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Home , African fish eagle, Fort Jesus

Issue 3 - 2011

Talking conservation-

plusHippos much more inside WCK motto “Learn to conserve for a better tomorrow” KOMBA is the Kiswahili name for the Lesser Bushbaby and the symbol of the Wildlife Clubs of (WCK). The magazine is owned and published by the WCK. Get your African fish poster inside WCK - P.O.Box 20184 PC 00200 Nairobi Kenya

1 Hamjambo WCK OFFICES WCK members NAIROBI Education Officer - Philip Gitahi at one time, nobody gave much thought P. O. Box 20184, P.C. 00200, Nairobi to hippos. There were so many in the rivers Tel: 020-8067644,0724656667, Fax: 891906 and fresh water lakes. swam in the Email: [email protected] oceans and nested on safe beaches. Hun- dreds of vultures would swarm around a KISUMU Education Officer - Edward Mwendwa dead , keeping the the wilderness P. O. Box 4201, P.C. 40100, Kisumu free of rotting and stinking carcasses. And Tel: (057) 2024162 no safari was complete without hearing the unforgettable piercing cry of the magnificent African fish eagle. Education Officer - Maryam Jenneby P.O. Box 1758, P.C. 80200 Malinidi Today, all their numbers are on the decline. Tel: 0729 074006, 0734 674593 The good news is that we have people who are committed to saving them through Education Officer - Joyce Engoke research and public awareness, writing and P. O. Box 80591, P.C. 80100, Mombasa the performing arts. We want you to be part Tel: (041) 5480002, 0733-700409 of the team just like the late Professor Wangari Maathai, a great woman who pas- NAKURU sionately believed in saving the environment Education Officer - Tsofa Mweni - and many a time had to brave the worst P. O. Box 33, P.C. 20100, Nakuru from others. But she saved a lot of trees. This Tel: 020 2671555/6 issue of Komba is dedicated to her. Guest House: 020 2671742 KITUI Moses Katumbi Be inspired P. O. Box 1293, P.C. 90200, Kitui Tel: 0722 975523

Avian Education Centre Education Officer - Mwachitu Kiringi Tel: 254725770077, 0202021718 Email: [email protected] WCK Objectives P.O. Box 148-10103, Mukurwe-ini Centre for Tourism Training & Research (CTTR) • To spread interest and knowledge Head of Training - Isabella Mbandi about wildlife and the environment Same as Nairobi among the people of Kenya in particular and in general WCK HOSTELS HOSTEL Tsofa Mweni - 0202671555 • In this way, to make them aware of LAKE NAKURU GUEST HOUSE the great economic, cultural and aes- Eric Mbaraki - 0710 579944/020 2671742 thetic value of natural resources LANG’ATA HOSTEL Winnie Ndwiga - 0722 782953 • To develop a better understanding of the need to conserve natural resources KISUMU HOSTEL for the benefit of the nation and its Philip Kirui - 0721 263797 people MOMBASA HOSTEL AND GUEST COTTAGES Margaret Mwende - 020 2337199

2 Inside

Patron 4. A ’s Journey Dr. David Western The beautiful ocean animal is made of rubber flipflops Trustees washed ashore Mrs. D. T. Dobie Amb. Bethwel Kiplagat Mr. Philemon Mwaisaka, EBS,SS Dr. Ibrahim M. Ali 8. Read about the forest on Manda island in Governing Council Chairperson: Mrs. Margaret Byama Secretary: Mrs. Margaret Otieno

The WCK Governing Council 14. Hippo conservation is made up of representatives of various These big mammals are stakeholding government departments & disappearing fast unless parastatals, conservation entities and we save their rivers and club patrons as follows: lakes Mr. Rick Anderson - Director, AFEW (K) Mrs. Margaret Byama Mr. Jagi Gakunju - Representative, Uvumbuzi

Representatives: 22. The African Treasury, Ministry of Finance White-ringed WWF Regional Representative Kenya Wildlife Service Atlas Moth National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) East African Wildlife Society (EAWLS)

WCK Regional Reresentatives Evans Nyakundi - Rift Valley Mwandima Mtengo - Coast Onesmus Kitali - Eastern Middle poster Ephraim K. Kariuki - Nairobi The African fish eagle Sammy Njagi - Central Hillow Issack Mumin - North Eastern Charles Ooko - Nyanza WCK CLUB BENEFITS Inviolata Sitati - Western * 3 issues of Komba-WCK termly magazine Komba Editorial * Reduced entry fee to KWS Kenya National Parks & Reserves Rupi Mangat - Editor Philip Gitahi, Margaret Otieno, Linah * Free lectures and video/slide shows Wodera. * Borrow Wildlife Video Films at reduced rates * Students’ half rate accommodation at the WCK hostels Cover: Hippo in river * WCK roadshows by the Mobile Education Unit * The chance to help conserve wildlife * The chance to win prizes in WCK competitions.

Remember to renew your membership early every year! Komba is owned and published by WCK

3 A Terrific Turtle Journey FINISH

The finished turtle

What’s that? Turtle on lorry Men loading turtle on lorry

Casting Making the turtle the turtle

START

This makes the turtle - rubber slips that turn up as A walk on the beach to col- waste from the sea lect junk to make a turtle

4 Amazing animal ART a flipflop turtle by Kennedy ole Kariuki

“Environmental laws are better today, but laws are not enough. You have to instill values in people to effect lasting change” Bill Eichbaum, Vice President, Marine and Arctic Policy, WWF

