Kenyans march to protest elephant poaching

Kenyans United Against Poaching

Wildlife enthusiasts and conservation professionals on Tuesday 22 January 2013 marched in the streets of Nairobi to protest the rising elephant poaching that has left the future Kenya’s elephants with dire prospects.

Goaded by recent reports of increasing poaching even among well protected and monitored elephant herds, this group of individuals and organisational representatives donned T-shirts emblazoned with anti-poaching slogans, daubed their faces with ‘war’ paint, and, led by a beautifully constructed elephant mascot, took to the streets in a peaceful protest march culminating at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park where speaker after speaker called for an end to the carnage.

Among notable Kenyan personalities in attendance was leading Kenyan businessman and philanthropist, Manu Chandaria, who in his speech said “Let’s burn ivory today!” adding that “unless we pass these strong messages, it will never work.”

Others attending include seasoned conservation manager Nehemiah Rotich, former Kenya National Football Team “Harambee Stars” head coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee, Kenya Vision 2030 CEO Mugo Kibati and Save The Elephants’ Saba Douglass-Hammilton among others.

Save The Elephants (STE) recently published a new report from a 14-year study of nearly 1,000 individual elephants which showed an alarming death rate among older males — those with large, valuable tusks — and an acceleration in poaching deaths. STE founder Ian Douglass-Hammilton, on the day of the release of the report, said that, ”Ivory demand and prices have reached a point at which poachers are willing to target well-protected, closely monitored populations.”  This he says, is being replicated in many African protected areas.

The value of elephants to Kenyans is immense given that this largest of all land mammals is one of the key wildlife tourism attractions and one of the fabled Big Five animals that are at the heart of Kenya’s tourism. This could be the reason why some observers/participants decried the conspicuous absence of representatives of most notable tour companies during the walk.

Elephant sympathisers continued to emotionally pour accolades continued on those who attended the march in the 8,600 strong Facebook Group, Kenyans for Wildlife, where you can now view some of the photos from this noble walk for the freedom of elephants.

Will China Jail Ivory Smuggler?

We’ve always known that all those Chinese workers building roads, bridges and dams are also stealing from our natural treasure chests. So far we know that they are partly responsible of the upsurge in elephant and rhino poaching as they have provided a ready and accessible market for poachers.

Personally, I have not heard of any Chinese worker taken to court in China over these crimes… but it seems the Chinese government is slowly starting to do something about it as the article below shows. The question is, will China jail this thief for the 5 years prosecutors are asking for? In my opinion, he should probably get 20 to life. I would suggest he be skinned (to pay for pangolin scales) or have his teeth violently yanked out (for the ivory he smuggled), but that would be abuse of human rights. You go ahead and read the article…

Man faces 5 years’ jail for bringing in ivory

By Li Qian (Shanghai Daily)
09:28, March 08, 2012

A MAN who bought more than 10 kilograms of ivory and six scales of pangolins worth more than 220,000 yuan (US$34,826) during a trip to Angola may face more than five years in prison on charges of wildlife smuggling.

The construction company employer surnamed Tan argued he purchased African ivory, listed as a legal commodity in Angola, as gift for his friends rather than for resale, according to the trial at the Intermediate People’s court in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province.

“I thought the most serious punishment for me would be huge fines,” Tan admitted during Tuesday’s trial. However, prosecutors suggested the court give him a jail term of more than five years despite not intending to trade them in China, a local newspaper, City Express, reported yesterday… Read More.

Read more

The woman who refused to bow – RIP Wangari Maathai

Today, Kenya, and Africa, and the world, woke up to the sad news that one of the greatest heroes of Kenya, and a world shining light for the environmental movement, Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, had passed on after a long battle with ovarian cancer. It was sad indeed as the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize succumbed at age 71.

Wangari confronted by askaris at Karura Forest

Many around in the world know the humble woman who refused to bow. A true believer. A fighter. An icon of courage. She fought for the environment – our forests – against more powerful foes – askaris armed with batons, trigger happy police officers, a myopic

government of fools – and all she had was her trademark leather ankle boots and tree seedlings – and she won. Her legacy lives on. She has inspired many to not bow to any pressure in the quest for sustainable development – development that does not destroy the environment -  and she has also inspired many African women. To be strong. To believe in themselves. To be proud of being African women.

