Lewa News Feed

Tracking Grevy's Zebra: Lewa and Beyond

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:29:00 -0500

Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) are the most endangered zebra species: in the late 1970s approximately 15,000 individuals remained but it is believed that there are now only around 2000 (1700 – 2400) left in the wild.

Today, Grevy’s zebra are found in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya, having retreated from an historic range encompassing much of the Horn of Africa. Within the vast complex of community land and conservancies, national parks and reserves, not to mention Urban areas making up the north of Kenya, the Grevy’s zebra continues to adapt in an ever more sedentary, human dominated, landscape. Approximately 13% of the remaining population takes refuge in the secure managed wilderness of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy near Isiolo.

Lewa’s small but vital population of approximately 350 is nestled at the southern limit of the Wamba area, between more widely distributed sub-populations in Laikipia and Laisamis. Movement between safe areas for the Grevy’s is fraught with risk, including large carnivores, dry savannahs, poachers and the growing pressure from expanding human populations and their livestock. Understanding these movements is essential to planning conservation measures, which will secure the species into the future.

As part of the national strategy to conserve the Grevy’s zebra, Lewa and Marwell Wildlife, in partnership with the Grevy’s zebra Technical Committee (GZTC) have been embarked on a telemetry study using radio collars to follow individual Grevy’s zebra on their travels throughout the Lewa conservation landscape for the past 6 years.

Method

By placing GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) radio collars on a few key individuals, the GPS (Global Positioning System) device in the collar locates the zebra to within 10m and uses the mobile phone network to beam information to the central server in Nairobi, where researchers can access it.

At the same time we use camera traps strategically placed at wildlife corridor gaps in Lewa’s boundary fence, which allow the zebra and other wildlife to pass in and out of the conservancy and it’s neighbouring lands. There are now about 30 radio collared zebra being monitored and having their collars replaced and removed in a carefully managed study.

You can follow some of these individuals on a smart-phone app called MiSavannah, available on the app stores for Google and iPhone. The app features elephant, lion and vultures as well.

Arrowhead

On the 5th of June this year, we placed a new collar on a zebra male who is regularly seen commuting to the north of Lewa. Several times a week the male moves out of Lewa into the adjacent Leparua Community Conservancy. Having observed the male for almost three years now, we have come to know him by a feint scar he carries on his right flank, between his pelvis and ribs.

On the 5th however we were to get to know him more intimately and in a somewhat alarming way. We’d seldom seen the male in the flesh as his movement were always well concealed in dense acacia thorn scrub, so we relied on photographs taken by remote cameras at night, as he passed through the fence gap.

But on this day we were determined to get closer to him, close enough to immobilise him with a dart and fit a radio collar. We were keyed up on this occasion, as this male had long intrigued us as he disappeared to the north under cover of night and returned each day just before the dawn. Where did he spend his evenings and what was the attraction, which drew him out of Lewa’s safe haven and into the dark north?

As we observed him through binoculars that morning we noticed a “thorn” protruding from his flank. It was hard to see, but visible as he turned side on, meandering away from us through the bush. We radioed for the vet to come and immobilise him and advised that he may need to treat a minor wound and some infection.

The vet arrived and after some time managed to bring the male down with his dart. As we approached him, lying safely on his side we saw nothing untoward. But as soon as we raised him upright, on his haunches, it was clear that this was no thorn in his side. A thin, toughened spiral steel shaft protruded approximately an inch from an old wound, largely healed, and only slightly weeping. The vet set to work immediately to extract the spike and we quickly realised that it must have a barbed tip and would not easily be released from the tight scar tissue that had encased it over many months.

After a delicate operation, lasting well into half an hour, the weapon emerged coated in clean bright red blood, but intact. Consulting the local men working with us we were informed that this was a Turkana arrowhead, commonly used in hunting large mammals. The metal tip and shaft are made from heavy gauge toughened steel wire, typically harvested from power line stanchion cables. Using a tempering fire a broad, barbed head is beaten out of a strand of the wire, and its shaft twisted to increase its tensile strength. The arrow is fried from a hard wood long bow with the head in a vertical position to maximise the chances of penetrating between the ribs of the quarry. As the animal flees, gravity and its forward motion drag the heavy shaft downward in a twisting motion that locks the had in place between the ribs ensuring it stays in it’s marque.

Our male Grevy’s zebra had survived this and lived with the impediment for a number of years already, earning him the moniker, Mchale, meaning Arrowhead, in Ki Swahili. Now with his collar fitted and beaming data to us every hour well not only be able to track his progress through the dense bush-veld he loves, but be able to keep a close watch on his wound as it heals by re-locating him frequently.

Timescale

We have been using telemetry (radio collars which are regularly re-located) since 2006, and hope to continue this effort for the foreseeable future. The fine scale movement data the collars collect is invaluable to the conservation of this highly endangered species.

Outcomes

The radio collars will enable us to better understand the ranging patterns of these remote populations. By understanding the zebra’s movements better we will be able to study the key threats to the species. For example, by finding out how often they come into contact with humans and how much conflict there is over resources like water, we can develop conservation strategies with the local communities to benefit both the wild zebras and the people that live with them. We also want to establish if there are any links between the Kenyan animals and the decreasing Ethiopian populations whose numbers are estimated at less than 100 individuals. The information gained will ultimately help provide employment opportunities as better-managed Grevy’s zebra populations have the potential to increase tourism.

Aims The information we hope to gain will provide insights for a number of questions, including among others:

• Identifiying of conservation hotspots

• Describing seasonal use of the landscape by the Grevy’s zebra

• Daily, weekly and monthly ranging behaviour

• Explaining their access to and use of water

• Defining their ranging behaviour under different land management practises

• How their movements change in relation to predator abundance

Reasons for project The Grevy’s zebra decline is the result of illegal hunting for meat and medicinal purposes, as well as an increasing competition with domestic livestock for resources such as grass and the already limited supply of water in these drought prone countries.

This project is a great opportunity for us to reduce the threats to the endangered Grevy’s zebra whilst at the same time strengthening local community livelihoods.

Grevy’s zebra are a key component of community-based tourism in northern Kenya and safeguarding this species will greatly enhance opportunities for community development.

2013 Friends of Lewa Dinner

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:59:00 -0500

Words and pictures courtesy of Tusk Trust In April, Tusk Trust staged another hugely successful Friends of Lewa Dinner raising just under £60,000 for the Conservancy. Held in the historic Guildhall in London, the dinner, sponsored generously by Artemis Investment Management, was an opportunity for the friends of Lewa to come together and support the Conservancy.

After an introduction by Simon King, Mike Watson, Lewa’s CEO, gave an impassioned and comprehensive speech about the on-going problem of poaching, which poses such a threat to Lewa’s rhino population.

Guests were then treated to a delicious meal by Party Ingredients, with an African music interlude performed by Kasai Masai. The auction followed, brilliantly led by Charlie Thomas from Bonhams, who persuaded many to put their hands in their pockets for the Conservancy. We would like to thank all of the auction prize donors, in particular Kate Silverton from the BBC whose last minute offer to spend a day in the studios with her raised £9,000.