The first thing that comes to when it helps to make Diani fisheries. Added to the list your mind when you see the beach clean with no plastic is marine pollution, which is giant size turtle at Nakumatt waste lying around. It means reason enough to want to Diani, on South coast is that it more turtles and other marine rid the beach of all the must have taken a lot of lives have been saved. plastic and non-biodegradable flip-flops to make the turtle. wastes, some which can take Well that’s true because the Five of the world’s eight up to 600 years to degrade into message on its banner reads species of turtles come to the natural environment. “it took 1000 flip- nest and feed off the coral Camp Kenya is also working reef along the Kenyan with school groups to survey flops picked from our coast. These are the Green beaches and record the marine life including regular beach turtle, Hawksbill turtle, beaches to make clean-ups. The flip-flops col- Olive Ridley turtle, this turtle… It only lected are joined to each other Leatherback turtle and the to make large sheets to make takes one to kill one. Loggerhead turtle. iobjects like the ones men- Make sure it’s not tioned above. There is work in Seven of the world’s nine dol- progress on a gigantic whale- yours!’ phin species are also found shark. The eco-art is helping here. These include the many people to earn a living At Camp Kenya, 289 pupils Bottlenose dolphin, Common while saving endangered wild- from schools from abroad and dolphin, Spinners dolphins, life and cleaning the beaches. 143 pupils from local schools Humpback dolphins, Risso’s spent a month training to make dolphins, Spotted dolphins and artistic things from plastic flip- the Rough toothed dolphins. flops (rubber slippers) collected All these marine species are Kennedy is an intern at from the beach. They made flip- classified as either endangered Camp Internatonal. He is flop crafts like juggling balls, or critically endangered. Their a project co-ordinator while dolphin and turtle key holders biggest threats are habitat loss doing a bachelor’s degree on while others made colorful through construction, develop- Environmental Studies and necklaces, bracelets and ment, poaching turtle meat Community Development at anklets. Learning this eco-art and eggs, by-catch by local Kenyatta University. is a rewarding skill especially fishermen and semi-industrial

For more: Log on to www.campsinternational.org

5 Honouring Professor Wangari Maathai

Hats off and hail our departed heroine Our Love and Respect rest deep in our hearts Now that you have taken leave, Mama miti Our voices failed to praise you, dear Mama Your trees, by millions, continue to rustle silently in praise. Reaching into the sky; Giving thanks to God In her footsteps we should emulate Never giving up; struggles for Nature preservation Greening hills and valleys; every dawn and dusk

When the sad news of your demise hit us All sober minds bowed with grief Not just in Kenya, but past the borders Grandest eulogies echoed over and over A heroine has departed our midst Rest in Peace, Mama miti In her footsteps we should emulate

Mama miti, Mama Mazingira You tirelessly championed for the Environment Traversing the globe planting trees Advocating for Human rights

Mentoring the youth and old alike A heroine we will forever cherish A Source of Inspiration; a defender of Nature Aake up the vision-earthly brethren Hats off to the departed liberator And forever keep the candle alight In her footsteps; we should emulate.

By Tsofa A M. Mweni

6 WCK A Great Lady Remembered Corporate Members AAR - Holdings The governing council, Access Kenya members and the staff of AFEW Giraffe Manor Ltd. WCK in the spirit of African Line Biuro Trekingowe conservation pay tribute to Across Africa Safaris Ltd Professor Wangari Maathai, a GREAT lady. We honor her care and passion for A. F. E. W. Kenya the enviornment. Air Kenya Aviation Ltd Bata Shoe Company WCK vows to continue your noble work, to embrace Block Hotels Ltd., Nairobi the objectives of the GREEN BELT MOVEMENT in Born Free Foundation Kenya and beyond. CFBT Education Services Coca-Cola (EA) Ltd., Nairobi We wish the family strenth and courage at this time Copy Cat Ltd., Nairobi of loss. D. T. Dobie Co. Ltd., Nairobi Professor, the youth who you inspired say Education Insight “HONGERA for the great achievement you made. Express (K) Ltd., Nairobi Rest in peace.. Your legacy will live on at WCK! Firestone (EA) Ltd. Friends of Conservation Glaxo Wellcome (K) Ltd. Karen Country Club Kenya Aerotech Ltd. WCK Annual Membership Kenya Wildlife Service *Club - Ksh 1000 Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd. Associate - Ksh 500 Kenya Prison Services Corporate - Ksh 5,000 Kirinyaga Afforest. Advent. & Tourism Attraction Foreign - USD 30 or Sterling Pound 20 or 25 Euros Ker & Downey Safaris Student membership cards - Ksh 30 Kilimanjaro Safari Club Video library subscription - Ksh 200 Kodak (K) Ltd Video library registration - Ksh 500 Let’s Go Travel Ltd. (Only one tape allowed at a time) Lloyd Masika Ltd. Hostel Accommodation Magadi Soda Co. Ltd., Magadi Ksh 150 - member student per night Newent Community School Ksh 200 - non-member student per night Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi Ksh 150 - WCK adult teacher members Oserian Development Co. Ltd. Ksh 250 - non WCK adult members Panafrican Paper Mills (EA) Ltd., Nairobi East African - Ksh 300 per person per night Safari Seekers (K) Ltd., Nairobi Non resident - Ksh 500 per person night Msa Rates - Members Ksh 300, Non members Ksh 400 Sameer Investments Ltd. Sarova Hotels Ltd., Nairobi Guest House Serena Lodges & Hotels Nakuru Text Book Centre Ltd., Nairobi Adult - Ksh 1,250 Unilever (K) Ltd. Children - Ksh 600 United Touring Co. Ltd., Nairobi Mombasa - contact the Mombasa office Wildlife Safari (K) Ltd World Wide Fund for Nature Hall Hire WCK members - Ksh 3,500 Wonder Foods Ltd Non members - Ksh 5,000 Yare Camel Club and Camps

