Animal Welfare Updates - July 2022Two Primates Treated and Released to the Wild
Vervet Monkeys Express Social Cohesion at Colobus Conservation Centre. Photo Credit: Colobus Conservation As they sit on the ground, scramble up a trunk and swing from one branch to another, we observe monkeys to be intelligent, agile, adaptive, and charming. We learn to be upbeat, curious, boundless, and witty from them. The gems of great character in the animals are valued and preserved in caring for them at Colobus Conservation. Each day, veterinarians at the Animal Welfare Clinic treat, care for, and nurture the primates and other animals in distress at the ocean side town along the Indian Ocean. Colobus Conservation Centre partners with ANAW through secondment of a veterinarian to the centre, to work together to promote compassion and ensure protection of the animals. In July, 11 animal welfare cases were reported. The cases included four (4) Sykes monkeys, three (3) Colobus monkeys, one (1) baboon and three (3) Vervet monkeys. One (1} Sykes monkey and one (1) baboon were treated and released back to the wild. De-snaring Takes Place at Eburu Forest Above the Lakes
The Group Gathers at the Beginning of the Patrol at Eburu Forest in Naivasha Eburu Forest nestled on a volcanic mountain over Lake Naivasha to the south-east, Lake Elementaita to the north and Lake Nakuru to the north-west was the targeted site of snare removal in the month of July. The ANAW, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Eburu Forest personnel undertook a de-snaring operation. Fortunately, no snares were recovered. However, three loggers were encountered during the exercise. Vehicle patrols were carried out in some ranches to monitor wildlife in distress. In the great new partnership, the team was grateful to work with the Eburu forest team. Earlier the team held discussions with KWS Community Warden at Karagita Station in Naivasha and the senior warden at Hell’s Gate National Park. The KWS officers applauded ANAW for their partnership to curb bushmeat and urged them to continue partnering with KWS to address bushmeat menace in the area. Giraffe and Zebra Rescues Abound in Nakuru and Machakos Counties
Cutting a Snare to Free the Giraffe's Hind Limbs During the Rescue. The tallest land mammals are characteristic of the African savannah as they stand tall in the wilderness of the plains. However, populations of giraffes are declining fast due to poaching for bush meat. Giraffes are a target species for the snarers in Naivasha as the town is a haven for the animals. The ANAW rescue team in collaboration with the KWS Veterinary Unit from the headquarters attended to a male giraffe with a snare tethered on a tree at Hell’s Gate National Park. The giraffe was sighted by a KK security guard manning geothermal pipeline in the area who alerted Hells Gate National Park KWS team. The vet darted the animal, the snare was removed, and the animal revived then administered with antibiotics. Later in the month, ANAW rescue team in partnership with KWS Veterinary Unit from the headquarters, KWS Machakos and Manzoni ranch scouts attended to a female zebra with a snare on its right hind foot at Manzoni ranch in Machakos County. The snare was safely removed from the animal, wound cleaned and animal medicated with long-acting antibiotic before it was successfully released back to the wild. An eland in distress was reported to have an injured leg at Maanzoni. On arrival, the eland was in severe pain and immobile. Due to the severe extent of damage and level of pain the eland was in, a humane decision was made to euthanize the animal and end its suffering. Rescues also took place during desnaring exercise. Two zebras were attended to through the help of Naivasha resident KWS and Sheldrick Trust Veterinary Unit. The first was a sub adult Zebra that had a snare at Kenya Nut neighbouring Kigio Conservancy while the second was a zebra with severe lameness at Nini Flower Farm. One of the zebras was quite lame and could be seen leg carrying. The zebra was attended by successfully removing the wire that had tissue grown over it and wound cleaned. The second zebra experienced severe lameness on the left hind limb was carried out at Nini Flower Farm. The animal had difficulty walking. On immobilization, an old, infected cut was found. The limb was cleaned, abscess lanced and wound disinfected. The animal was also medicated with long-acting antibiotics as well as analgesic for pain management. Kasigau Guardians Join Rangers Across Taita Taveta County to Celebrate World Rangers Day
