Kenya | Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Is the much lauded Conservancy Model working for the Mara Ecosystem?

Sep 6, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: All Posts, Human Wildlife Conflict, wildlife conservation Tagged: Daniel Odhiambo Nyangweso, human-wildlife conflict, Kenya, Mara ecosystem, Masai Mara National Reserve Conservancy model, University of Eldoret

With the emergence of the Conservancy Model in the Mara Ecosystem in Kenya, there was a great hope amongst many conservationists. A tall good looking young man came over to our Land Rover. It was Daniel. Finally we’d found the right building on the University of Eldoret campus. Here many of Kenya’s wildlife conservationists are trained. The location being rather strategic to the Conservancy model in the Mara ecosystem. Daniel Odhiambo Nyangweso is a confident, outgoing master’s student. He reached out to me a few years back via Facebook to discuss issues pertaining to wildlife welfare. I was impressed…

In a most unlikely place south of Mombasa the Colobus Monkeys have been preserved for 20 years

Apr 19, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, All Posts, Human Wildlife Conflict, wildlife conservation Tagged: Colobus Conservation Trust, Colobus monkey conservation, Diani, Kelly Martin, Kenya

A few years back a beautiful video of these Colobus Monkeys jumping through the tree tops caught my attention. When you see something black with flashes of white ‘flying’ through the trees it’s most likely a Colobus Monkey. Probably one of the prettiest monkeys. Their white flowing fringe and long tasseled tail really sets them apart. Besides that, the Colobus Monkeys don’t have a thumb like other monkeys do. The Colobus Conservation Trust is located on a popular stretch of beach south of Mombasa, Kenya. The community of Diani, with its white beaches, warm water and intriguing tidal pools attracts…

Why the praised biodiversity notion is not working in Africa

Mar 8, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Human Wildlife Conflict Tagged: biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict, Kenya, Maasai, Malawi, over grazing, pastoralist, Tanzania, unsustainable

This commentary is purely based on what we saw and learned during our months traveling and visiting with people in Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania. Wildlife conservation as a concept has morphed from preserving fauna and flora in natural ecosystems to a biodiversity notion. Phrases like, “sustainable use” and “wildlife management” have made a commodity out of what we once revered as sacred. There was a time when animals, birds and nature were reverenced, respected and deemed as rightful inhabitants of planet earth. Today, the “if it doesn’t pay it doesn’t stay” mentality has become the norm. Trophy hunters, wildlife farmers…

Is this how wildlife conservation should be?

Feb 12, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Raptors Tagged: Augur Buzzards, conservancy, Iten, Kenya, Raphael, Tirinya Camp and Conservancy, wildlife conservation

If the world had more people like Raphael we wouldn’t have to worry about wildlife conservation. “Let’s pack up,” I tell Russ that morning. Russ wanted to leave our table and chairs under the tree to save our campsite while we took off for church. However, I had this inkling that we may not come back, that we may stay at the other camp a bit further up the mountain. Little did we know we were soon to discover wildlife conservation as it should be. “What was I thinking?” It’s grassy with a few rustic huts close to a huge…

Voice and Action for Wildlife in Kenya

Nov 29, 2014 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Elephants Tagged: African Nomads Conservation, animal poaching, elephant, Facebook, Kenya, Noor Santosian, tourism

Taking a stand because it is his heritage and the right thing to do a young man is voice and action for wildlife in Kenya. “Hello!…” A brief friendly personal message via Facebook started my acquaintance with Noor Santosian, founder of Africa Nomads Conservation in Kenya. His response to “Why are you so passionate about saving your wildlife?” made me want to jump in our Landy and head for Kenya. From the heart… “I was born seeing elephant, grew up seeing them, sharing our corns on farm with them… I remember when we have 1 hectare, my grandmother used to…