7 2011 international year of forests Manda island Forest

By Twahir Ali from Lamu Marine Conservation Trust” www.lamcot.org

Mangrove shoreline Manda is a semi-arid island in the Lamu archipelego. Its size is 25 square miles. It lies east of Lamu Island and south of Pate Island. Mangroves are very useful. It is a hilly island with sand dunes. In some Here’s why: places there are muddy shorelines, perfect for • They are home for small fish and mangrove forests where migratory come • They protect the coast from soil erosion to feed and rest. There are some spots which • They are a source of medicine. The seed of are sandy and rocky. There are no cars on • Xylocarpus granatum, for example is used to the island. People sail to the mainland and the treat sores other islands in local boats and dhows. •They provide timber, wood for fuel and provide wood for construction of the dhows Manda is more fertile than Lamu island and has forests of mangroves, acacia trees and The inner part of Manda is acacia forest cover- other plants. The shoreline has a dense man- ing more than seventy five percent of the island. grove forest with trees growing up to 15 to 18 The acacia forest is home for many species of meters high. The tallest mangrove tree is said birds and other animals. The forest is protected to be in at 25 meters high. with the help of the government. Deforestration There are seven species of mangroves on is a thing of the past. Manda listed below with their Kiswahili names: Until a few years ago, it was the best feeding • Rhizophora mucronata (mkoko) ground for a herd of elephants. The elephants • Bruguira gymnorrhiza (mshinzi) crossed Mkanda channel from Mokowe the • Avicennia marina (mchu) mainland during the dry season to browse in • Ceriops tagal (mkandaa) the forest. The crossing does not happen any • Sonneratia alba (mlilana) more because seven years ago, Mkanda chan- • Xylocarpus granatum (mkomafi) nel was dredged. The channel is about 10 • Heritiera littoralis (mkungu) metres wide and is the main sailing route to the

8 eastern islands of Lamu. Before the channel was dredged, the boats could not sail through International Year during low tide but had to wait for the following Of Forests - 2011 day for the high tide. Now the boats can sail to the other islands at any time. The United Nations has declared 2011 as the Inter- national Year of Forests to Some birds of Manda raise awareness of sustain- able forest management, con- • Carmine bee eaters servation and climate change. • bee eaters 50,000 square miles of defor- • Little bee-eaters which trap bees for food. estation happens per year. Reseachers studying the Little bee eaters found this: when a Little bee eater catches a bee in flight, it elephants who ate the whole nut before passing squeezes the bee’s it out of its digestive system. abdomen against Little bee-eater Palm trees are used to produce palm wine and a tree to remove the venom. are a source of food for monkeys, bushbabies Once that is done, the Little bee eater goes on mouse birds and bats. to eat the bee...... Amazing! There are two species of monkeys, the Vervet There are two indigenous tribes living on Manda monkey and the Blue monkey. There are also a - the Cushites (Orma) and the Luos. There’s few baboons in the bushes and the mangroves. only one school and pupils from the furthest point on the isalnd have to walk two hours to There are many conservation activities on get to school. Manda to protect its biodiversity such as The Ormas are pastoral and keep goats and monitoring the forest and its birds, promoting sheep but they are also involved in conserva- eco-tourism, agriculture for forest conservation tion. They guard and nature-based enterprises such as rearing the turtle nests to butterflies and silk moths, harvesting honey, which the Lamu collecting poles and wood for fuel. Marine Conser- vation Trust takes Turtle swimming Manda has a historical forts which are now its guests to see the turtles hatch. ruins. The town dates back to the 9th and The two species of turtles on the island are 10th centuries and traded with the Persian Gulf. the Green turtle and the Hawksbill turtle which Sending exportig ivory and mangroves. come to the shore to lay eggs. The more it rains, At the heights of its power the town covered the more nests are laid and vice versa. LMCT some 40 acres (160,000 m2). It was thriving has recordes of nests going 20 years back. until the 13th century when it began to decline. Both Manda town and Takwa were probably The other tribe is the Luo who came from up abandoned due to lack of water in the first half country in the 19th century and started to make of the 19th century. In the 1960s the Kenya building blocks from coral. Department of Agriculture recommended build- ing several concrete catchments called jabias to capture rain water on the island. Two jabias Trees of Manda were built and many families moved onto the • Baobab (adasonia digitata) island, farming maize, cassava, simsim and • Neem (cures malaria) cotton. • Palm trees plantations on which animals such as mon- The people of Shella once lived there before keys, birds and others feed. the fresh water became salty forcing the com- These palm trees were not munity to move form Manda to Shella. planted by people but were dis- persed by wild animals such as Baobab tree

9 Grey plover in non-breeding plummage Photo credit: Tasso Leventis

10 Grey Plovers Kenya’s visitors from far, far away

When you visit the sand flats of Mida Creek near Watamu, writes Colin Jackson of A Rocha Kenya you will hear the far-carrying sound ‘piu- wiii’. In fact along much of the coastline you’ll hear this delightful call of one of our Grey plover in flight by Peter Usher longest-travelling visitors from Asia, the Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Much of the time when they Grey Plovers breed on the days old… though it was are with us, this large plover is tundra of the high arctic an adult when ringed so a drab grey colour the same as many of the other species. along the northern coast- would have been at least But come April when it is line of Russia, a distance 14 years old! getting ready to head to the of 8,000kms one way. Arctic Circle to breed, it puts This is not the oldest recorded on a dashing plumage of Over the past 14 years over one however - one in Britain jet black underparts and span- 120 of these birds have been was found 25 years, 1month gled silver. The upperparts turn ringed by A Rocha Kenya and 18 days after it had been white and black. researchers at Mida Creek but ringed! Plovers as a group have short, as yet we have not had one strong bills and large eyes for reported from overseas. The hope is that by putting a seeing prey on the surface of ring on the ’s leg that is the sand and pecking it - they However we do some- labelled with ‘Inform Museum don’t probe deep into mud like Nairobi’ and a unique ID times retrap birds we sandpipers do. As a result they number, that someone will find tend to stand still a lot looking have previously ringed it in Russia or somewhere around them to see a prey and on 4th September along the route to or from and item and then run and peck 2011 we caught one will report it so that we can at it thus giving them a ‘start- wearing a ring which work out where they actually stop’ feeding behaviour. Grey turned out was one we go to and what route they take. Plovers are no exception and That way we can protect them had ringed on 11th you’ll find them thinly spread better by ensuring the wetland on the reefs along our shores March 1999 - making it sites they use are properly or open sand and mud flats at 12 years, 6 months and 9 conserved. places like Mida Creek feeding on marine worms, crustaceans and molluscs. read more on www.arocha.org