In celebrating a life that should have lasted perhaps two decades longer, here a few words of environmental wisdom from the woman who refused to bow.

“I am working to make sure we don’t only protect the environment, we also improve governance.”

“In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy and peace.”

“It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.”

“It’s a matter of life and death for this country. The Kenyan forests are facing extinction and it is a man-made problem.”

“It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”

“There’s a general culture in this country to cut all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.”

“We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible.”

“We need to promote development that does not destroy our environment.”

RIP Wangari Maathai
I am a disciple.

Paula Kahumbu to talk on Social Media for Conservation

Renowned conservationist and 2009 PopTech Social Innovation Fellow Dr. Paula Kahumbu is scheduled to speak about social media and conservation at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.

Paula, the Executive Director of WildlifeDirect, was recently named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer together with friend and insect expert, Dino Martins, and will address her audience at the Nairobi Museum’s Louis Leakey Auditorium on Wednesday, 25 May 2011.

Here is the notice that the talk organisers, the Kenya Museum Society sent around:

Kenya Museum Society

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Social Media for Conservation: Connecting and Collaborating with People

Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Executive Director, WildlifeDirect
Executive Director, Kenya Land Conservation Trust
Chair, Friends of Nairobi National Park

Renowned conservationist and 2009 PopTech Social Innovation Fellow Dr. Paula Kahumbu will talk about building a global wildlife conservation community that connects conservationists and their supporters through blogs and direct funding.

Time:
Refreshments 6:15 pm
Doors open 7:00 pm

Louis Leakey Auditorium
Nairobi National Museum

Donation: Non-members Ksh 500, Members Ksh 400, Students Ksh 200
Proceeds to fund the National Museums of Kenya
KMS Offices: 0724 255299 or 2339158

info@kenyamuseumsociety.org http://www.kenyamuseumsociety.org

I am 1 with 1 Kenya at 1 pm

I love my country Kenya… despite the odds… er… I mean despite the politicians. I support KenyaFeb28

Kenya is beautiful. The landscape, our beautiful wildlife, the peoples… that is why today, at 1pm, I will say the prayer that is our National Anthem. I will go deep into patriotism and sing it in Kiswahili, the language that unites us all, educated and not so educate. Rich and poor. African, Asian, Caucasian… we are united in that one language. We should speak it always.

And let’s all conserve and protect our natural heritage. Protect our wildllife, our forests, our environment. For today we renew our promise, when we sing at 1pm, that…

And our Homeland of Kenya,
Heritage of splendour,
Firm may we stand to defend.

Now join me in singing this prayer in Kiswahili.

Ee Mungu nguvu yetu
Ilete baraka kwetu
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi
Natukae na udugu
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi.

Amkeni ndugu zetu
Tufanye sote bidii
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu
Nchi yetu ya
Kenya tunayoipenda
Tuwe tayari kuilinda.

Natujenge taifa letu
Ee ndio wajibu wetu
Kenya istahili heshima
Tuungane mikono pamoja kazini
Kila siku tuwe nashukrani.

Amen!

Tanzania wants to sell ivory – illegally

A report appearing in the Ugandan paper, The East African Business Week, and re-posted on AllAfrica.com on 13 December 2010, says that Tanzania’s government has invited bids from buyers for prohibited ivory. The government has scheduled an auction on 30 December in which they will sell ivory pieces and parcels impounded by law enforcement officers over the years.

This is plainly illegal since in Tanzanian law, it is prohibited to sell ivory of any kind. Tanzania is also party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which upholds a worldwide ban on sale of raw ivory, and a no-trade moratorium is in place starting from 2007 and set to last for 9 years. This moratorium was upheld in 2010 in Doha during the 15th Conference of Parties to CITES (COP15). During the same meeting, Tanzania and Zambia lost their bid to sell their ivory stockpiles to the authorised buyers, China and Japan. Tanzania wanted to sell 90 tons of ivory valued at $20 million and plough back the proceeds to support conservation – nobody at COP15 believed this.

