Animal Welfare Monthly Updates: February 2023

Emergency Wildlife Rescues: White Rhino Rescued

For the first time, in ANAW’s history of protecting and saving wildlife, the rescue team had a singular opportunity to attend to one of the most endangered species in the world, the White Rhino which faces tremendous threats from poaching and habitat loss. The ANAW team in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) vet team and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust mobile vet unit responded to the emergency rescue of an adult male white rhino in Solio Ranch Conservancy, in Laikipia County.

In the month of February, seven animals were attended to: three (3) zebras, a white rhino, a lion, a greater kudu and an eland, in both Machakos and Laikipia Counties.

The lion was an adult male called Rooney that had sustained fight injuries and a broken tooth and the greater Kudu, an adult female, had a plastic lodged on its foot. Both were found in El Karama Ranch where they were darted, treated, revived and released to the wild to recover. The eland, an adult male, had been injured with a spear while one of the zebras was found with a snare on both his foot and neck.

One of the zebras had strayed into someone’s compound and fell into a deep hole in Konza Market, Machakos County. In a selfless collective act, the team and community members worked together to lift the zebra out of the hole and into a waiting land cruiser. A quick check-up was conducted to ensure it was okay and was later on released back into the wild.

Colobus Conservation: Kongo and Mto Given Another Chance to Live

Our hearts are overjoyed as we witness Kongo (Pictured above on the right with Mto on the left) as he plays and has fun with the others. In one of the 44 animal welfare cases reported and attended to in the month of February, Kongo was rescued as an infant from River Kongo in Diani and has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at Colobus Conservation.

Similarly, one (1) vervet and one (1) Sykes monkeys were entered into long term rehabilitation. One (1) Baboon, two (2) Colobus and one (1) Sykes were treated and released back to the wild.

ANAW continues to partner with Colobus Conservation to promote the conservation, preservation and protection of primates in Kenya’s coastal region.

Kasigau Guardians Monitoring: Human Activities on the Increase in the Expansive Ranch

Operating on an area of more than fifty two thousand (52,000) acres of land between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, Kasigau ranch is a crucial area in conservation and maintaining human wildlife co-existence.

From the 23 patrols areas covered in February by the ANAW supported wildlife guardians, the scouts were able to determine some of the areas that needed frequent patrols after observing a lot of human movements and activities in and out of the ranch. These movements were observed at Ndashinyi area, Mmangare, Mwarungu and Gae areas with indicators showing firewood harvesting and charcoal burning.

The Wildlife Guardians are in the meantime engaging sensitizing the communities bordering the Kasigau ranch, and other key conservation stakeholders to minimize the increased human activities that endanger the welfare of the wildlife utilizing the ranch.

Turtle Conservation and Celebration of World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is held every year on February 2, to commemorate the importance in the conservation and restoration of ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. In this year’s Wetlands Day themed, ‘It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration’, the Msambweni Turtle Conservation Group joined other conservation groups to commemorate the vitality of the day at Mwadzaro, in Kwale County. The event was organized by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Kwale County government in collaboration with Kenya Forest Services (KFS), Base Titanium, ANAW, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Water Resources Authority (WRA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other relevant institutions.

The commemorative event was marked by planting mangrove seedlings and speakers at the event highlighted and emphasized the importance of conserving wetlands.

Cage-free Campaign Coalition Workshop – We Can Achieve More Together!

The Open Wing Alliance (OWA) funded project continued efforts towards developing a nationwide campaign that would promote cage-free chicken farming in Kenya and Africa at large. To boost the campaign, a Cage-Free Coalition, Kenyan Chapter, was formed in March 2021 that brought animal welfare stakeholders under one umbrella to collaborate efforts towards achieving “A Cage-Free Africa”.

A one-day cage-free chicken stakeholders’ workshop attended by over 20 participants was held in a Naivasha hotel, in Nakuru County on 15th February 2023 to strengthen the coalition. The workshop brought together different organisations with interest in poultry welfare to forge a way forward on how to advocate against use of poultry battery cages in Kenya due to the welfare concerns of the practice. The OWA Africa Coordinator – Aurelia Adhiambo, attended the workshop.

Anti-rabies Campaign in Nakuru County Vaccinates over 800 Animals

In late 2022 and early 2023, several counties in Kenya had reported cases of rabies infection. These counties included Nairobi, Nakuru, Kwale, Kilifi, Wajir, Narok and Isiolo. In Nakuru, the cases were dire - a suspected rabid dog had bit a donkey, a cow and two humans. The dog, which then disappeared, was found dead. A child who had been bitten by the rabid dog reportedly succumbed as well.

Although vigorous efforts began towards vaccination in the county, they were unfortunately halted due to depletion of rabies vaccines. The County Government of Nakuru through the Chief Officer - Livestock Development and Veterinary Services, Dr. Michael Cheruiyot appealed for ANAW’s help. ANAW responded by collaborating with the county government to conduct a mass Anti-rabies vaccination campaign in Kuresoi South area from February 2 - 4, 2023, where the incidents were reportedly high.

The campaign was carried out in tandem with the Foot and Mouth Vaccination targeting cattle in the area. At the end of the exercise, 803 animals (776 dogs, 16 cats and 11 donkeys) were vaccinated against Rabies.

Conference Report - The 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference - Action 2022

We are pleased to inform you that the report of the 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) - Action 2022 is out.

Please click onto this link to access it:- https://bit.ly/3mTZd7Y

The planning and registration for the Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) – Action 2023, to be held in Rwanda later this year, is ongoing. We will endeavour to keep you posted on the conference's updates via the conference website, https://www.aawconference.org.

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