11 Helping Hippos in the rivers and lakes

By Erastus Kanga Assistant director and head Ecosystems and landscapes conservation department at Kenya Wildlife Service [email protected]

veryone knows the commonE hippopotamus with its barrel-shaped, almost hairless body weighing about 1500 to 3000 kg. The Scientific name for hippo is Hippo- Hippos mum and baby potamus amphibius. The Egyptian pharaohs knew Hippos can be dangerous and When the young bulls the hippos from about destructive especially in farms. mature, they are chased 5,000 years ago. They They become aggressive when away so that they estab- they are harassed by people, lish their own territories. were worshipped as gods especially those coming to and have been portrayed their pools. It’s not easy for the young in art down the ages. males to do this because The ancient Greeks called They spend almost the entire it means that they have to them the ‘river horse’. The day in water - mostly rivers and fight to win over a new hippo is the third-largest fresh-water lakes where they territory and sometimes mate, play, fight and also def- these fights of supremacy land living mammal after ecate. In other words, fresh the elephant and the white water rivers and lakes are at lead to death. rhino. the centre of their social life. Hippos normally stay in their Hippos are semi-aquatic herbi- Hippos are grazers and prefer pools or sand banks during the vores. There are two types of short grasses along banks of day and leave at night to look hippopotamus - the Common water bodies. Hippos stay for pasture. They graze the and the Pygmy hippopotamus. in social groups of about entire night to fuel their enor- The common hippo is seen 40 individuals which has one mous bodies - and hence their in almost all the rivers and dominant bull surrounded by presence in the area has a fresh water bodies Kenya. The cows and their young ones. large impact on the vegetation. Pygmy hippo is much smaller These social groups are called and weighs about 200 to 300 “schools”. kg and is found in West Africa.

12 Hippos need water for habitats for hippos their survival. Their skins are super-sensi- However, increased tive to the sun and human activities, espe- despite looking so cially land-use changes tough, hippos are on the group ranches, easily sunburnt if they are out of water for livestock herding and long. However, despite destruction of the Mau our knowledge that catchments of the Mara hippos require water River, are a threat to Hippo underwater - it doesn’t and wetlands for sur- hippos. vival, wetlands are severely swim but walks on the riverbed threatened while research Hippos play a very important on hippos is very little in part in keeping the rivers Kenya. Mara hippo population healthy with their dung. When increased by 69.6% between they walk along the river beds, Therefore, to fills this impor- 1971 and 1980 within the they help to air the soils. This tant gap in our knowledge on Masai Mara National Reserve keeps the water from stagnat- hippos in Kenya, I explored and, although the population ing and hence alive for other the population status of did not increase within the fish and and plants. hippopota- mus in the Masai Mara, which is one of Kenya’s best wildlife reserves. I surveyed and counted hippos along 155.3 km of Hippo spoor the Mara river system using foot counts. I counted 4,170 hippos in Hence, Masai Mara 171 schools in the Mara. is an important This may be one of the largest single hippo hippo conservation populations in Kenya stronghold in Kenya making up about 3% and Africa. of the African hippopot- amus population. Hence, reserve during 1980-2006, Masai Mara is an important it increased by 359.4% in the hippo conservation strong- pastoral ranches during this hold in Kenya and Africa. period against a background of deteriorating habitat con- Comparisons with earlier ditions. This suggests that the A pod of hippos surveys suggest that this community pastoral ranches in Masai Mara provide important

13 Say what? Hippo facts

• Hippos are the third-largest living land • A single young is born either on land or in mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. shallow water. • A hippo’s foot has four webbed toes which • In water, the mother helps the newborn to the splay out to distribute weight evenly. surface, later teaching it to swim. Newly born • It has very thick, almost hairless hippos are relatively small, weighing from 55 to skin. 120 pounds, and are protected by their mothers, • The hippo has neither sweat nor sebaceous not only from crocodiles and lions but from male glands. Water or mud keep it cool. It secretes a hippos that may not bother them on land but slimey red fluid which protects its skin against attack them in water. the sun and could heal wounds. • Young hippos can only stay under water for • The hippo’s flat, paddle-like tail is used to about half a minute, but adults can stay sub- spread excrement to mark territory. merged up to six minutes. • Two hippo species are found in Africa. • Young hippos can suckle under water by • The large hippo is south of the . taking a deep breath, closing their nostrils and • The smaller (440 to 605 pounds) species of ears and wrapping their tongue tightly around hippo is the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis the teat to suck. liberiensis). It’s rare and found in West Africa. • A young hippo begins to eat grass at 3 weeks, It’s shy and a solitary forest dweller, and was but its mother continues to suckle it for about only discovered about a century ago. a year. Newborns often climb on their mothers’ • Hippos have a social system. backs to rest. • They live in mixed groups of about 15 individu- • Hippos are agile and often climb steep banks als with a territorial bull. each night to graze on grass. • In periods of drought large numbers are forced • They exit and enter the water to gather near pools of water. This overcrowd- at the same spots and graze for ing disrupts the hierarchical system, resulting in four to five hours, covering one fights or two miles, with extended • Old scars and fresh, deep wounds are signs forays of up to five miles. of daily fights.

14 Important Notice to WCK clubs, patrons and members

To visit a Park or Reserve, Examples you must ensure the following Some schools send an entire class, with the • Carry your Wildlife Club Certificate. Wildlife Club members. KWS does not allow • Each member must carry personal WCK this. KWS reserves the right to deny such membership card, with passport size photo- a group subsidized entry reserved for Wildlife graph attached and signed by both member Club groups. and Patron (Photo of head & shoulders) • School rubber-stamp is stamped in the right Some schools register a day before a visit to place on the member’s card (across the photo) a Park to gain subsidized entry. KWS will not recognize this certificate. Your club must be reg- Members must be from class 4 and above. • istered at least a month in advance. • Renew club membership by June every year • Purchase copy of “How to Have a Successful The actions below are not allowed Wildlife Club” • Teachers using student members’ cards • Patrons renewing membership MUST give a • Writing the cards in pencil list of member students and what conservation • Fixing the photos with staples instead of glue activity the school is carrying out • Taking students from one class and not WCK • Submit biannual activity progress reports club members from their clubs (the template of which should • Not having conservation/ club activities in your be sent to the WCK education officer) and the school best performers shall be awarded • Not stamping the cards appropriately

Any school found to have done any of Certificate of Registration the above will be penalised as below: and Privileges • The name of the school wildlife club that has violated its membership privileges will be pub- The Certificate verifies that you paid a fee to lished in Komba register your club with the national association • The school wildlife club shall be barred of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK). WCK is NOT from entering all KWS affiliated with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). managed Parks for three years using their club membership- You are free to visit the parks as a The two are completely separate organizations. non-member at your convenience • Permanent denial of membership to WCK Kenya Wildlife Service, formerly known as • The Governing Council resolved that legal Kenya National Parks, subsidizes fees for offi- action will be taken against any members who cially registered Wildlife Clubs. However, there abuse their privileges even after being warned are reported cases of abuse of this privilege.

