Posts

© Chege Amos

Lion Landscapes #collaringforcoexistance program is developing a new innovative method to help save both livestock and lions lives. We are hopeful this new initiative will allow the human and lion residents of Laikipia to live in peace together.

Following last years’ land invasions for some of the lions in Laikipia, the killing of livestock has now become routine. If this trend is to continue retaliation will undoubtedly occur and we will see the lion populations of Laikipia suffer as a result.

Savannah Tracking have developed boma alarm stations to help deter lions from attacking livestock at night, these are currently being field tested by Lion Landscapes on Loisaba Conservancy. These alarms are triggered if the stations detect one of the collared lion approaching the livestock enclosure within a threshold distance of 200m. Flashing lights and noise are automatically activated causing the lions to bolt.

This new system was first put to the test at the camel boma on Loisaba Conservancy. Narok, (whose pride has been collared for the past ten years) and her pride approached the camel boma under the cover of darkness triggering the alarm and in turn getting quite a shock – the camels looked a little surprised too!

We are hopeful that this method will help re-educate the lions of Laikipia and they will go back to killing the plentiful wild prey. In conjunction to the boma alarm stations, real time data transmitted from the collars help livestock owners avoid the prides, helping to protect the lions and local livelihoods too. A big thank you to The Nature Conservancy and Tusk Trust for supporting Lion Landscapes with these collars.

A mother and cub relax around the remains of a large male impala. Only meters away, a male and female leopard were mating in thick shrub © Nicholas Pilfold

With some notable exceptions (e.g. lions, hyenas, wild dogs) most large African carnivores live a solitary existence. They hunt for food, raise young, and fend off rivals all on their own. This is particularly true for the species that I research at Loisaba Conservancy: the African leopard.

It is already a rare sight when more than one leopard is found in the same location, even more so with multiple individuals. But it does happen. The circumstances for why it happens can be as interesting as the event itself.

This past February, I had the chance to experience a leopard congregation (aka “a leap”) around a kill site. A large male impala had been killed by an equally large male leopard, and once he had his fill, other leopards moved in for leftovers. In many cases, this tolerance for sharing food would not have been allowed by a dominant male still at the kill site; but in this circumstance, he was distracted by a female looking for a mate.

An adult female looks back towards the direction of her departing male mate © Nicholas Pilfold

While the male consorted with the female within the privacy of some dense shrub, a mother and cub moved in on the leftovers. They were extremely relaxed around the kill, recognizing that the adult male was not a threat. Four leopards in a such a tight setting was a surprise and was only surpassed when the next morning a fifth leopard showed up to work on some of the last scraps high in a Boscia tree. The fact that the fifth leopard showed up so quickly likely meant she was in the vicinity when the kill happened the day before.

While leopards spend much of their lives in solitude, events like these remind us of their capacity for sociality in the right setting.

By: Nicholas Pilfold, Ph.D., San Diego Zoo Global

Peter Ekidor has been one of our fantastic Loisaba guides for the past 5 years. Born on Loisaba, Ekidor’s passion for tourism and conservation started at a young age when he would read the guides text books his father made leather covers for. He now holds his Silver level guiding certificate and will write his FGASA examinations next month. He is also completing a diploma in Tour Guiding and Administration with the Amboseli Institute of Science and Technology. All this he manages to do whilst guiding full time for Elewana at Loisaba Tented Camp! We caught up with Ekidor last week…

© Isabelle Parsons

How did you become a guide on Loisaba?

I was born on Loisaba where my father used to work but brought up in Kinamba, Sosian where I started my Primary level schooling. Whilst I was finishing school my older brother was working as a cook for Elephant Pepper Camp in the Mara and I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps in the tourism industry. After completing high school I was given a chance through Cheli and Peacock to write the Bronze level, Kenya Professional Safari Guide Exam. This I passed and after a brief time teaching at Ol Maisor Primary School I was offered a guiding job with Loisaba at the Tented Camp.

 

What parts do you love about the job?

I love taking bush walks, guests are always looking out for the big fauna but don’t often see the small organisms such as insects. On bush walks I can explain the importance these small organisms play in the ecosystem. I really enjoy being out in the bush and sharing information about the bio-diversity of the Laikipia ecosystem.

© Ambrose Letoluia

What do you love about Laikipa?

I love Laikipia because it is my home. In terms of tourism, I love the space available for guests and the Laikipia landscape is beautiful. We also have special kinds of animals that you do not see so much elsewhere. These are Grevy Zebras, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk the antelope with the long necks, Lesser Oryx, Somali Ostrich, Jacksons Hartebeest and Wild Dogs. Laikipia has been known for their Wild Dogs but a disease was brought in last year during  the land invasions which wiped out a great number of our Wild Dogs. I was very happy to hear last week that there is a den on Mpala, with nine Wild Dog puppies.

What are the problems you see within the current Laikipia landscape?

Overgrazing is a big issue. People need to learn how to manage the number of their animals so that they can co-exist with the wildlife and so that they will not have an issue with the carrying capacity of the land. There needs to be education about the livestock, the breeding and a focus on the quality of the animal rather that quantity.

© Isabelle Parsons

What has been your most memorable experience as a guide?

I once saw four lionesses hunting a warthog. The warthog was so clever, it teased the lionesses and ran towards them causing the lionesses to retreat whilst he snuck into his burrow! Unfortunately, he was too impatient and came out of his burrow to the awaiting lionesses who then caught him. Also, down at Sosian Spring I watched a martial eagle knock down a monitor lizard which pretended to be dead. The martial eagle thought he had an easy meal so was in no hurry but the monitor lizard saw his opportunity and dashed into the water and escaped.

 

How do you see Conservation and Tourism working together?