The first two editions of Camilla Le May’s bronze portrait of Nicky, Lewa’s famous blind rhino calf, led the auction results at the Dinner raising £10,700. Sir David Attenborough became good friends with young Nicky while he was staying on Lewa to film his recent BBC series "Africa". He wrote a letter to accompany this first casting, saying what a delight it was to meet little Nicky and praising Lewa's commitment to ensuring that the rhino leads "a happy and protected life". In the letter he also thanked those who bid on the sculpture, reminding them that they will be “contributing significantly” to the rigorous security needed to protect Nicky’s relatives in the wild from the constant threat of poachers who are pushing the species towards extinction.

This beautiful and lifelike piece was done at Lewa after Camilla stayed with Anna this past winter. All of the funds raised will be used to support equipment and training of Lewa's rhino monitoring teams, a cause dear to Anna’s heart that she discussed with Lewa staff and board members just weeks before her passing.

The three next editions of the 'Nicky' sculpture are being offered exclusively to Tusk/Lewa supporters with 20% of the proceeds going back into Lewa rhino security. For more details please visit Camilla's website: http://www.camillalemay.com/gallery/wildlife/-Nicky-the-blind-baby-rhino/0

Ever Wanted to Name a Rhino? Here is Your Chance!

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:13:00 -0500

Thanks to Lewa's success in rhino conservation, populations of both black and white rhinos are flourishing and every year new calves are born. Through the Rhino Naming Programme, Lewa is offering you a great and unique way to support conservation by naming one of these rhinos:

Black Rhinos

White Rhinos

With a gift of $15,000 you will:

Have the privilege of naming one of these rhinos or calf (preferably with the same first letter as the mother’s name. This helps us keep track of the genetic lines)

Receive a certificate of naming

Receive photos and updates twice a year and be able to liaise with Lewa offices at any time on any questions you may have on the progress of your named rhino or calf.

Alternatively, with a gift of $2,500 you can symbolically “adopt” any of these rhinos and receive:

A certificate of adoption

Receive photos and updates twice a year and be able to liaise with Lewa offices at any time on any questions you may have on the progress of your adopted rhino or calf.

To find out more about the Rhino Naming and Adoption Programme, please email ruwaydah.abdul@lewa.org

Tributes to Anna Merz, Lewa's Co-founder and Rhino Champion

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:10:00 -0500

Naomi Campbell, Anna's god-daughter

Anna was the quintessential 'Fairy Godmother'; from my very earliest childhood memories in Cornwall, England, Anna would periodically arrive, as if by magic from Africa!Anna was my dear Mother's closest teenage friend and right up to my mother's untimely death ten years ago they would exchange letters every couple of months.

In my early teens Anna took me to Switzerland and Austria on holiday and in 1980 at the age of 18 I was invited by Anna out to Nairobi. I still have very clear memories of Anna and Karl discussing around their dinner table in Karen their dreams of starting a rhino sanctuary at Lewa Downs, supported by the Craig family. Ten years later I was lucky enough to re-visit Anna, this time at Lewa and again in 1992. Then in 1993 through my career in nursing, I happened to meet Jack and Pauline Bellamy who were wildlife film makers. Subsequently I made an introduction to Anna and Samia and to my delight in 1996 the BBC Wildlife on One series showed 'The Last of 'the Rhinos' on national UK television.

Two years ago Anna visited Cornwall and stayed at her beloved Meudon hotel owned by a very dear and life-long friend, Harry Pilgrim. During her stay I introduced her to my friend's 18 year son Greg who had always had a natural passion for wildlife. He is now at university studying zoology and is inspired to follow Anna's contribution to our natural world - this among many things is her remarkable legacy that she has left us.

Sarah Jenkins

Anna took us all by storm - her total commitment, her enthusiasm, her intolerance of any possible problems gave Peter quite a few head aches and certainly a lot of pleasure. You may know that it was Peter who conceived the idea of the project to save the Black Rhino from extinction, and just when it seemed that the Government of this country would not take up the cudgels on behalf of this endangered species along came Anna; oblivious to Peter's advice to be cautious she took the bold step of taking up his plan, persuading the Craigs to let her do it on Lewa Downs, and refusing to be cautioned by someone who was too used to the ways of this Government, after 40 years with them and, therefore, over cautious. It is entirely thanks to her that the Rhino Rescue Project in Kenya ever got off the ground; the Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service was so amazed that one individual had made such a huge commitment that he gave Peter and Anna 48 hours to collect the first Rhino - and she sat in the back of the truck with it all the way from Nairobi to Lewa. An eight hour-plus trip on a cold night. And that was just the beginning. I feel hugely privileged to have known her, to have become her friend and to have shared many special times in the bush. We will all miss her - her in-put has been invaluable and she leaves a big gap in many peoples' lives. I shall miss knowing there is a chance of seeing her twice a year. There are many people who let the world know what they have achieved but she was extra ordinary in that she never blew her trumpet, always managed to pass on the credit and kept her interest levels going - not always very easy in Africa.

She approved of one of the last things that Peter wrote in his diary - and she lived up to it:
"There are two sorts of people. Those that do the work - and those that take the credit.Try to be in the first group. There is more satisfaction."

Lewa USA

The shocking news of Anna's death seemed to come as a maelstrom from Africa when at once the fearless protector of rhino, who to her last weeks continued to fight for their survival, was snapped away. Anna is the icon, the very raison d'etre of Lewa's rhino efforts. She brought the idea to the Craig's so many decades ago now and devoted her life to their care and restoration. Anna was that unique blend of kind and generous, but fierce! She towed the line - do what is right to protect rhino - a daily mantra that the Conservancy has adopted. Her efforts bore fruit, over and over again. The last months of increased poaching pressure devastated Anna - and yet she continued to push on, to try to come up with new ways to protect the our rhino herd on Lewa. She garnered wisdom from all the animals she so deeply loved, by patiently observing their ways and noting their behaviour. From this wisdom she became their greatest ally. Always creative, always pushing all of us to think in new ways - Anna continuously worked to help these wonderful beasts carry on their important part in maintaining the bio-diversity of Eastern Africa. Anna leaves behind many dear friends. Our respect for her, our gratitude and our love cannot be expressed deeply enough. We celebrate Anna in our work each day and each of us carries our duty to serve Lewa and Lewa's rhino to the best of our abilities. As our inspiration, Anna will carry on her work through her many sentinels.

Denise Wagner, American Association of Zoo Keepers, (AAZK) Board of Directors

When I heard that Anna had passed away it hit me much harder than I thought it would. Yes, Anna was my friend but you never really realize the impact that someone has had on your life until they are gone.