KWS Entry Fee for WCK members:

Category Members Non WCK - Members Student 50/= 200/= Bus 1,000/= regardless of capacity 3,000/= 44 Seater and below

15 African fish eagle by Shiv Kapila

16 Issue 3- 2011

17 From Koroboi to Solar energy

By Joseph Okwach Head teacher Philip Kirui Assistant Education Officer WCK Western region

Lit by a solar lantern: Musinde Muliro University, Mwoki primary school in School children studying DEO Vihiga, Mr Omino of Vihiga County has a solar in its light at night. energy project supported National Bank of Kenya and Dr Ganira, the general superin- by the Wildlife Clubs of tended of PAG. Kenya Western region.

The pupils until recently used the tin lamp localy called koro- Deforestation in Nandi Escarpment boi because there is no elec- By Tarus in Nandi Hills tricity in the village to study when dark. Their performance Nandi escarpment is one of Charcoal trade was below average for many the catchments for Lake Vic- It’s the main cause of defores- years. Now, with the solar proj- toria. The escarpment covers tation. Unfortunately, it’s mostly ect the pupils can study longer an area of 6,500 square kilo- the youngsters who instead of in better light and this has meters. It supports Lake Victo- being in school are burning improved their school grades. ria and its environs as a water trees for charcoal. Huge sacks source with springs and rivers of charcoal are ferried to town The pupils and teachers later flowing through it, supporting everyday. visited Sagam Primary School livelihoods in the plains below. Bushfire in Siaya to exchange ideas. However this one forest-filled This coincides with the dry With support from WCK escarpment is under serious season between November Western, the school also visited threat because of the following and February. It has severally Kakamega forest. reasons: affected the rain pattern. Farm- ers are experiencing unreliable The 2010 KCPE results Illegal Logging rainfall leading to food short- improved to a mean Locals living along the escarp- ages in the area. score of 271 placing the ment are felling trees illegally for charcoal and timber. They school in position 19 in Solutions even go up to the springs to cut Establish Sosiot Tree Nurs- the District out of 67 the trees and this is drying the ery schools. springs, rivers and streams. Started in 2003, it provides Farming on the slopes seedlings to schools and does The local leaders and sponsors The local people farm on the educational exchange visits. are happy with the school’s slopes because of the long Education and Awareness success. An education day to rains which bring good crop. 15 primary schools do forestry celebrate the achievement was The large river valleys like and agro-forestry programmes. arranged and was attended by Kasurur are most affected. This Through our tree planting many Area MP Hon Yusuf Chanzu, has resulted in soil erosion and people are planting trees on DC Muli, Prof. Embeywa of landslides. the hills to restore forests.

18 the predator from the skies threatened on land the african fish eagle

By Shiv Kapila Raptor scientist

Shiv Kapila releasing an adult African Fish Eagle back to the wild after attaching a ring on its foot, and taking some blood for toxicology tests

Shiv Kapila’s been are assumed to seep through sources. The habitat is per- studying African fish the lake sediments into the fectly suited to the require- around the lakes cracked volcanic bedrock. The ments of the African Fish other freshwater lake in the Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, with and writes about one Kenyan Rift Valley is Lake steep, tree-lined cliffs over- particular lake, Baringo Naivasha. hanging in the lake and many and the threat to the rap- fish. tors from a poison called Baringo: African Furadan fish eagle: From the But African fish eagle popu- lations have declined around 70 individuals in the Baringo since the early 1970s. 1970s, the popula- From the 70 individuals in Lake Baringo is, after Lake the 1970s, the population in Turkana, the most northern of tion in 2010 was 20 2010 was 20 individuals. The the Great Rift Valley lakes of individuals main threats to the birds are Kenya, with a surface area of deforestation for fuel and build- about 130 square kilometres. ing materials, and increasing It is about 970 metres above human population around the Both lakes are about the same sea level. The lake is fed by lake. In recent times, however, size but lying in different land- several rivers like the El Molo, the main influence on this pop- scapes. Lake Baringo is in Perkerra and Ol Arabel. It is ulation decline is from indirect a semi-arid desert, isolated a freshwater lake but with poisoning. no obvious outlets; the waters from other permanent water

19 Superb flier A young African fish eagle

The crocodiles sometimes killed. Because of Baringo’s reproductive adults, the resi- attack the herders’ goats. The isolation from other rift valley dent African fish eagles are herders take revenge by lacing lakes, and its arid character- showing signs of stress. Of carcasses with Carbofuran. the seven African fish eagles istics, roaming African Carbofuran, or more commonly trapped and banded in the known as Furadan is a wide- fish eagles do not fly last few months, six have spread poison and is outlawed. through the area. As shown leucism (patches of However, it is still sold in agro- feathers without any pigmen- vet shops across the country to a result, few, if any, tation) and hyperkeratinosis known customers. This poison of these lost eagles (deformities in the scales of is extremely toxic. their feet which are made of have been replaced: the same material as your fin- frican fish eagles, attracted A gernails). to the poison-laced bait, have A female African fish These condi- been killed feeding on the poi- eagle that lost its tions are common in soned bait meant for croco- diles. In one case in 2006, 13 partner in the 2006 inbred populations. African fish eagles and eight poisoning incident crocodiles died of Furadan poi- soning. It is suspected that has yet to find a at least two more African fish mate. eagles have been killed in another, unconfirmed report. A worrying aspect of this decline in African fish eagle The most damage was done numbers is the effect on the remaining population. With on the largest island, Ol An adult Fish Eagle’s Kokwe, where four out of five such a small gene pool and pairs of Fish eagles were with little or no entry of new wing showing leucistic patches

