with river-borne nutrients, they plants, insects, worms, and other invertebrates which in turn attract large numbers of fish, mammals and birds to feed and breed. Throughout the world, rivers and wetlands play similarly vital roles in people’s lives providing shipping routes, hydropower, recreation, jobs, and food and provide drinking water. Rivers and other wetland fisheries often provide the only source of animal protein for people in most parts of Africa and developing world, particularly the rural poor who turns to fishing when they cannot find jobs. In some parts, farmers are also involved at least part time in fishing activities to augment their family food supplies and incomes.

Over time, humans have heavily altered waterways to fit their needs by building dams, levee and canals. Other harmful practices which today are unfortunately widespread, include draining wetlands, over-abstracting water for agriculture, polluting rivers with fertilizer, dumping wastes, over harvesting of fish and introducing non-native species. These threats pose major challenges to conservationists who nonetheless are making progress.

World leaders officially recognized the value and vulnerability of wetlands in 1971, when 158 nations signed a conservation treaty specifically aimed at protecting the wetlands. Over 1828 wetland sites covering over 169million hectares of both coastal and fresh water wetlands have been designated as under the Ramsar Convention. Conserving a river is a more daunting task because they cannot be fenced. Protecting rivers requires a range of coordinated efforts influencing activities on adjacent land such as zoning rules limiting land users, regulating pesticides on nearby farms, planting and maintenance of trees and other vegetation along the riverbanks.

IMG_1036

DOMESTIC ANIMALS DEGRADES THE RIVER BANKS.

 RIVER MERORONI'S ENCROACHED BANKS.

 RIVER MERORONI’S ENCROACHED BANKS

FIM AFRICA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN SOYSAMBU

This year’s event was held in Soysambu Conservancywith participants drawn from Kenya,Uganda,Tanzania,Zambia and South Africa.The event was flaggeg off by Lord Delamere and Lady Ann Delamere on Saturday 16th October 20011.The spectators turned up in large numbers.The Vice President of the FIM graced the occassion where the quads and the bikes competed on a 48km long course,crossing the two rivers ,main Narobo-Nakuru highway and back to the Conservancy.

By Duncan Oduor

Flags ot the participating countries.

Flags of  the participating countries.

IMG_0221

Lord Delamere is getting ready to flag off  the participants.

ROTHSCHILD GIRAFFE TRANSLOCATION ENDS.

By DUNCAN ODUOR AND BEATRICE LIMO-Soysambu Research  Centre

It has been a major success tranquilizing 8 Rothschild giraffes  and move them to their holding pen where they are going to stay for two weeks before final journey to  Ruko Conservancy in Baringo.The  two males and six females  “family” are now settling and  will be fed on freshly cut branches of accacia and other indigenous plants,lucern,pellets and  fresh water supply. Competent team will be taking care of them within the pen before the translocation.

photo-3

Already loaded candidate ready for move to the pen.

photo-5

darting process on tranquilized candidate.

photo-1

The darting process continues…

photo-2

The final 8 candidates in their pen in Soysambu Conservancy.

rothschild giraffe now endangered

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.

The situation in Soysambu Conservancy

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,the was reported by one of the researchers 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 analyzed for mitigation measures.