The impact that Anna had on my life was tremendous because quite literally she made me see that the power of one is a real and vital thing. It was her wish to save rhinos that started the ball rolling into what would become the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy that we know today. She didn’t do it alone, but she didn’t have to. That is the power of one. It sounds like an oxymoron but it isn’t. It takes the ideas, passion and drive of one person to reach out to others and involve them in those wishes. And it is the ideas, passion and drive of the one that show other individuals that they can have an impact on issues that seem too great to surmount alone. That’s the power of one that grows into the power of many. Lewa is a testament to that for it takes all of the ones to make it what it is today and what it will become in the future. Thank you Anna, for showing me the value and the power of one. I will endeavour to continue to help Lewa and your legacy thrive in the face of mounting pressure. For you I can do no less. Rest in peace and god speed Anna, I will miss you greatly.

Patty Pearthree, National Bowling For Rhinos(BFR), Programme Manager

My husband Herbie & I first met Anna Merz in 1991 when I was the first “Bowling For Rhinos” trip winner. We were guests in Anna’s home in the 10,000 acre Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary within Lewa. Anna’s love of animals, nature and conservation was contagious. As I remember Anna, a smile comes to my heart. She brings so many fond memories of times we spent together, many of which were evenings filled with so much laughter that we were in tears!

I remember Anna having such a wonderful, child -like curiosity of the natural world around her. I stood beside her in Java, Indonesia as she learned of the curious, small creatures called mudpuppies. She was 65-years-old and could not believe there was a creature she had never heard of until then. In 1993, San Diego’s famous SeaWorld had been rented out for the evening just for the American Association of Zoo Keepers Conference attendees. I walked beside Anna as we entered the Orca Whale auditorium. She stopped frozen in her tracks with her mouth wide open in shock when she first saw this immense animal she had only seen in books. When the show was ready to start, I had to guide Anna to a seat as she was still frozen in awe of the beautiful animal in her midst.

My husband, Herbie, took Anna on a catamaran sailboat that year in San Diego. She hadn’t been on a sail boat in 50 years & was thrilled beyond words. She was forever grateful that I married such a wonderful man that would sneak her away from a boring conference that I had to attend!

In 1997, I had the pleasure of rooming with Anna at a rhino conference in Java, Indonesia. We never laughed so hard as when we both woke up to find our beds vibrating around the room at 4am due to the noise level of the mosque music blaring from the 16 x 16 foot speakers just outside our rooms! Or her stories of having to upgrade to a better room earlier in the conference in order to “get a decent lou that was not a hole in the ground”. There was no end to the joy she brought to a room with her wonderful stories! I had the wonderful pleasure of many evening walks with Anna, Samia (Rhino) & her dogs. There were days filled with Anna & I in her jeep racing Samia back to the house…Samia always taking a short cut and winning. She stayed with me at my home in Indianapolis when my son, Ian was just two weeks old. Never having children of her own, I always felt as if I were her adopted child as she cared for me as any mother would do. She knew just what I needed at the time…a good night sleep. She brought me one glass of wine at dinner while breastfeeding which did the trick!

My husband and I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit with Anna when Samia brought little Samuel to visit each morning. Samia slept near Anna’s compound and each morning we would awaken to the little squeaks and squeals of Samuel as he followed Samia to the fence to say good morning to Anna. Then Samia and Samuel would head out into the bush to be wild rhinos. Anna had taught them well. The wealth of knowledge that she gained from raising Samia was passed on to the zoo world and has helped all of us in more ways than Anna could ever know.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have known Anna for 23 years. I have so many happy memories to carry with me that I feel she will always be with me. I know she is watching over the rhinos of the world and I only hope we can make her proud and win the war on poaching. We are sure to have the edge with her watching over us!

From Lewa Canada by Jason Stewart

On behalf of Lewa Canada, I am honoured to express our Board’s and supporters’ appreciation for Anna’s remarkable work. Her legacy in founding Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary, as a driving force in helping to create Lewa, and in inspiring and helping to establish Lewa Canada is truly extraordinary.

It has been wonderful to see the tributes to Anna in the international media and from her fans in Kenya, elsewhere in Africa, Europe and North America. They have rightly celebrated Anna’s amazing role in helping to save rhino in Kenya and her inspirational impact at Lewa and far beyond its boundaries.Less well known are Anna’s crucial role in inspiring the founder of Lewa Canada, John Cook, to become a dedicated supporter of Lewa and her essential contribution in motivating the creation of Lewa Canada.

Anna’s work inspired John Cook to fund the purchase and translocation of one of the original three white rhinos from South Africa to Lewa. Her presence and remarks at the annual dinners hosted by John Cook in the years preceding Lewa Canada’s creation were features of these events. Anna’s commitment and encouragement were essential in motivating the initial band of major Canadian supporters of Lewa to take the crucial step to found Lewa Canada in 2003. Her visits and work together with those of Ian Craig helped create the donor base and critical early momentum prior to and in the initial years following Lewa Canada’s founding.

More recently, several of our Board members were fortunate to be present at LWC Board meetings with Anna where her presence was a highlight and her comments incisive as well as forceful. Dinners and drinks with Anna will remain cherished memories for us of our visits to Lewa.

Anna will be sorely missed by all of us at Lewa Canada. She was a true visionary and a great character.

From Lewa UK by David Walker

Anna Merz throughout her life stood out for her vision and her selfless determination. There are few people in this life who commit to a noble cause with her dedication, wisdom and perseverance. Lewa has achieved remarkable success in the conservation of rhinos, and she has been both the initiator and one of the main contributors to that success. All in Lewa UK stand in awe of her achievements, and salute her very admirable life. She will be sadly missed.

Harry Pilgrim (Anna’s friend for over 60 years)

Just before the outbreak of World War 2” Anna Farwell was sent by her father to live in their Cornish holiday home overlooking the Helford River. We lived nearby overlooking Falmouth Bay. Anna and I would meet at various parties. Anna’s first ‘boyfriend’ was a disaster and she finally took him to meet her Papa for his approval – which was denied. He was the life and soul of any party but far too old for her.

With the war over and petrol available again I was due to drive up in my Jeep see my fiancé in Birmingham, but it would not start. Anna said she would ask her Papa if I could borrow his big Austin – which I always referred to as ‘The Hurst’. Soon after Erni Kuhn came on the scene we were invited to the wedding at Lincolns Inn. Years later when we met again it was as if there had been no break. More years later still I got an urgent call asking if she could come and stay when she and Erni went their separate ways. All I could offer was a ‘shoulder’. This led on to our many travels in Europe and Africa. It is difficult to imagine two more different people – Anna an intellectual and me dyslectic!

Soon after our final meeting in London this January I was severely ill and spent six weeks in hospital. Once Anna knew this she telephoned her god-daughter, Naomi, asking her to visit me and get full details. When I was due to come out she asked Naomi to get details of stair lifts as she was sure I would need one. Anna was a very special and consistent friend and her death came as a very great shock – and still is. Now I feel free to remember her in my prayers.