20 The adult African fish eagles were also very underweight, African fish eagle fact file even though their body condi- • African Fish Eagles are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, tion was healthy, but they were ranging over most of continental Africa south of the Sahara simply much smaller than the Desert. normal African fish-Eagles. • It is known by the Masai as Tai, or “keeper of the water.” • The scientific name for the African fish eagle means ‘’ from the New Latin word Haliaeetus, and vocifer because it has a loud and clear calll, named by the French naturalist Francois Levaillant, who called it ‘the vociferous one’ • The African Fish Eagle is a large bird. The female can weigh up to 3.2-3.6 kg (7-8 lbs). She is larger than the male who weighs 2-2.5 kg (4.4-5.5 lbs). • Females have wingspans of eight feet and males have wing- spans of six feet. • The African fish eagle is still quite common near freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, although they can sometimes be found near the coast at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. Adult African Fish Eagle African Fish Eagles are said to be monogamous - in other showing hyperkeratinosis words, they mate for life. on its feet

Shiv Kapila is a Raptor Biologist supported by The Peregrine Fund and the National Museums of Kenya. The African Fish Eagle program is part of the East Africa Program run by The Peregrine Fund. The Peregrine Fund is a US based conservation organisation that funds research and education on raptors, or birds of prey. All pictures are by Shiv Kapila. Read more on raptors on www.peregrinefund.org

More news from Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (Lamcot) LAMCOT tags turtles as a way of following them. Recently, a few big female turtles returned to lay eggs on Shella beach on Lamu island. They had been tagged by Carol Korshen the founder of the turtle project 20 years ago Newly hatched turtle Local school kids on Shella as hatchlings. Females hurrying to the ocean. watching newly hatched tur- It must reach water return to lay eggs on tles emerging from the eggs as soon as it hatches the very beach they were in the sand nest born. otherwise its muscles become dehydrated and [email protected] www.lamcot.org it will die.

21 The African white-ringed Atlas moth

22 The African White-ringed Atlas Moth Kenya’s largest moth Dino with an African White-ringed Atlas moth - it’s enormous! Kenya is home to an amazing When the insect is disturbed diversity of moths and or alarmed, the wings are Should the attack butterflies, tells Dr Dino quickly spread. This flashes continue, the eye-spots the eye-spots at a would-be Martins. The largest moths in draw attention away from Kenya - and the world - are predator. The sudden the head and body of the the Emperor and Atlas Moths appearance of bright, moth. By pecking or lunging at (in the family Saturniidae). The large ‘eyes’ in the Atlas Moth of Asia reaches the eye-spots, a predator’s atten- a wingspan of over 30 cm darkness serves as a tion is not on the vulnerable parts (one foot) in some females. In deterrent to predators of the moth’s body. The moth East Africa, some Emperor and like lizards or spiders. can then escape with only dam- Atlas Moths moths reach In some species, such as aged wings, but the vital head wingspans of up to 17 cm. the Frosted Emperor (Ath- and body intact. They can still fly letes semialba), the eye- and importantly, reproduce. Each escape increases their success The African White-ringed spots bear a striking resemblance to the face as a species. Atlas Moth is one of the of an owl! Studies with most striking and beautiful caged birds have shown The eye-spots vary among the of these moths. The moth’s that the eye-spot patterns Emperor and Atlas Moths. Many scientific name is Epiphora elicited the most alarmed are circles of contrasting colour. mythimnia and it mostly feeds responses. A few have evolved eye-spots as a caterpillar on Croton syl- that reflect light, like a real vaticus at Kakamega Forest. It In addition, freshly emerged eye, due to large angular glass- eats other food plants in other Emperor and Atlas Moths spots. In the circles of colours, locations including Ziziphus can squirt a smelly fluid the ‘irises’ of some moth’s eye- mucronatus. when molested which tastes spots there are tiny bad-because of the food light-coloured mark- The wings of Emperor and plants they eat. ings. These help Atlas Moths moths has dis- create the effect of a tinctive eye-spots. They are The flashing of the eye- sharp ‘glint’ - the fleck centrally-placed transparent spots works in many ways. of reflected light typi- windows known as ‘glass- First, a sudden burst of cal of many true eyes. In the Afri- can White-ringed Atlas Moth the spots’. These glass-spots are angry colour when it is least tips of the wings have the shape in turn ringed by circles of con- expected surprises would-be and colouring of a snake. trasting colour and more devel- predators to pause and oped on the hind pair of wings. rethink their actions. Emperor and Atlas Moths are magical. In order to ‘meet’ them, Dr Dino Martins is an entomologist who grew up in Eldoret you have to go out at night into watching insects. He is a National Geographic Emerging forests or riverine areas. Explorer for 2011. Email: [email protected]

23 Burning ivory to stop the ivory trade

President lit a bonfire of 335 confiscated tusks and 41,000 ivory trinkets on 20th July 2011 worth more than Ksh 1,000,000,000 at Manyani, Tsavo National Park to fight the rise in poaching and the illegal trade in Kwale Eles Home ivory. He told the crowd gathered at the Kenya An interesting story about a home built from Wildlife Service training facility that Kenya elephants’ money is determined to stop the illegal trade in ivory. By Salim S. Mwamasumbi

Mwamsunbi has been the WCK patron at Ngonzini Primary School for 10 years. The school in Shimba Hills overlooks Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.

Salim is the founder of Shimba Hils Forest Guides Association in Kwale town and has a story to share about his home and the elephants of Shimba hills.

