Many Species, One planet, One Future

Balck Rhino & Calf

More than 10 animal Species are on the brink of extinction in Kenya.

The Kenyan Black rhino, Hirola, Grevy Zebra,Cheetah,Macows Shrew,Tana river Red Colobus and Ultimate Shrew are some of the species that are endangered.



The critically endangered species like the roan Antelope in the Ruma National Park has a total of 56 remaining. If a disease strikes they will be gone forever.

Currently the country has a total of 610 Black rhinos out of a total 4230 in Africa.

In 1969 there were 65000 Black Rhinos in Africa.

Efforts to tag the Black rhinos in 14 rhino Sanctuary with a tracking device has been successful e.g. Nakuru & Nairobi National Parks.



While the future of black Rhinos look assured, the future of other Species like the Macows Shrew, Ultimate Shrew, Cheetah, Bongo, and Hirola remains in Darkness.

The Hirola Also known as the hunters Hartebeest, is one of East Africa’s Endangered Species of Antelopes.



There are 90 Hirolas left in Kenya. The Antelope Species is found in Garsen, Bura, Galma and Gala in North eastern Kenya and South west of Somalia.

There is a small Translocated population in Tsavo East National Park, out the species natural range, the animals were move from Garissa in 1963.



Five Antelope Species are at critical stage. They are:



Dama Gazelle (Nanger Dama)

Aders Duiker (Cephalophus aderis)

Saiga Antelope (Saiga Tatarica)

Hirola (Beatragos Hunter)

Addax (Addax Nasomaculatus)



The Scimitar-horned Oryx is already extinct in the wild. I hope if there are efforts to reintroduce it.

The Grevy Zebra Found in Northern Kenya, with the largest population in Lewa Conservercy .Kudos to the Proprietor Mr. Ian Craig for his efforts in protecting the species.

The Grevy entered the endangered species in 2006 & declared critically endangered last year (2009).

Kenya has an estimated population of 2600 from a population of 15000 in the early seventies.



Basically, Kenya is the only remaining country with the main population of Grevy Zebra, because there were 120 in Ethiopia but was decimated by Anthrax and 2007 drought.



In My Opinion, it is our will to protect and Conserve Mother Nature.


Member:Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association


Member:Nature Kenya

RESTORING REPUTATION FOR SNAKES

The biblical story of Eve and the snake will remain one of the most powerful information strategy of all times having succeed in painting the reptile as the source of evil and deceit.
In an effort to rehabilitate the reptile reputation alternatives for teaching will encourage people to realize the ecological significance of snakes and be able to consider alternative perspectives, especially towards harmless ones. “That is alternative to killing them”
In our African way of belief, people handling snakes are seen as witchdoctors and witches and should be stoned.This was a milestone.
Snakes are an integral part of our environment, but for most people, the only good snake is a dead one since the time of Adam and Eve.
Snakes are perceived as “poisonous” that attack and kill at any given opportunity.
However there are no poisonous snakes in the world. There are only venomous snakes. “The difference between the two terminologies is that poisonous refers to substance being lethal when ingested.
In the case of snakes, you can eat any snake in the world and won’t be poisoned, but venomous means that when a snake or any other creature bites, the venom injected can cause injuries and if not taken care soon after the bite, leads to death.
To prove this issue about the venom, there are three types:-

Cytotoxic: adversely affecting tissues and cell formation.
Neurotoxic: toxin present in venom that acts on nerve tissue
Haemotoxin: a venom component which adversely affects the blood or the circulatory system

Not all snakes are venomous. Some species are very venomous, some mildly and some meek and harmless and can’t hurt a child.
Most people suggest that all green snakes are green mambas, and would prefer to kill one on the sight. According to a Kenyan scientist from the Herpetology department of the National Museums of Kenya which boasts of its biggest collection of reptiles in East and Central Africa, “not all green snakes are the highly venomous mambas”
Snakes are cold-blooded or ecotothermic which means that they regulate their body temperature mainly by external source of heat. Cold greatly reduces the metabolic rate in snakes and consequently a greater number of species is found in tropical and sub-tropical areas than in temperate zones or at the poles.
Some of the harmless snakes are:-

Brown house snake {lamprophis fuliginosus}
Common egg eater {dasypeltis scabra}
Sand Boa             Eryx colubrinus 
When you see a snake, just turn around and walk away.



Member:Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association


Member:Nature Kenya