Martin and Fritz Bucher, Zurich Zoo, Switzerland

Farewell, farewell, dear Anna!
On behalf of my father Fritz and myself I'd like to express or deepest sympathies. I would like to thank you, dear Anna, for accompanying us for many years. For letting us share with you the joys of Africa and your knowledge of the rhinos, which you loved so much. We treasure fond memories and tales and we'll never forget you! Best wishes for your current journey.

Greta Hall and her son and daughter-in-law, Nigel and Suzy Hall

Background: The late Bill Hall’s friendship with Anna Merz goes back more than 50 years when Bill was a stockbroker in the city and looked after Anna’s father’s financial affairs and then after Anna’s father passed away Bill looked after Anna’s affairs. Bill and his wife Greta became firm friends with Anna and whenever she was over in England she would always find time to come over to Jersey for a few days rest and respite. She would take Bill’s dogs for long walks on the cliff paths. Anna relied on Bill for his sage financial advice. They had a mutual admiration for each other. Anna really was one of the family. Sadly Bill Hall passed away just a few months ago at the ripe old age of 94.

Anna was more than a dear friend to the late Bill Hall; she could more accurately be described as an adopted member of our family for over 50 years. We are enormously sad at her passing away so suddenly. Anna was such an inspirational woman, not to mention always being an extremely entertaining companion. Greta, Bill Hall’s widow, was extremely touched that in the middle of winter Anna was able to fly all the way from South Africa to attend Bill’s memorial service in London. This meant an awful lot to us.

We are determined to fulfill Anna’s wishes that her outstanding efforts in the conservation of rhinos will continue and grow after her death.

She will be sorely missed by all of us here in Jersey and her memory will live on in future conservation initiatives. We are very sorry not to have been able to come to Lewa for this celebration of Anna’s life. We look forward to meeting as many of Anna’s friends as possible in the future.

With love from the Hall family.

Sculpture in Honour of Anna Merz, Endorsed by Sir David Attenborough

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:28:00 -0500

In honour of Anna Merz, renowned wildlife sculptor Camilla Le May has donated her most recent work, a bronze sculpture of young Nicky, Lewa’s resident blind black rhino. The first of only nine editions will be auctioned off at the “Friends of Lewa” dinner hosted by Tusk Trust in London on the 25th of April.

Sir David Attenborough became good friends with young Nicky while he was staying on Lewa to film his recent BBC series "Africa". He has written a letter to accompany this first casting, saying what a delight it was to meet little Nicky and praising Lewa's commitment to ensuring that the rhino leads "a happy and protected life". In the letter he also thanks those who bid on the sculpture, reminding them that they will be “contributing significantly” to the rigorous security needed to protect Nicky’s relatives in the wild from the constant threat of poachers who are pushing the species towards extinction.

This beautiful and lifelike piece was done at Lewa after Camilla stayed with Anna this past winter. All of the funds raised will go to support equipment and training of Lewa's rhino monitoring teams, a cause dear to Anna’s heart that she discussed with Lewa staff and board members just weeks before her passing.

If you are interested in calling-in with a bid for this piece, please email alexandra.ames@lewa.org for more information.

About Camilla Le May
Camilla’s “exquisitely detailed wildlife bronzes” have won awards from the British Sporting Art Trust and the Society of Wildlife Artists. Her work was recently acquired for an overseas royal collection and is sought out by private collectors worldwide. She is the inaugural artist in residence for the Royal Veterinary College for whom she has sculpted a life size bronze of Sefon, the famous Household Cavalry horse, which is due to be unveiled in October. Camilla now splits her time between the UK and Kenya where she is happiest sculpting the wildlife in wilderness areas.

For the full story of sculpting Nicky and more images of Camilla's work, click here.

Baby Rhino Named in Anna's Honour

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:26:00 -0500

Lion Country Safari, Florida’s only drive-through Safari and walk-through amusement park, has named their latest rhino calf after one of Lewa’s founders Anna Merz, who sadly passed away last week. The white baby rhino was born on April 6, 2013 to her mother Bloom after 16 months of gestation, and weighs over 70kgs.
The park is home to 14 White Rhinos – 11 females and three males. Since 1979, Lion Country Safari has had 33 rhino offspring. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is deeply honoured to witness the recognition of Anna’s work across the globe, and that her love for the rhino and dedication to the species’ survival remains an inspiration to many.

Lewa's 2012 Annual Report is Out!

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:00:00 -0500

2012 was a difficult year for Lewa, but good news and significant achievements were also plenty. Download this Annual Report and find out:

Ian Craig’s insight into what options Lewa and other conservancies have as they combat the ever increasing threat from poaching of rhinos and elephants
How the Wildlife and Research department’s Strategic Plan will help in endangered species and habitat management
The black rhinos trends on Lewa, activities of the Mobile Vet Unit, and a sneak peak into the new exciting booklet developed by the Conservation Education Centre to enhance learning
What measures the security team has taken to protect the remaining rhino population and prevent more rhino deaths
The expansion of the Lewa Education Programme to include three new schools, and how the improvement of infrastructure in Kilimani Primary School is helping in the fight against poaching
Lewa’s readiness in light of the changing political atmosphere in Kenya, and the Conservancy’s relationship with the newly elected leaders
The mitigation of human-elephant conflict, Lewa’s 2012 financial status, and Nicky the blind rhino’s rise to fame!

Inside the Annual Report you will also find beautiful pictures of Lewa’s wildlife by photographer Martin Harvey who has worked in over 45 countries across the globe and has for the past few years largely concentrated on endangered species, indigenous people and travel scenes throughout Africa.

To download this Annual Report from our website, visit our download library.

Looking for an Unforgettable Travel Destination this Summer? Visit Lewa!

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:35:00 -0500

Set amidst 62,000 acres of sprawling savannah, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy boasts some of the most spectacular views in northern Kenya. With gentle rolling hills and natural, unspoilt beauty, Lewa offers guests the trip of a lifetime with its unforgettable combination of great scenery, superb game viewing and excellent hospitality. With one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya including 11% and 14% of the country’s black and white rhinos respectively and the world’s single largest population of Grevy’s zebras, the Conservancy is also the best place to spot herds of elephants and buffalo, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, more than 400 species of birds and if lucky, a pack of wild dogs! Lewa is extremely proud of its continued practice of responsible tourism where funds raised are reinvested back into our core programmes. Therefore by visiting Lewa you will not only be signing up for a great African adventure, you will also directly contribute towards wildlife conservation and community development. Where To Stay
Lewa hosts five fantastic lodges that offer an array of exciting activities: day game drives, guided bush walks, bush breakfasts and picnic lunches, sundowners, horse-riding, bird watching and other extra activities including visits to a Maasai cultural village and camel safaris. Each lodge is unique and visitors travelling to Lewa are spoilt for choice!

Wilderness Trails

Wilderness Trails radiates ageless charm and elegance and has an intimate family atmosphere.The lodge has entertained guests in luxury for the past 30 years, and continues to do so in the most exciting fashion. From horse-riding to scenic aerial views of Lewa using the bi-plane, your family will not be short of activities at Wilderness Trails!
To book Wilderness Trails, email: info@bush-and-beyond.com or visit www.lewawilderness.com

Sirikoi

Sirikoi offers a touch of class in the wild.

