We don’t often blog about our wildlife conservation programs in Kenya but that is not to say that it is any less important than all the other community and environmental work we are involved with. Since Steve Mwasi relocated to Camp Tsavo, he has been determined to create more structure to what we do and ensure what we are doing contributes to the overall conservation program that our partners who run Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary are deeply involved with. After some discussions with Dr. Mwangi who heads up the Wildlife research on Rukinga, we revisited our wildlife monitoring program and how we collect data and for what purpose. Steve Mwasi is now our main Wildlife Program Coordinator and recounts what we have been doing for the past eight months at Camp Tsavo…

Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife corridor linking Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park, so it falls under the Tsavo Ecosystem. Most areas within this ecosystem experience arid and semi-arid climate with rainfall being sporadic and patchy. Water is a critical resource in Tsavo and its distribution determines the movement of mammalian species with the Acacia Commiphora being the dominant tree species in the area.

The number of different species of wildlife on Rukinga varies between dry season and rainy season. Wildlife species have adapted, so that they are able to satisfy their demand during both seasons. One of the possible means, which wildlife have used for long time to cope with the changes in the ecosystem, is through migration. Thus, the main purpose of monitoring widlife is to establish the population dynamics on the sanctuary. This involves physical counting of wildlife species, identifying sex as well as number of individuals. This data is then collated together with the GPS coordinates where those species have been spotted.

Our new Wildlife Monitoring program at Camp Tsavo began in July 2011 and all our groups who visit are very much involved and very important to the process. Data is collected during game drives in the sanctuary in which case the game drives routes are split into transects so as to avoid backtracking and ensure accuracy of data. So far 17 trips specifically for wildlife monitoring have been done and the data collected handed over to the Wildlife Works Research Department. During the initial stages of data collection the area was going through a dry spell and the vegetation was not dense, hence animals could easily be spotted from a distance. As water is available in troughs and tanks, sitings during this period are quite common.

Initially, during the game drives, wildlife species counted involved mammals but we later started including raptors (Birds of prey). Game drives are mostly done in the afternoon as from 3.30pm up to 6.00pm due to the fact that the animals will be hidden away under shelter during the midday sun and will come out to the waterholes when it is cooler.

Wildlife species such as Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Buffaloes, Elands, Kudus, Gerenuks, Warthogs, Impalas, Gazelles and Dikdiks, Baboons were regularly counted. In terms of Cat Species, lions and Cheetah sightings were counted but not regularly. Raptors spotted regularly were the Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Martial Eagle and Tawny Eagle.

With the onset of short rains as from October to December the ranch vegetation changed drastically. Vegetation became dense and natural waterholes filled up. This impacted on the movement of wildlife such that chances of spotting and counting wildlife reduced. Some of the roads on the ranch also became impassable (and just one of the reasons why we also spend some time maitaining the roads) so there was not much wildlife monitoring during this period.

The short rains stopped in December 2011 and as from January 2012 the ranch vegetation was still green and most of the waterholes were filled with water. However, the dry season began hitting again in February and some waterholes dried up and vegetation density reduced. Wildlife sightings improved and as per the monitoring we did within this period, we saw an increase on wildlife distributions in the portion of transects we have covered. We are still carrying on with data collection and we will certainly have more understanding of the wildilfe distribution after Wildlife Works research department has developed the data base.

Waterhole Monitoring

We managed to start monitoring waterholes at the beginning of this year. Due to the good short rains most of the waterholes filled up. We have been focusing primarily on natural waterholes in which case they can be classified as scrapes/water pans, medium waterholes and large waterholes and are able to retain water for two to three months. The amount of water available will of course vary due to meteorological and soil factors as well as the intensity of use by wildlife. The main purpose of conducting waterhole monitoring  was to try and determine the level of diversity of wildlife that use the waterholes on Rukinga as well as to investigate the patterns of waterhole visitation by different species. So far we have done 2 sessions and we have first targeted waterholes which are near our camp. Data collected includes time taken to drink, sex of the species and number of individuals. Species recorded include Elephants, Giraffes as well as birds’ species such as the African fish eagle.

We will keep you posted as the data starts to reveal patterns.

