Animal Welfare Highlights: February 2024

44 Snares Lifted During Wildlife Patrols to Safeguard Wildlife in Kenya

The enormous diversity and richness of Africa’s captivating wildlife in the ranges of the savannah present an opportunity and challenges for the continent. Unfortunately, poaching and the bushmeat trade drives numbers down and places endangered species at peril. The consumption and trade of bush meat poses a multitude of dangers among communities living next to wildlife areas.

In the ongoing efforts to curb bush meat crisis, Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) in partnership with other organizations organizes de-snaring operation to address the threat. In the month of February 2024, ANAW in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) carried out a de-snaring exercise covering Marula Farm, Kenya Nut Farm and Soysambu Conservancy in Nakuru County. The exercise was supported by Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).

It was boots on the ground with a mission to protect and save animals in the deep bushes of Naivasha and Nakuru for multiple days in February. During this month, our team conducted targeted patrols resulting in the lifting of 44 snares, comprising of 16 live snares and 28 dead snares. Notably, 10 snares (7 live, 3 dead) were removed from Marula farm, with an additional 7 snares (4 live, 3 dead) discovered and lifted at the Kenya Nut farm on the first day of the patrol.

The subsequent two days saw the desnaring team patrol Soysambu Ranch, where they successfully lifted 31 snares, consisting of 7 live and 24 dead snares. However, the final day of patrol revealed a distressing scene—an animal, suspected to be a zebra, had been snared and slaughtered. The telltale signs included a marked tree where the snare was tethered, blood-stained ground, and remnants from the rumen.

The team held a meeting with the KWS warden at their Elementaita Office and recommended that future de-snaring should consider patrolling a ranch for a day or two to adequately assess the situation and mark the hotspots.

Outreach Team Inculcate Conservation Values through Community Engagement on World Wildlife Day

A merry day of fun activities including conservation talks, edutainment sessions, tree planting, and quiz sessions, were organized to enrich students' understanding of wildlife conservation on February 14. ANAW, Elsamere Education Centre, and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Naivasha team, Nakuru County, came together to spread love and conservation education to the teachers and learners of Kongoni Primary School.

In anticipation of World Wildlife Day celebrations, the conservation outreach team extended invitations to the pupils of Kongoni and Mvuke Primary Schools to participate in an essay writing competition. The competition, spanning five categories - Environment, Wildlife, Personal Experience, Folk Stories, and Drawing, aimed at fostering creativity and awareness among the younger generation about the importance of wildlife conservation.

On a different event, the joint ANAW and KWS team from Lake Elementaita Sanctuary carried out a conservation outreach program to pupils and teachers of Kiunguria Primary, Junior Secondary Schools. The team was welcomed by the school board chair, deputy principal and teachers. An engaging session that comprised of pupils and teachers was held to tackle matters conservation.

TURTLE TRACKING AND CONSERVATION AT THE SOUTH COAST - KENYA

The land of the Msambwe, a hardy and wild fruit tree, is a small ocean-side town in Kenya. The scenic coastal landscape with rocky outcrops, and low cliff tops, fossilized coral and Msambweni Bay provide a home to enthralling marine flora and fauna including the endangered Green Turtle.

The Msambweni Volunteer Group, which works to protect the turtle species, actively patrols the coastline, prioritizing security measures and identifying areas with significant plastic pollution. While turtle activity season is usually not observed during the month of February, the patrols have been crucial for protecting the coastline and preparing for the upcoming nesting season.

Community engagement has been a central focus, with the Msambweni group holding meetings with stakeholders to address conservation challenges and seek support.

To maintain a cleaner shoreline, the Msambweni group has been organizing monthly beach clean-ups, aimed at managing litter and creating a safer environment for turtles. Collaborating with the ECO CREDIT group on February 23, a beach clean-up was conducted, with plans for trash measurements to evaluate impact. Another clean-up event in partnership with Waa Boys Secondary School, included an educational session on pollution effects and the significance of turtle conservation took place on February 24.

Similarly, patrols in Funzi continued without any reported mortality cases or turtle activities, with anticipation building for the nesting season expected between March and April.

COALITION WORKSHOP HELD TO EVALUATE STEPS TOWARDS CHICKEN CAGE-FREE

Stakeholders involved in the poultry sector came together to attend a Cage Free Coalition Workshop aimed at assessing coalition members’ progress towards achieving a chicken cage-free status in Kenya took place on February 6, 2024, at the Nest Boutique Hotel in Naivasha. The workshop was organized by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), with the support of Open Wing Alliance (OWA).

The coalition highlighted key milestones and achievements made by members against previously set targets, addressing major challenges and setbacks encountered in driving the chicken cage-free agenda in Kenya, and crafting shared goals and objectives for 2024.

27 Animals Receive Care and Welfare in Ukunda, Kwale County

Terrestrial animals in peril at the Ukunda coast, in Kwale County have found solace at the Animal Welfare Clinic at Colobus Conservation. The organization, in partnership with ANAW attend to injuries sustained in accidents, cruelty, electrocution and fights.

In February, a total of 27 animal welfare cases were addressed, encompassing 11 Sykes monkeys, 4 vervets, 8 colobus monkeys, 1 common swift bird, 2 baboons, and 1 galago.

Animal Welfare Engagement at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 6)

During the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 6) held at the United Nations Complex in Nairobi from February 26 to March 1, 2024, ANAW played an active role in co-organizing and cohosting impactful events.

On February 25, UNEP and ANAW co-organized the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders (GMGSF) Reception. An event that was co-hosted with and supported by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and Nature for Justice (N4J). The event provided delegates with an opportunity to unwind and network at the end of their working session that began on 19th February. This atmosphere also allowed for informal discussions, setting the tone for the busy week ahead.

Global Animal Welfare Leaders at the Civil Society Side Event On February 27, ANAW organized and co-hosted with Nature for Justice and Compassion in World Farming an engaging and interactive session for civil society focusing on the role of Civil Society in multilateral actions towards addressing the triple planetary crisis, Biodiversity loss, Climate Change and Environmental Pollution. The packed room event attracted around 100 participants during the intensive one and a half hours as experts delivered key presentations and fielded questions from both in person and online audience.

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