A Procession Takes Place in Kasigau in Celebration of World Rangers Day 2022. Taita Taveta County was a haven of buzz and great celebration as rangers from 18 ranches, three (3) schools and community members marked World Rangers Day 2022. The event held to honor this day was held at Kasigau Ranch. Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association, and member conservancies together with development partners including KWS, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), ANAW, Wildlife Works, the County Government of Taita Taveta, Association of Wildlife Conservancies Association Kenya and the River Jordan Medical Center came together to organize the big day. The event was marked by a procession of the rangers, presentations, a health check-up, speeches from the invited guest and planting of trees. ANAW was honored to receive an awarded certificate of recognition for being part of the team that organized the event to celebrate and honor the rangers in Taita Taveta County. The month presented a horde of activities as work went on at Kasigau Conservancy. The guardians were able to cover a total of 19 patrol areas. The team spotted several animals that frequent the conservancy including baboons dik-diks as well as rare sightings of the mongoose and the spotted genet. One intelligence report on poaching was filed where a team conducted an ambush at Boma Kiki and recovered some meat, clothes, torches, and a motorbike. Unfortunately, the owner escaped. From the patrols the team was also able to determine some of the areas that need frequent patrols after encountering animal blood stains. Msambweni Patrols Reports Turtle Demise as Fishing By-Catch
Msambweni Monitors Encounter a Turtle During a Patrol. A team of young enthusiasts were on beach patrol duty along coastline of the small fishing town of Msambweni on a mission to protect the endangered Green Sea Turtle in July. No new nests or hatchlings were found. However, the Msambweni Turtle Group monitors encountered one dead turtle along the shore which they set out to bury. The turtle was a by-catch, an unfortunate incident which led to its demise. The group also conducted one beach clean - up successfully and organized a meeting with the fishermen to discuss on how they can coordinate and work together to protect the turtles. Their counterparts at Funzi Island recorded three (3) new nests which are expected to hatch in the month of August. The nests were relocated to safer ground. The team will be monitoring the nest to ensure their safety and protection from predators. They now await with bated breath for the hatching of the young ones! Organizations Sensitize Farmers on Welfare Friendly Chicken Farming Systems
A Workshop Held to Sensitize Farmers on Animal Welfare Friendly Farming Systems The free wandering hens commonly seen in beautiful rural homes in Kenya is a farming model that is encouraged and lauded for promoting good chicken welfare. With the biting economy however, many farmers have explored and invested in farming chicken in cages to encourage maximum numbers and hefty profits. Unfortunately, these systems harbor poor welfare practices for the birds. This was the subject of discussion at a workshop organized by Healthy Hens in Nakuru County where ANAW was represented. The workshop targeting farmers addressed chicken welfare with a focus on chicken in deep litter systems. The ANAW team had the opportunity to present on status of cage-free farming in Kenya survey findings. ANAW was also able to participate in animal welfare engagement meetings organized by Open Wing Alliance (OWA) in the same county. The meeting targeted selected farmers, animal traders, slaughterhouse operators and animal transporters. Further, the meeting addressed general welfare of animals, welfare of poultry battery cages and the need to eradicate poultry battery cages farming practices. Similarly, a meeting was also held targeting veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals. The 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) - Action 2022The 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) - Action 2022 will be held from 31st October -2nd November, 2022. Conference Theme: Animals, People and the Environment in a rapidly changing 21st Century. Conference Venue:1. Virtual through a zoom platform. 2. Physical at the TraveLodge Hotel, Gaborone, Botswana.
Registration to this conference is currently ongoing. If you have not yet registered, please register today to book your slot. Support Our Work Here's a great way to support Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) to protect present and future generations of animals. You can do so through the following ways: A Donation A Legacy in Your Will |
||