“In 1980, the Kwale elephants raided my mother’s farm in Ngade in Gondoni, destroying all the coco- nut and cashewnut trees. The Kenya Wildlife Ser- vice (KWS) paid my mother, Mwanajuma Mwamrezi compensation money for the crops destroyed by the President Kibaki setting the elephants. ivory pile ablaze Although elephant numbers have My mother is very wise. She spent some of the increased in recent years, conservationists money to buy building poles from Shimba hills warn about a second crisis as poachers try forest. Then she bought a plot near Kwale High to satisfy China’s appetite for ivory. School where she built a house where we live. The burning, though hosted by Kenya, was carried out by the Lusaka Agreement Task When l formed the Shimba Hills Forest Guides Force, a group of seven African countries Association (SHIFOGA) l invited volunteers to come that work to protect flora and fauna. and work with us. Since 2007 we have had The burned ivory was confiscated by offi- volunteers from Japan, Germany, cials in Singapore in 2002. It was then sent France, UK, USA, Canada, Brazil to Kenya, where DNA analysis found that and Norway. the tusks originated in and . A global ban on the ivory trade in 1989 Our home is called the Kwale Eles briefly stopped the poaching. But now with Home. It supports the conservation booming Asian economies and increasing of Shimba Hills. My mother is a demand for land, poaching is on the rise. member of Shifgoa and has given Africa had 1.3 million elephants in the land to the Wema Cultural Dancers 1970s but has only 500,000 today. who perform at Shimba Hills lodge.

24 WCK Coastal Chat partnership with the EU and WWF on pond farms for fish WCK Coastal Patrons @ and making ‘Jenneby’ fishing nets for the local people. WCK Mombasa Centre Issues on the greenhouse effect and global warming were discussed and ways The Coast province patrons to combat climate change from Mombasa, Malindi, Kilifi, through education for sustain- Lamu, Tana River, Taita/Taveta, able development. Based on Msambweni and Kwale met on the theme ‘The International 6th August 2011 for a workshop Year of Forests’ and ‘Forests: at the WCK Mombasa Con- degraded versus conserva- servation Education Centre to tion’ a competition was orga- highlight the conservation chal- nized for the coast region. 106 lenges in their locations and entries were received in art, discuss ways forward. poetry and essays.

The Coast Province Chair- person Mr. Hassan Mwadima Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association spoke of the important role of patrons to create conservation (WIOMSA) Art Competition “Coping with global education awareness amongst change” the youth.

He asked patrons not to misuse By Mtengo k. Mtengo the privilege of WCK member- ship to the parks and reserves The WIOMSA 7th Scientific managed by KWS by register- Symposium was held in Mom- ing late. He said field trips were basa in October 2011. It meant for educating young- included an art competition sters on conservation. KWS with the theme “Coping with Ocean beauty - the Tiger shark has changed the rules for entry global change”. for WCK members. Patrons for the night, followed by an must comply with KWS regula- WIOMSA is a regional profes- unforgettable visit to Haller tions. Only two patrons, a driver sional, non-profit, non-govern- Park courtesy of to Lafarge and one bus per school are mental membership Ecosystems. accorded special rates. organization dedicated to At Haller Park, the winners promoting educational, scien- were taken on a guided tour. Mr. Hassan said that WCK tific and technological devel- The club members were patrons are at the forefront of opment of all aspects of impressed by the rich variety teaching conservation educa- marine sciences throughout of animals such as birds, mam- tion through projects that are the Western Indian Ocean. mals and reptiles found in the creative and innovative such park that was once a barren as creating nature trails, waste The winners of the art compe- quarry. It was a life-changing management and others. tition were drawn from Kilifi, experience that broadened the Maryam Jenneby the Malindi Kwale and Mombasa coun- knowledge of the WCK mem- education officer spoke about ties. The WCK members had bers on environmental con- the importance of mangrove their fine art reflecting the servation. We are happy that trees and the re-forestation beauty of the coast and Kenya hosted the WIOMSA programmes that her office oceans. They were then fer- scientific symposium which supports at the coast like the. ried to the WCK Mombasa gave us an opportunity to learn income generating projects in hostels on Ketty tours buses more about marine issues.

25 Walking Proud Heritage Tours by Mtengo K. Mtengo

WCK coast region, first one built in the country supported by World Wide and still in use. Walking through Fund for Nature (WWF) the narrow twisting alleys, he pointed to houses that are cen and Friends of Fort Jesus (FFJ,) has an exciting heri- tage programme for WCK members to appreciate the heritage resources at the coast and the need to pre- Narrow street in Old Town, serve it. It gives the rural Mombasa schools a chance to visit town. The house that caught the attraction of the WCK mem- Rural schools with WCK clubs 17th century bers is the eleventh house are sponsored to visit the 16th Mandhry mosque believed to have been lived century Fort Jesus where they in by the great explorers of are taken on a guided tour of turies old, constructed with coral the Church Missionary Soci- the Fort as well as the histori- stone with ornate latticework ety like Ludwig Kraph and cal . on balconies and windows and Johannes Rebmann. Kraph carved doors in ancient beautiful wrote the first dictionary and The following schools from Asian style. Mr Hamzali showed grammar of the Swahili lan- Kaloleni had a chance to the spot where slaves were guage including the bible. sample the Heritage tour assembled and prepared for The two missionaries were Moi Kadzonzo Girls Sec. sale and shipped abroad also the first to tell the outside Tsangatsini Sec. through the old port(harbor). The world of the two snow-cov- Tsangatsini primary group then had a glance of the ered mountains - Kraph saw Ndatani primary school. port’s history and shipping oper- Mt Kenya and Rebmann saw ations. Kilimanjaro. The group arrived at Fort Jesus and was wel- However, this internationally comed happily by the recognized heritage site is staff of FFJ. The group threatened by pollution and was first treated to break- mismanagement. Noisy tuk- fast at the Fort Jesus tuks pollute the air carrying restaurant and then intro- tourist to and fro. duction to the staff. Everyone received sta- The members returned to the tionary and Mr. Taibali Fort for a tasty lunch of Swa- Hamzali gave vivid his- hili dishes served by FFJ tory of the old town. staff. After the lunch there 16th century Fort Jesus built by was a guided walk within He then led the group to the Portuguese and now a World the Fort with the historian, Mandhry mosque, Heritage Site because of it s Mr Hassan Mohamed at the completed in 1570 and the architecture National Museums of Kenya.

