COVID19 Conservation Mitigation Program

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Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” 

-Gary Snyder

Over the last few months our world has been exposed to a degree of difficulty that no one could have anticipated. Never before has the whole world been forced into a complete standstill, at least not in our lifetime. We have been forced to understand what scientists and medical professionals are yet to fully comprehend, to work separately in a world whose operations are founded on connectivity and integration, and to adapt to ever-changing conditions. Our industry, conservation, and tourism, has been one of the most adversely affected seeing as we rely on people’s physical movement and active presence to make due. United Nations Wildlife Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates losses in the hundreds of billions in international tourism in this year alone. This has forced us to confront two unavoidable questions, “How do we keep moving forward? And what is our contribution to the current crisis?”

As an organization, we have prided ourselves on protecting Kenya’s magnificent creatures, their critical habitat, and supporting the neighboring Maasai communities, south of Nairobi National Park. This dynamic has been ensured by our conservancy, cooperative community members, and guests that visit our centre all year round. With our financing coming from visitation, the future of the conservancy and cohesion between wildlife and the community hangs in the balance. That’s why we have devised The Wildlife Foundation’s Adopt-an-Acre as our resolve.

Adopt-a-Wildlife Acre Project Overview:

The Wildlife Foundation’s Adopt-a-Wildlife-Acre is a solution to the current crisis that is threatening our natural world and its environs. With 65% of Kenya’s wildlife on private and community land, and Nairobi National Park is the most sought after parcel, there has never been a greater need to protect our own than at this crucial period. Active threats like poaching, land fragmentation & development on key animal corridors, as well as animal hunting out of necessity have surged and we need your help to do what we do best, protect

How Does Adopting Wildlife Acres Work?

For the last two decades we have fairly compensated more than a dozen families who have retired their lands for wildlife conservation. Currently, we have 31 families leasing 2,200 acres of critical land at the southern part of Nairobi National Park. We make 3 yearly payments of $5 an acre in an effort to maintain a mutually beneficial solution for both humans and wildlife. This, coupled with our reactive community rangers, have led to a decline in human-wildlife conflict and rise in sustainable living & animal species in the region.

Owing to Covid19, our operations’ budget has been slashed by a staggering 70% and this has put a real strain on our work. We understand that certain things take precedence at this time and that is why we’re looking more towards crowdfunding. That $1 dollar could make a real difference in our year’s operations and aid a family in dire need.

We hope that through our proposed budget we’ll not only be able to finance our work, but also support families within our reach. Yes, we do commit to giving back despite not having enough, because we genuinely believe we rise by lifting others.

Fundraising Goal: $50,000

How you can help:

You can contribute a donation of your choosing through any acceptable medium of payment, be it one-time or recurrent, through the donation button at the bottom of this article. We have designed various incentives and appreciation gifts for  gift donation of any amount. Whether you gift a conservationist, wear the badge of honor yourself, or create a movement around it, we want you to know that your contribution is a part of something bigger.

Gifts

For your donation of $5 and more you will receive a Title of Guardianship which gives you viewing rights for the land adopted on your visit. Bigger donations of $500 or more qualify for matching credits that can be redeemed on your stay at The Wildlife Foundation Centre

Conclusion:

The work we do has a long-term impact on bio-diversity sustainability, and conservation of all life. You are not only contributing to the present but the future good. For that, we, our community, future generations, and existing wildlife, thank you. We hope that through this initiative we can bridge the gap created by the current crisis and employ tenable measures for the continuance of our mission, species and natural resources

Adopt Now

View our running campaign https://donorbox.org/twf-adopt-an-acre

COMMUNITY RANGERS

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The Wildlife Foundation supports 8 community rangers in the Nairobi National Park Wildlife dispersal area. The rangers work in co-operation with the local communities, the area leadership, KWS rangers and the Kenya Police to come to the aid of local citizens, whenever wild animals become a threat and to stop wildlife poaching in the area.

These rangers are all drawn from the local community and provide valuable community support to conserve wildlife in the areas around the Nairobi National Park eco-system. The areas include Empakasi, Oloosirkon, Sholinke, Olooloitikoshi and Kitengela.

TWF Community Rangers in Manyani.

The programme is currently being funded in partnership with USAID and the rangers have attended the KWS training school at Manyani and are equipped with uniforms and vehicles which include Suzuki 4WD’s and motorcycles.

5th Annual Bicycles 4 Wildlife Challenge Draws Record Attendance

The sun rose over Empakasi Primary School on the Naretonoi Conservancy near Kitengela town. Busses pulled up and people piled out. Some unloaded bicycles. Everyone received a numbered bib while upbeat electronic hip-hop blared over the speakers and a pop-up Zumba class facilitated the warm up.

Around 7AM, the cyclists were off. The runners followed shortly behind. The course followed a dirt path through bush-studded grasslands, dense acacia forest, and small villages. Zebra, impala, ostriches, and wildebeests grazed in close proximity. Rangers worked behind the scenes to drive away any threats.

As racers crossed the finish line, they received a medal. Music and Zumba resumed. Juices and hot food were available for sale. It was the 5th annual Bicycles 4 Wildlife (B4W) cycling event, but the first time we offered a trail run option. As a result, we had a record turn out of about 150 runners and cyclists, which is triple the attendance of last year.

The event’s sponsors are dedicated to conserving wildlife biodiversity and local communities by nurturing a sustainable relationship between humans and wildlife. Proceeds from the race support The Wildlife Foundation’s Conservation and Livelihoods Program, which you can read more about here.

For more photos, please visit our Facebook.

Photos by Xtrym Adventures

WHY THE SOUTH SIDE OF NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK SHOULD REMAIN UNFENCED

The Nairobi National park has been facing a number of threats in recent years, when
the park first opened only Nairobi city itself was the only physical barrier that
diverted what was a northward migration towards the Aberdare range and the foot
of Mount Kenya, the erection of fences along the northern perimeter closed that
route. Even with this fencing and eventual loss of a migration route the animals of
Nairobi National park still had another option the south side which allowed the
animals to move freely out of the park.


The availability of a Migration route for the animals of the park is of great
importance for various reasons, the Nairobi national park is home to over forty
lions, Lions are very territorial and need space and the ability to move about without
interfering with other lions territories, the migration of the park animals also
prevents interbreeding and allows for the animals more specifically the herbivores to
find greener pastures during the dry season, keeping the south side unfenced and
undeveloped is what keeps all these paramount movements possible

The south side is facing a great threat from the housing industry and a number of
farmers encroaching on the land if this were to go on it would lead to the eventual
loss of all migration routes for the Nairobi national park migratory animals turning
Nairobi National park into a zoo which would be a devastating loss for Kenya being the
only country with a park right in its city. we would stand to loose as a country a
major economic resource

 

Laika Mbagathi

Student Intern

The Wildlife Foundation