The lodge boasts of four luxury tents, a cottage with two bedrooms and the unmatched, exclusive Sirikoi house. Surrounded by an acacia grove and overlooking a natural waterhole fed from a mountain spring, Sirikoi offers superb game viewing.To book Sirikoi, email: bookings@sirikoi.com or visit www.sirikoi.com

Lewa House
Lewa house is set on top of a hill, with stunning views of Mount Kenya to the south, the rugged Mathews range to the sacred mountain of Ol Olokwe to the north.

Lewa house has three thatched family cottages and four recently added single room cottages of stunning architectural design. The furniture is a combination of rustic and African pieces and has a traditional relaxed ambiance mixed with modern comfort.To book Lewa house, email: info@lewahouse.com or contact info@bush-and-beyond.com

Lewa Safari Camp
Each luxurious tent on Lewa Safari Camp has a thatched roof, veranda and all en suite bathrooms, with extensive views of Mount Kenya and the northern lowlands.
Lewa Safari camp offers tented luxury with guest areas that include an intimate dining area, a cosy sitting room which overlooks a floodlit waterhole, and a swimming pool. Guests can also enjoy a fine glass of wine while they sit around a blazing campfire.

To book Lewa Safari Camp, email: info@chelipeacock.co.ke

Kifaru
Kifaru House is a modern colonial style facility with a main building, a swimming pool and six separate cottages. At Kifaru, Swahili for ‘rhino’, no expense has been spared to offer the best to its visitors.

There is a large common area with comfortable sofas and a magnificent dining table for huge fires are lit in the hearth casting a ruby glow. A sky blue infinity pool adds to the breathtaking beauty of the place. To book Kifaru House, email: reservations@kifaruhouse.com or visit www.kifaruhouse.com

Message from Mike Watson, CEO

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:53:00 -0500

It was with great sadness that we announced the death of Anna Merz on the 4th April. Anna, one of Lewa’s founding patrons and a visionary rhino conservationist, remained hugely engaged with Lewa’s work even after her move to South Africa in the mid 90s. She was a regular attendee at the Conservancy’s bi-annual Board meetings, in her role as Patron and actively hosted all ‘Bowling for Rhinos’ annual visits to Lewa.

Anna’s passion for all things rhino was legendary internationally and this coupled with her love for northern Kenya and Lewa in particular, made a powerful ally for Lewa since its inception, in which she was instrumental. Many will be aware of how Lewa and Anna’s histories are inextricably intertwined spanning a period of over 30 years, a period in which Lewa has evolved way beyond what could originally have been envisaged.

Lewa exists now as an internationally renowned conservation organisation, underpinning landscape level conservation across a huge area of northern Kenya and providing a model for protected area management which many look to emulate. We, on Lewa, will never forget that this success is founded on rhino and the NgareSergoi rhino sanctuary, which Anna so passionately engaged with and dedicated her life to building.

In recent years Anna had become increasingly concerned for the survivability of rhino as a species, experiencing first hand in South Africa the devastation wreaked on rhino populations in her adopted country of residence. Sadly we in Kenya have not been immune to the insatiable appetite for rhino horn in the Far East and Anna’s beloved rhino here on Lewa have come under sustained pressure from criminal gangs intent on profiting at the cost of this iconic animal.

As we look to protect every one of the 126 rhino currently on Lewa, including the calf born on the day of her passing and as we continue to secure a flourishing population, it will be with Anna looking over us and in our hearts that we remain committed to perpetuating the success of her vision.

Memorial for Anna:
To honour her memory and in recognition of her extraordinary work here on Lewa we will be holding a memorial for Anna on 12th May 2013, where all who new and loved her will be very welcome. Further details for this will be circulated nearer the time.

Farewell Anna

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:50:00 -0500

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy deeply regrets to announce the death of Anna Merz, one of the Conservancy's iconic founders and reknown conservationist. 82-year-old Anna passed away today in a South African hospital, further details pertaining to her death will be communicated later. Anna, along with the Craig family, founded the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary, which would later on be established as the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. It is by her vision, dedication and desire to save the rhino from extinction that Lewa stands as the proud organization that it is today. The entire Lewa fraternity is devastated to lose the most passionate 'mother of rhinos', its greatest supporter, and its source of endless inspiration. Anna proved to us all that one person's dream and love for wildlife can create the most significant impact, far beyond our deepest imagination. Rest in peace Anna. You will forever be missed and engraved in all of our hearts.

Introducing an Application that Lets You Track a Lion!

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:17:00 -0500

Ever wanted to follow individual wild animals as they move across the vast African savannah in their daily quest for survival and safety? Are you fascinated by lions, elephants, zebras and even vultures? MiSavannah, a unique application (App) designed for smart phone users, will ensure that your animal experience extends far beyond a game drive! This newly developed App covers multiple conservation projects in East Africa, all using advanced GPS tracking to enable the user to trace and replay the individual animal movements on Google maps. It also has biographies and updates on the daily lives of each animal featured.

Savannah Tracking Ltd, the company that has developed the App in conjunction with Apple and Google, explains more on their new exciting feature: “Once you download the App, you get access to a lion from Lewa known as Mufasa, an elephant from Amboseli and other featured wildlife. Inside the App you can gain access to more animals from these projects. As you slowly populate your App with different species and individuals you create your own savannah ecosystem and can start to see the differences and similarities between individuals of the same species or compare the behaviour of multiple species. How does the zebra move in relation to the lion? What time of day is the elephant most active? And how many kilometres do vultures fly on average per day? Let the animals tell you themselves with their feet and wings.”

Meet Lewa’s Mufasa Lewa is proud to have one of its own featured on the App. Mufasa is an eight-year-old male lion often spotted in a large pride popularly known as the Borana family. Along with his brother, Mufasa entered Lewa in 2010 from the neighbouring Borana Conservancy. While the cause of their departure is not known, it is presumed that they were driven out by other dominant males. On arriving here at Lewa, they immediately found mates, two females that live around the central swamp. Both Mufasa and his brother have sired cubs with the lionesses, but it is impossible to say which of the two has fathered the various cubs because neither male consistently occupies a dominant role in the pride. In total, seven cubs have been sired by the pair.

Mufasa and his brother have never returned permanently to Borana. The two collared lions are still at their prime, and there are no other dominant male lions on Lewa to challenge their alpha roles.

Intrigued by Mufasa’s story? Download the MiSavannah App from Apple Store and Google’s Play Store for only $4.99!

By purchasing this App, you will not only get a window into the life of this fascinating lion, but you will also be directly supporting Lewa’s conservation projects. Exciting facts on the activities and behaviour of Mufasa will also be uploaded constantly.