26 International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD)

Celebrating the vulture

Ruppell’s Vulture by Participating organiza- Dr Munir Virani of tions at IVAD The Peregrine Fund

The International Vul- casses they die quickly. Today six An Egyptian Vulture was ture Awareness Day of the eight vulture species are sighted at the Conservancy. (IVAD) 2011 was cele- listed as globally threatened. The This species was thought to brated on 7th October Bearded vulture may follow. have been extinct from the Laikipia. at the Ol Pejeta Conser- IVAD is an internationally coordi- vancy in Laikipia. Vul- nated event that began in 2009 to Ol Pejeta Conservancy tures first appeared on increase public understanding and thanks: earth about 40 to 50 awareness of the need to con- Samuel Mutisya million years ago, coin- serve vultures. The event at Ol The Raptor Working Group ciding with the emer- Pejeta brought together 120 stu- Kenya Wildlife Service dents from neighbouring schools. BirdLife International gence of modern, This year’s theme for the art Laikipia Wildlife Forum grazing mammals (vul- competition was ‘The role of Nyahururu Bird Club ture food!). vultures in maintaining the National Museums of Kenya Wildlife Clubs of Kenya Sadly, vultures are fast dis- cycle of life’. Mpala Research Centre appearing from our skies - in Kenya there has been a 96 per cent decline in The Vultures of Africa by Martha N. Mutiso the last twenty years, sim- ilar to India. One of the reasons for the decline is Get this fantastic colouring using poisonous chemicals book full of information about like Furadan, which the pas- vultures in Africa. toral use to lace carcasses to bait lions and crocodiles The book is available at when they have killed the Nature Kenya at Ksh 330. pastorals’ animals. When the scavenging birds like vultures feed on the car-

27 A priceless gift from our ancestors

By Gloria Borona

at the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA). All Pictures: courtesy TARA

Long ago, before paper and writing were invented people drew and painted images on rocks. These images are called Rock Art rock art. 6,000 year old engravings of giraffes in Niger Every continent, except Antarctica has rock art but Africa has more diverse and Some rock art are painted on rocks. Our ancestors used different older rock art than other These are called rock paintings. materials like ochre, egg yolk, continents. Look at the picture of the circular blood, animal fat, plant sap paintings from Mfangano Island to make the paint. Sometimes In Africa, the images rep- in Kenya. Others were made you find images painted in resent animals, people and by scraping or scratching on the red, white or yellow depend- designs. Rock art is an rocks. These are called rock ing on the pigment that was early form of communica- engravings. Look at the picture of used to make the paint. Rock tion that helps us under- the giraffe engravings from Niger. engravings are made with a stand how our ancestors These giraffes were carved on the hard stone such as quartz. rock 6,000 years ago! Most of the What does the art mean? It saw their world. art was done thousands of years is difficult to know the exact ago during Stone Age. Stone tools meaning of rock art because Africa’s rock art shows are often found near rock art sites. it was made long ago. It is the very beginning of Archaeologists study stone tools however believed that most human imagination and and rock art to find out how the art of the rock art in Africa is thought. was made and what it means. related to humankind’s spiri-

28 tual beliefs. Some rock art sites in Africa are associ- ated with rain making cer- emonies like at the rock art sites in Mfangano Island, Suba District that were used for these ceremonies until the 1980’s. TARA, an NGO based in Nairobi records the rich rock art heritage of Africa, so that this information is accessi- ble to people. TARA works to safeguard the sites even in remote places. TARA does this through survey, conservation, documenta- tion, exhibitions, publica- tions and community projects. Rock art site on Mfangano island,

Rock art can be damaged by people or by natu- Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela, the great Afri- ral factors such as sun, rain or weathering. can leaders support conserving African rock. People damage rock art by writing on it, stealing it, cutting trees around the sites, farming and Nelson Mandela: “Africa’s rock art is the charcoal burning near the sites. We must pro- common heritage of all Africans, but it is tect rock art from any damage so that people in more that. It is a cultural gift from our the future may see or study it. Many tourists ancestors that can bring diverse people visit rock art sites in Kenya and the world. In Kenya, you can visit rock art sites in Mfangano together - with pride and a common com- Island, Kakapel (near Bungoma) and Turkana. mitment to share and preserve it. “

Engraving of decorated women in Chad Kofi Annan: “To Africa’s children, I would like to say, you are the future of Africa, study your proud his- tory and protect Africa’s rock art. “

Any rock art sites near you? Have you seen any damage at rock art sites? Please write to TARA P.O Box 24122-00502 Nairobi www.africanrockart.org Facebook: Trust for African Rock Art

29 Activity For The Butterfly Mobile primary level From egg to adult butterfly Make a mobile that shows the complete metamorphosis of a butterfly from egg to Life cycle of butterfly and moth larva (caterpillar) to pupa to adult (the butterfly).

What you need • Many colors of construction paper, oak Egg tag, or gift wrap • Pencil • Scissors • String • Glue stick • A sturdy paper plate Larva • Markers, crayons, or paint (catterpillar) • Stapler or tape

Draw a spiral on a paper plate. Cut along the line.

Decorate the paper plate using markers, crayons, or paint. Pupa

Using green construction paper, draw a leaf and cut it out. Either draw tiny but- terfly eggs on it or glue on tiny paper Butterfly circles. A cluster of butterfly eggs are usually laid on the underside of a leaf; the eggs are white or yellow or greenish, and are circular to oval. Staple or tape the Draw and cut out a caterpil- To make but- stages in lar (the egg hatches into a terfly wings, the but- caterpillar, which spends its fold a small terfly’s life entire time eating leaves). piece of paper cycle to in half, and string and draw half a then to the butterfly along paper plate. Draw and cut out Using dark paper, make a Attach a pupa (the body for your butterfly another stage during (it’s basically a long oval short length which the cater- with a circular head). of string to pillar makes a the plate; it protective case Glue the will be used to hang the around itself and turns into body to the wings mobile up. a butterfly). Decorate it. and decorate your butterfly.

30 cttr ad

31 giraffe centre advert

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