Thanks,

Steve Mwasi (Wildlife Program Coordinator, Camp Kenya)

Anyone who has grown anything, harvested it and eaten it, knows just how much more satisfying it tastes.  But anyone who farms to make a living will know just how much hard work goes into producing a few kilos of fresh vegetables. As climate patterns change, and seasonal rains become less reliable, and populations soaring, food security particularly in Africa where the majority are still subsistence farmers has once again become a priority on the development agenda. To give you context for Kenya:

Agriculture in Kenya continues to dominate Kenya’s economy, although only 15-17 percent of Kenya’s total land area has sufficient fertility and rainfall to be farmed, and only 7-8 percent can be classified as first-class land.^[1][2] In 2006, almost 75 percent of working Kenyans made their living by farming, compared with 80 percent in 1980.^[1] About one-half of Kenya’s total agricultural output is non-marketed subsistence production.^[1] Agriculture is also the largest contributor to Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP).^[1] In 2005, agriculture, including forestry and fishing, accounted for about 24 percent of the GDP, as well as for 18 percent of wage employment and 50 percent of revenue from exports.^[1]

Farming is the most important economic sector in Kenya, although less than 8 percent of the land is used for crop and feed production, and less than 20 percent is suitable for cultivation. Kenya is a leading producer of tea and coffee, as well as the third-leading exporter of fresh produce, such as cabbages, onions and mangoes. Small farms grow most of the corn and also produce potatoes, bananas, beans and peas.

(From Wikipedia)

Camp Muhaka and Camp Makongeni happen to be located within that 20% of suitable land for cultivation and whilst just about everyone has a small little farm mainly for cassava and maize and a few mango trees, there is very little in terms of cash crop production. People are extremely poor in the area and most live hand to mouth yet the soil is very fertile particularly in Muhaka and rainfall sufficient to ensure at least three good harvests a year. There are a number of reasons, and probably the main one being access to good market prices. Just about anything you plant in Muhaka grows and yes, there are problems with pests but, yes, things do grow.

We have proved it by planting a number of different vegetable crops on the Trust House land and getting a kick out of harvesting:

Ok, so we are not (yet) feeding ourselves let alone the world but hey, got to start somewhere! So, we have our spinach, tomatoes, eggplants, bananas, watermelon, and…

chillies….lots of chillies!

Why chillies? Simple:

1. They grow very well in this climate region and are farily hardy crops which the bugs don’t like them and they can sustain quite long periods without water

2. There is a high demand for certain species of chillies locally and on the export market

3. You can produce and harvest chillies all year round

4. They are ideal for small landowners. We have harvested and sold almost 200kgs of chillies in the last four months

The long term plan here is to ensure a solid market with a fair price for farmers in Muhaka. The price of dried chillies is much better than fresh ones but obviously you need a lot more dried chillies to make it a viable business. I was really pleased the other day when a farmer came with ten kgs of dried chillies that he harvested from his own farm so not only did we manage to sell them for him, but we were so pleased by his efforts that we offered to pay for the first term of child’s secondary school fees. Hopefully this is just the beginning…

And besides the chilli sauce we are making from these little critters is guaranteed to keep your bosses on their toes (place your orders for the special brew here)…

It’s never easy to write an obituary and I have no intention of doing so. A great global leader died yesterday, one of our own…

Indeed she was a nobel prize winner, she walked with great people like President Obama and appeared on the Oprah show and all the rest. But to many Kenyans, she is one of ours because we remember her for never giving up a fight against injustice, corruption and greed and for being that one person who was never to great to forget the most important things in life are right in front of us – like planting a tree and watering it…and that is what we will remember you for…your humility and remaining part of us wananchi…

Only a week ago, we were celebrating Peace One Day in Kenya with the opening of a new kitchen at Ngonzini Primary School next to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary where we have run projects and commemorated Peace One Day for the past three years running. Thanks to all our volunteers, we achieved this in a very short space of time:

And last week, we officially opened the kitchen with two energy efficient stoves on Peace One Day which will reduce the amount of fuel wood required by at least 50%…

I think she would be proud of us. I think this is how she believed in tackling the divide between the environment, wildlife and people. It’s not just about the tree, or the elephant or the person; it’s about the interdependency between all living creatures and it’s about doing your bit, no matter how great the challenge is, like this little hummingbird…

We would like to dedicate this kitchen to Mama Wangari Maathai and in doing so, I hope it’s not just words that you will be remembered for but your actions that have inspired us all.

Amani…