Entries to the 2013 Safaricom Marathon Now Closed

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:30:00 -0600

We regret to inform everyone that entries to the 2013 Safaricom Marathon are now closed. The 14th Safaricom Marathon will take place on Saturday, the 29th of June 2013 on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. For those of you who didn't make it this year, we hope you try again next year. And for those of you who are running, all the very best and remember to hydrate!

Lewa-Sponsored Girl Triumphs in Nationwide Exams Despite Adversity

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:14:00 -0600

Joy Makandi is a shy but well-mannered teenager. The 14-year-old Lewa-sponsored student is also a celebrity in her neighbourhood thanks to her exemplary performance at the 2012 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams. The KCPE exams are tests undertaken by all pupils in their last year of primary school in Kenya, and the score from the exams is most crucial as it determines the quality of the high school the student will attend. It determines their academic future. Joy – with a score of 400 out of a possible 500 – was the second best performing candidate in her school, and was only 30 points away from beating the best student in the Nation!

This is certainly no mean feat for a girl who was orphaned at birth and has been raised in abject poverty by her 70-year-old grandmother. Joy says that their lives are not only devoid of luxuries, but even the most basic needs such as food and clothing are sometimes hard to come by. She says that over the years her grandmother has constantly reminded her that the only way to break this cycle of poverty is by excelling in school. Joy says that her success in primary school would not be possible were it not for the support she has received from the Lewa Education Programme (LEP).

“I’m so grateful to Lewa and my sponsor Suzanne Pool. To raise money for my education, my grandmother would be forced to work as a casual labourer in farms, but since I joined the LEP in 2008, my school fees has been promptly paid, and I’ve also had all the material I need to excel in school.”

When we visited the Joy and her grandmother a few weeks ago, it was obvious that the two could not hide their joy, literally! The elderly lady was quick to inform us that she always knew the sacrifices she made for her grandchild were not in vain. She says she’s very pleased that Joy has taken her advice on education seriously, and she’s now on the right path to a successful future. Joy says of her future plans, “I want to be an aeronautical engineer. I know I can do it. And then I’ll take care of my grandmother, the same way she’s taken care of me all these years. I’ll also help students from poor backgrounds achieve their dreams, just like Suzanne and Lewa have done for me. “

Lewa is extremely proud of Joy and all our other sponsored students!

About the LEP
The Lewa Education Programme offers educational opportunities to local children. Over 700 students (including orphans) in primary, secondary and tertiary education have received LEP’s annual bursaries. At least 75% of these students graduate from university and college with outstanding academic results. To learn more on this programme and how you can support a child, click here.

Mountain Bull Makes Use of the Underpass

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:33:00 -0600

Mountain Bull is a bit of a celebrity around Lewa. The 45-year old bull was propelled to fame a few years ago as a result of his dedication to using the traditional elephant migration routes in northern Kenya. Like several other elephants in the Laikipia, Samburu and Mount Kenya ecosystems, Mountain Bull (often referred to simply as MT Bull) has also worn a collar fitted by Save the Elephants for the past few years, and has been tracked using Google Earth Interface. However, the very clever elephant has of late developed a penchant for risky behaviour: using his tusks to snap fence wires and open gates, granting him a free pass into farms.

MT Bull was also gaining notoriety for his refusal to use the elephant underpass, preferring to go through both commercial and small-scale farms while migrating between the Ngare Ndare Forest, Lewa and Mount Kenya, causing human-wildlife conflict in the region. Amongst the Lewa team there was well-founded fear of retaliation, especially from the small-scale farmers. Lewa soon realized the need to intervene to curb the bull’s destructive behaviour and steer him towards using the underpass.

In consultation with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Lewa trimmed MT Bull’s tusks on the 31st of October, 2012, in the neighbouring Borana Conservancy. Close monitoring of the elephant’s behaviour since the exercise has shown a great decline in the rate of fence breakages, with only one recorded case since the exercise took place! On the 13th of January, the famous elephant made a great stride; he used the underpass for the first time since its construction in January 2011. And on the 22nd of January, on his way to Mount Kenya, he walked the full length of the corridor without veering off his path, another first for the legendary elephant! MT Bull’s use of the underpass marks a very significant step towards alleviating human-wildlife conflict in the region. We hope that he continues to embrace this route that will not only connect him to the ecosystems that he so dearly loves, but will also put him out of danger.

10-year old Rory Root Cycles For Lewa!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:54:00 -0600

In July 2012, while other boys his age were probably thinking of getting the latest video game, Rory Root, inspired by his love for wildlife, was busy preparing to cycle in France and raise some money to support Lewa's wildlife. The 10-year-old, accompanied by his mother, Fran, and his older brother, 11-year-old Myles, cycled for 293.6 kilometers in eight days in the Languedoc region (near the Spanish border), following the ancient Canal du Midi from Carcassonne to Sete and raised a total of $ 1,327! Master Rory visited us here at Lewa a few days ago to deliver the money in person. The affable young man glowed with pride as he handed over the envelope to our CEO, Mike Watson. Rory’s determination in helping Lewa, its wildlife and neighbours is a sure sign that the culture of conservation is being cultivated in our young generation, and is definitely an inspiration to all!

Nicky's Success on CrowdRise, Thanks to You!

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:00:00 -0600

Last week, we sent out news about Nicky the blind baby rhino’s competition to raise and win $50,000 on CrowdRise, and we are happy to say that the response has been overwhelming! Overnight, the donations increased by $3,000 and currently Nicky’s campaign is eighth out of the 100 competing for the CrowdRise challenge. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is extremely grateful to all who have donated to this important cause that will not only help ensure Nicky’s survival, but of all the other rhinos on Lewa as well. Lewa’s work would be impossible without the generous and on-going support of our donors. During this sad time, having lost four rhinos to poachers earlier in the month, Lewa is more grateful than ever for the amazing outpouring of donations and kind words that have been received from friends around the world. Your encouragement and compassion has been both an inspiration and a comfort. Thank you!

Why not number 1?
Nicky’s campaign is currently eighth on CrowdRise, but who says that Lewa’s favourite baby rhino cannot be first? If he wins the challenge, Nicky brings home $50,000; a very significant sum, bearing in mind that is costs approximately $10,000 to protect each individual rhino on Lewa every year. With your invaluable support and generous contribution, we can make this happen, and like we say in Swahili, haba na haba hujaza kibaba, meaning that every small donation can add up to a lot! Watch Nicky playing in sawdust
Click here and watch a heart-warming video of little Nicky playing in sawdust! It is a delight to watch him thrive, despite his blindness that would have greatly minimized his chances of surviving in the wild. This festive season, extend a hand of kindness and be part of Lewa’s success story in ensuring the survival of rhinos such as Nicky by donating to his campaign. Thank you all again!

Support the Rhinos through Nicky’s Mozilla Firefox Challenge

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:45:00 -0600

Young Nicky, the blind baby black rhino, is competing on CrowdRise to win $50,000 to help protect and care for him and the other rhinos on Lewa --and you can help!

