Eden Wildlife Trust Survey Projects

Education today is the most important tool for conservation if we want to protect Kenya’s wildlife tomorrow, Ray Hubbard has said. Mr Hubbard, a Trustee of Eden Trust from UK was speaking at Tsavo West National Park during the Trust’s Projects Annual Review.

This review included the commissioning of an Education Hall, constructed and equipped with seats for the Park’s Visitor Information Centre. According to Eden Trust Project Officer Mr. Iregi Mwenja, the Trust has other ongoing projects including the renovation of Mganga Bore hole, rehabilitation of Jipe Shallow well, and supply of water and fuel for the critical Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary.

Impressed with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) efforts to conserve wildlife especially during this dry season, Mr. Hubbard challenged the organisation to utilise the facilities effectively and for the intended purpose, as Kenya was the only country benefiting from Eden Trust funding.

Meanwhile the Assistant Director, Tsavo West National Park Mr. Robert Muasya led the review team and other senior KWS Officials to Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. Ngulia has only one-old-water-pump tagged as ‘life saver’, which if it breaks down many animals will suffer in the searing heat by the waterhole - 6km from the pump.

The sanctuary is facing severe challenge, shortage of water to rhinos and hundreds of herbivores including elephants that have stiffened the competition; it is more of an elephant sanctuary than rhino. The Sanctuary Warden, Oliver Munyambu said buffaloes and herds of desiring elephants bring about the shortage of water by literally camping at the water point for hours. “The 70 rhinos we have in the sanctuary can not fight back these herds of thirsty elephants. In the recent past there has been an attempt to drive over 200 elephants accustomed to this sanctuary and habitat. However only 17 elephants moved out, but after charging furiously to the cars and chopper. These elephants are psychologically tuned not to cross the electric fence line even when it is demolished,” Oliver explains.

Senior Warden Mr Simon Gitau, who represented the KWS Director on the function, noted that the itch has to be solved somehow. “The earlier the better because there is vegetation degradation by the elephants and the increasing number of herbivores competing for the same forage with the rhinos posing a great threat”. He thanked Eden Trust for their continued mouthful support on conservation projects and education around the country.

The Eden Wildlife Trust review team is assessing other projects in Shimba Hills National Reserve, Mwalunganje Elephant Sanctuary, Shimoni, Kisite-Mpunguti and Saiwa Swamp National Park. Attending this function also were Senior Warden Education Richard Obanda, Tsavo West Education Wardens, Catherine Wekesa and Lucy Makosi, religious leaders, local schools and members of the public.

(Story and Photos courtesy of Obed Mule)