Conservation is all about the peaceful co-existence of the communities and people with the wildlife and their understanding of how these animals behave and the space they need. Tourism needs conservation, so that there is conducive environment whereby the animals co-exist with the communities around. The future of conservation lies in the hands of the young people. If it is something that everyone becomes involved with I am sure we will live in a better and peaceful Laikipia.

Grevy Zebra

© Lizzie Daly

Paul Wachiras’ days are very varied at Loisaba. One day he can be in Ewaso organising a medical clinic and another discussing grazing plans with morans and community elders in P & D. Below he gives us an account of his work, the main focus of which is assisting our neighboring communities with healthcare and education.

Every Monday I take Kaltouma, Loisaba’s clinical officer to Ewaso Dispensary to attend to patients there. On average, there are 25 to 30 patients at the clinic for Kaltouma to attend too. In partnership with Ewaso Dispensary, we also conduct medical outreach clinics in areas where access to healthcare is limited. The last clinic held at Sagumai was attended by 80 patients.

© Izzy Parsons

In partnership with Loisaba Community Conservation Foundation, Kimanjo Health Centre and Ewaso Dispensary, a training session on the negative effects of undergoing FGM was held in October 2017. Many parents were willing for their girls not to undergo the cut so an alternative rite of passage was developed.

© Ambrose Letoluai

In December, sixty girls took part in this alternative rite of passage ceremony thereby becoming women without having to undergo FGM. Interestingly the girls’ circumciser was present at the meeting and has vowed never again to do the cutting, she is now employed at the Ewaso Dispensary and her salary is funded by LCCF.

A very important aspect of my work  is ensuring good relationships with neighboring communities, especially in terms of grazing. I spend much of my time with morans and community elders discussing the importance of rangeland management. If there have been any issues in the local area I will also attend the meetings.

Another part of my work which I love is the education days that we hold at Loisaba with schools from the neighboring communities. These days are held in partnership with the Nature Consevancy, LCCF, Elewana, Space for Giants and San Diego Zoo. We teach the students about the importance of conservation and make them appreciate at a tender age about the environment. I think these days are really important because the children are the next generation so they will help to conserve for future generations. So far 90 students have attended these days from 5 different schools accompanied by 15 teachers.

© Lizzie Daly

 

By: Izzy Parsons

Onyango Stanley Omondi, a Loisaba Community Conservation Foundation scholarship student, came first in Nyanza Province and tenth in the country in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations – an exam taken by over 630,000 students.

LCCF has supported Stanley throughout his Secondary school education where he attended Maranda High School in Siaya County. Stanley’s father, Omollo has been Loisaba Conservancy’s Ranch Clerk for the past 21 years.

Stanley and Omollo at Loisaba after the results were announced….

The morning of the results, Omollo looked on the internet at the examination results and saw in tenth place ‘Omondi of Maranda School’ – however there are more than 20 Omondis at Maranda School. Omollo and the rest of the staff rushed to the Staff Village to watch the results being announced on TV at 1pm. “We were all in a state of panic, excitement and anxiety as we waited but unfortunately again the news just showed the single name”.

“I called my wife and told her that I had seen the name Omondi and I believed it was our son”. Omollo was told by his wife to not start singing about something you are not certain about!

On the 7pm news, in tenth place was Stanley Onyango, no mention of Omondi. The same position, same school but a different set of names – Omollo’s sons first names. “For me, that was confirmation. There was great excitement and everyone was jumping up and down in the hall as they all know Stanley well”. Omollo called Stanley but he was at a football match and was not home untill 8pm. That is when his father told him the news. He replied to his father “Yes, I have heard…”

Stanley has a two-week internship with Equity Bank this month and then hopes to study architecture at either Strathmore or Nairobi University. We wish him luck in the future and were fortunate enough to catch up with him last week and discuss his fantastic results.

 

Q + A with Stanley Omondi:

Where were you born?

I was born in Ambira Hospital, Ugunja Distict in Siaya County. I attended Pattand Academy Primary School and then went to Maranda High school also in Siaya County. My father was born in Siaya County but started work at Loisaba in Laikipia 1998.

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

I have one sister who is the eldest and three brothers, I am the second youngest. My two brothers and sister live in Nairobi, my sister is an actor there. I still live with my mother and younger brother and am very close to my family.

What was your parent’s response to your exam results?

I am not good at reading people’s expressions but I think they are just happy. I am starting a two week internship with Equity bank in January. They contacted me direct after the results came out.

What or who inspires you most?

I am yet to know that. I channel myself to achieve what I want. I set a goal and aim to achieve it.

What do you like most about studying?

Learning new things every day. Physics is my favourite subject.

What do you find the most difficult about studying? 

Getting the assignments given by teachers done. The teachers worked us very hard.  I was at Boarding school so it was easy to study there. It is difficult to study at home as I have many brothers asking me questions and work to do as well when at home.

What would you like to study at University?

I would like to go to university and study architecture. After that I am not aware as to what I will do, I will just plan as life goes on. In Kenya, I would like to go to university of Nairobi and Starthmore. But if given the opportunity I would like to go and study in the United States.

What do you love most about living in Laikipia?

I haven’t spent much time in Laikipia but when I was a kid I used to go horse riding which was fun with my brothers and Max Silvester.

Would you like to visit other countries?

I would like to go to Malaysia, to see the Orangutans. My friend went to the Gorilla conservation centre in Rwanda and did a video chat to us so we could see them.

What advice would you give to other children in order to succeed in exams?

I would tell them to give the concepts they have not understood time and not to hurry them and to also consult their teachers. I had a problem with kinematics in Maths. I gave it about three weeks, although it was only taught for about 3 days and after giving it time and consulting my teachers and doing exercises I understood it.

By: Izzy Parsons