In light of the tragic news of the recent poachings on Lewa, the threat to Kenya's rhino has never been so brutally apparent. Lewa is working around the clock to ensure the immediate protection of the animals living on the conservancy, as well as working with partner organizations to address the international demand for illegal wildlife products. In these disquieting times, one thing is certain: nurturing and protecting individual rhinos like Nicky has never been more important as we work to ensure the survival of his species. This demanding undertaking would not be possible without your ongoing support. The Story of Nicky
While out on a routine patrol a few months ago, two Lewa rangers noticed that a young black rhino calf was bumping into things and veering away from his mother’s path, all signs that there was something wrong with his vision. The rangers passed along their concerns and the veterinary team conducted an examination to confirm that he was in fact blind, most likely the result of congenital cataracts. Because of his condition, Lewa decided that it was too risky to keep him with his mother, with a high potential for him to get lost and wander into danger. So this newest member of the Lewa family (named Nicky by a generous sponsor) has moved in with Mike Watson, Lewa’s CEO. The Watson family, along with the help of two experienced handlers Yusuf and Tonga, are taking great care Nicky and watching him grow and thrive everyday. He has adapted easily to his new environment and has settled-in to a daily routine of eating, playing and taking mud baths.
The Challenge
Raising a blind baby rhino is not cheap, neither is protecting the other endangered black and white rhinos on Lewa. It costs Lewa an average of $1,265 per month to pay for Nicky’s day-to-day care, veterinary costs and salaries for his keepers. On top of that, it costs more than $10,000 to protect each individual rhino on Lewa every year. To help raise funds we have launched a CrowdRise campaign for Nicky and the other rhinos on Lewa. The team at CrowdRise was touched by Nicky’s story and invited his campaign to take part in the Mozilla Firefox challenge. The challenge is simple: 100 organizations compete to raise the most money by January 10th, 2013, then the winning campaign receives an additional $50,000 courtesy of Mozilla Firefox. Lewa is working hard to win this challenge and we hope you’ll help. If you were thinking of making a donation to Lewa this year, consider making it on Nicky’s CrowdRise page and helping Lewa win an additional $50,000, enough to protect five rhinos for an entire year. On top of that, the organization that raises the most funds this week (December 3rd through 10th) wins an additional $5,000 , so why not make a donation today?

Thank You
Can you imagine a better Christmas gift than helping to protect and care for rhinos like little Nicky? This frisky fellow has won our hearts and we hope he’ll win yours too.

“Initially he was a bit shy but he is slowly gaining confidence. . . he’s also learnt how to play in the mud, an activity he greatly enjoys!” says Yusuf, one of Nicky’s handlers. To see more adorable photos and videos of Nicky’s playtime, mud baths and walks with Watson family dogs, go to: www.crowdrise.com/babyrhinoproject/fundraiser/lewawildlifeconserva

During this sad time, Nicky serves as a happy reminder of why we must continue to do everything we can to protect these magnificent animals. Lewa would like to send a big Thank You to everyone for the outpouring of support for Nicky so far. While we cannot know what his future holds, we do know that the Lewa teams will do everything possible to ensure he lives a happy and healthy rhino life. Please take a moment to show your support this holiday season by clicking on the link above!

[Press Release] Lewa Looses Four Rhinos to Poachers

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:46:00 -0600

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wanjiku Kinuthia, Marketing Officer
wanjiku.kinuthia@lewa.org
+254 / 720 732 476

Another Blow to Conservation Efforts in Kenya
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Looses Four Rhinos to Poachers

(Isiolo, Kenya) – In the past week, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy suffered the demoralizing loss of four rhinos to poachers. Two male black rhinos and two female black rhinos were slaughtered, bringing the population of black rhinos on Lewa down to 71 individuals. In a country where the population is slightly above 600 animals, these incidents are a devastating blow to conservation efforts and show the enormous pressure that these animals are under.

Rhinotek, an 11-year-old female rhino was found dead at mid-day on the 1st of December. The initial assessment did not give a clear indication of the cause of death but further veterinary examination established that the animal died from a bullet wound to the stomach. Nyota, a 20-year-old female and Serian, a seven-year-old male were shot dead at approximately 1:00 am, on the 2nd of December. Another carcass, later on identified as Jazz, a male rhino, was discovered mid-afternoon on the 2nd of December. Three of the rhino horn sets were intact and have since been recovered for safekeeping. The poachers managed to remove the other set of horns.

Many experts highlight that Africa’s rhinos are facing the worst poaching crisis in decades, with the most serious poaching upsurges in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Although population figures for both black and white rhinos have increased since 2007, because of the increase in poaching, there is still grave concern for the rhino’s future. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is not immune to this crisis and has lost 10 rhinos in the last three years.

“These incidents serve as a constant reminder of the harsh reality and rapidly escalating threat faced by rhinos. Lewa is now more than ever determined to counter these threats by increasing our security and monitoring efforts, reinforcing the important contribution that Lewa’s wildlife is making to local communities, and minimising the risk posed to the remaining rhino population,” Mike Watson, Lewa’s CEO reaffirms the commitment towards rhino conservation, despite this most recent setback.

Founded in 1995, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy spans 62,000 acres and serves as catalyst for conservation across northern Kenya. Lewa holds 12% of Kenya’s black rhino population and 20% of the world’s Grevy’s zebras. Through the protection and management of endangered species, the initiation and support of community conservation and development programmes, and the education of neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife, Lewa has become Kenya's leading model for wildlife conservation on private land, leading destination for low impact conservation tourism, and leading catalyst for conservation, and its direct benefits for communities, across the region. The Conservancy is also home to the Northern Rangelands Trust, an innovative partnership with a number of communities to the North who have given land over to wildlife conservation.

Saving Mountain Bull: Famous Elephant is De-Tusked For His Safety

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:37:00 -0600

One night in August 2012, Mzee Mungamia woke to the loud sound of snapping fence wires. Cautiously heading out with his torch, the small scale maize farmer from Lewa’s neighbouring Mbuju community confirmed his worst fears: an elephant had broken past his fence, and in a few minutes his yearly harvest would be reduced to nothing. A closer look at the animal revealed that it was a male, with long tusks shining in the moonlight, spotting a collar around his neck. Mungamia knew immediately which elephant this was - Mountain Bull. Mountain Bull - often referred to simply as MT Bull - is a 45-year-old elephant whose dedication to using the traditional elephant migration routes that cut through Mount Kenya, Ngare Ndare Forest and Lewa made him a legend in northern Kenya. However, human encroachment and increase in population has severed these routes and they now lie on farms and homesteads, exacerbating the human-elephant conflict in the region: the elephants are forced to go through these inhabited areas as they move back and forth. The elephant underpass constructed in 2010 sought to alleviate this conflict by offering a safe passage for the pachyderms.

However, the very clever MT Bull has gained notoriety for his refusal to use this underpass - the only elephant to do so – preferring to go through farms and raiding crops along the way. In the last few months, he had taken to breaking the Lodomoru fence line that separates the Ngare Ndare Forest from smallholder irrigated community farms destroying potatoes, maize and peas. Mzee Mungamia’s case is one of the many recorded instances of the Bull’s destruction. And even though the community members understand the value of wildlife, their tolerance towards MT Bull’s behaviour had slowly started to wane, with well-founded fears that they would be forced to drastic measures to stop the rampages and protect their crops. De-Tusking as a Viable Solution
MT Bull’s technique in breaking fences is quite simple. Using his tusks, he would push the wires up or down until they snap, granting him free pass. Shortening the length of his tusks would definitely make it very difficult for him to continue his destructive behaviour. “Monitoring of previously rogue elephants after de-tusking has shown a significant decline in the rate of fence breakages,” explains Lewa’s Chief Conservation Officer Geoffrey Chege. After months of careful planning, the de-tusking of Mountain Bull happened on Friday the 31st of October in the neighbouring Borana Conservancy. And not surprisingly, the Bull did not make it easy! The exercise took half a day of trekking through the rugged terrain, patiently waiting for him to move to an ideal location. Finally, just before sunset the joint team from Lewa and Borana got a perfect chance and in a span of 30 minutes, MT Bull was successfully de-tusked. The Bull has worn a collar fitted by Save the Elephants for the past several years, making it possible to track his movements. We hope that the de-tusking shall deter him from breaking fences and raiding farms, and as a result reduce the human-elephant conflict in the region.

Introducing Conservation Agriculture

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:23:00 -0600

Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy; contributing 24 percent to the country’s GDP. The sector also accounts for 65 percent of the Kenya’s total exports and provides for more than 60 percent of informal employment in the rural areas. The sector does not only drive the Kenyan economy; it also provides the means of livelihood for many Kenyans.

Majority of the people living in communities adjacent to Lewa are small scale farmers. In order to assist these farmers to maximize their produce and minimize any negative impact on the ecosystem, the Lewa Community Development Programme has partnered with Participatory Approach for Integrated Development (PAFID) to train the farmers in Conservation Agriculture.

Conservation Agriculture is a widely acknowledged crop production method that helps farmers increase their productivity, adapt more effectively to adverse climatic conditions, improve soil fertility and minimize any negative impact of agriculture on the environment. This programme is designed to train 10 pioneer farmers in Matunda, Subuiga, Ntumburi and Ethi communities who will in turn transfer the skills gained to other farmers in their respective areas. The exercise has already commenced in Ntumburi where 10 farmers underwent training which covered all aspects of conservation agriculture - mechanization, animal draft power, minimum tillage hoe for farmers, correct use and application of herbicides, fertilizer requirements and placement, crop rotation and planting. The Ntumburi pioneer farmers have implemented the practice on 0.25 hectares of land which will be used as an experimental farm, and also for other members of the communities to assess the benefits of Conservation Agriculture.

Re-usable Sanitary Towels to Help Keep Girls in School

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:58:00 -0500

Fact: In Kenya, 1 in every 10 girls will miss school for 4 days in a month during her menses due to lack of proper sanitary ware. This totals to 36 days in a 9 month school year. If not missing school, the girl is forced to use inappropriate and unhygienic materials that do not offer sufficient protection, putting her at risk of contracting infections and being the subject of ridicule. It is these shocking statistics that gave birth to Path to Womanhood, a Kenyan organization that offers training in the manufacture of re-usable sanitary towels and reproductive health education to girls and women from underprivileged backgrounds. Path to Womanhood founder Naomi Kinyanjui elaborates:

“Citizen TV in Nairobi did a feature on girls in Tana River District who were missing school because they did not have sanitary pads. I could not get over the story for weeks, and I spoke to my friends and family about it every time I got the chance. I knew I had to do something.”

Naomi started with a Facebook page that called for sanitary towel donations for these girls. Over time her foundation has grown to also offer reproductive health education. Lewa’s Education Department, acutely aware that a significant number girls from the Lewa sponsored schools fall in the bracket of those that do not have access to proper sanitary ware, got in touch with this wonderful lady and a creative partnership was crafted. For three days, the women in the Adult Literacy sewing group were trained how to identify reasonable and safe materials in the area that could be used to make these sanitary towels. They were also taught how to make them and maintain hygiene while using the pads. Lewa’s Education Programme Manager Faith Riunga explains how they plan to implement the project:

“With acquisition of sufficient funds, the women of the Adult Literacy sewing group will make these re-usable pads, which shall then be distributed to the girls in the Lewa sponsored schools. The demand for affordable sanitary ware in the area also presents a business opportunity for the ladies who can make earn extra income by producing them for sale. “

The success of this project will not only ensure that the girls no longer have to miss school, but it will also help restore their dignity.

Forging New Partnerships Through Health Campaigns

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:15:00 -0500

The greatest potential challenge for wildlife conservation is gaining the support of local people, who will not only be motivated to offer their support but will also voluntarily act as the first line of defence against instigators of wildlife crimes. Kilimani Primary School sits north of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, in a volatile area that suffers from significant tribal conflict arising from competition for resources such as water, land and pasture. Insecurity and instability do not only affect peace and prosperity in the area; they also put constant pressure on law enforcement agencies, creating security loopholes that criminals such as poachers gladly take advantage of. “Insecurity for people also means insecurity for wildlife,” John Pameri, Lewa’s Chief Security Officer affirms. The area’s close proximity, and the consequent threat the insecurity poses to wildlife prompted the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to seek ways of engaging the community, gain their trust and eventually come up with measures that would not only help protect wildlife but also the people. Apart from insecurity, there is also widespread poverty and limited access to healthcare. School going children are most affected by this lack of adequate medical attention. With this in mind, Lewa chose a health campaign at Kilimani Primary School as the first level of engagement with this community.

More than just a health exercise

In May 2012, armed with drugs and other medical paraphernalia, Lewa’s clinic staff and volunteers from the Conservancy carried out the first medical exercise in the school. It was a great success with over 400 students receiving de-worming drugs and treatment for minor wounds and illnesses. However, the nurses in attendance quickly realized that one visit was not going to be enough. Word had spread throughout the community of free health care being offered at the school, and residents suffering from various diseases came in droves with the hope of also receiving treatment. Another health campaign that would not only attend to students but also to members of the community was deemed necessary. This was carried out in July 2012, with the following outcome:

A total of 325 children and adults received treatment for common illnesses with the most frequent cases being respiratory tract infections, amobiasis and skin conditions such as tinea tapitis
38 children with jiggers received treatment
Six patients were referred to Isiolo General Hospital for specialized treatment

The turnout by members of the community was so overwhelming that by end of day, majority of the students had still not been attended to. Lewa plans to visit the school for a third time in the near future to complete the health checkups.

Future prospects

The positive reception to the health campaigns has created a strong base for future engagement with this community. It is a step in the right direction towards establishing a cordial relationship that will create a platform for discussion on how to enhance security in the area, and therefore protect both people and wildlife.