This new attempt to sell ivory is yet another demostration of treachery on the part of the Tanzanian government which is clearly unable to control illegal poaching in its parks and other wildlife areas. A recent report by the London and Washington, DC-based Environmental Investigative Agency (EIA) points to this weakness. The report, titled ‘Open Season – The Burgeoning Illegal Ivory Trade in Tanzania and Zambia,’ says the poaching threat in Tanzania is most pronounced in the 50,000 sq m Selous Game Reserve. The Selous lost 70,000 elephants in the 1980s during the worst elephant poaching period in Africa.

The report says that poachers enter the poorly protected and porous reserve for periods of around two weeks and kill an average of 10 elephants on each trip. This is massive.

It is not cclear what will happen should Tanzania succeed in selling their stockpiled ivory but one can predict disaster. Tanzania will again present their bid to sell their ivory in the next CITES meeting in 2013. Those who see the thinly veilled treachery of Tanzanian government should be very afraid.

Go ahead and read the article that appeared in the East African Business Weekly as presented by AllAfrica.com

Open letter to Tanzania president on Serengeti Highway

Today I was alerted by my good friend and Kenya Elephant Forum fellow member, @aworipat of a rather candid letter to the president of Tanzania, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, from Bipin Vishani, a concerned citizen concerning the government’s plan to construct a highway cutting through the Serengeti. This is the original unedited version. An edited version of the letter was published on the Tanzanian Daily, The Citizen. Unfortunately, the Citizen website seems to have crushed or something [AllAfrica.com seems to have picked the piece before this happened]… but this is probably a better expression of the writers sentiments than the edited version.

It is rather lengthy but I suggest you take the time to read this brilliant letter…

 

In danger: One of the natural wonders of the world

 

 

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,

The President: United Republic of Tanzania;

Your Excellency,

Re: THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MTO WA MBU – LOLIONDO – MUGUMU:

With respect and humility, I request you to grant me audience through this esteemed paper while I am aware that you have a very busy schedule. Since we just finished commemorating the 11th Mwalimu Nyerere Day 2010 on October 14th, I feel apt that in view of Mwalimu’s legacy; these concerns of mine be shared; both as my humble opinion as well as my contribution as your loyal subject.

Leaving the Environmental Impact Assessment Report that Your Excellency re-ordered and are awaiting for aside; many pleas that were directed against the project concentrated on the Tourism industry (which contributes to a significant share in employment opportunities as well as towards the National Revenue); and Environmental damage – two subjects that are very close to Your Excellency – since you have personally been a promoter of Tanzania overseas during your travels; and the fact that Tanzania as well as you personally are well regarded locally and internationally as an Environmental-friendly.

Therefore, I would put my emphasis on how the Commercial road construction (Highway) would impact on the LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES it is supposed to serve; both on the western side of SENAPA and its eastern counterpart.

Your Excellency, at least 90% of Humankind believes that its own specie (HomoSapien) is; by virtue of its existence – superior to ALL other living things on planet Earth; except their Maker. Considering this statement, it therefore makes sense that all non-human living things in NCA and SENAPA are subject to the demands of human activity and settlement if and when it becomes necessary for the sake of ECONOMIC PROGRESS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT and NATIONAL SELF-RELIANCE. These form just a basis towards FUNDANMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

Therefore, in the opinion of most Tanzanians, Government and CCM leaders, activists AGAINST the project have NOT justifiably satisfied Your Excellency as to their grounds of protest. I can sympathize with the Government’s sentiments to some extent on this issue. But let us consider the pros, the cons and the suggested alternative choice which might provide a ‘win-win’ situation.

Your Excellency, very senior Government and CCM officials have vehemently supported this project for the same above reasons (LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES and infrastructure development) and other justifiable reasons as well. Some other ‘patriotic Tanzanians’ went as far as to comment that our Nation is an Independent State and therefore not subject to the whims and directives of foreign (and former colonial) powers as on to how we plan and execute our own economic progress according to our own will.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) had carried out a research on the SENAPA for more that 50 years, and according to their research the (estimated) human population to the North East of SENAPA around the year 2009 was less than 1,000,000. The area comprises Game Reserves, clusters of villages and towns including Loliondo and environs to as far as southern parts of Lake Natron. FZS is just one of many institutions involved in various fields of interests concerning SENAPA.

These LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES mainly depend on subsistence agriculture and others are traditional pastoralists. From their harvest of crops, dairy products and meat, what is not consumed in the immediate vicinities would find its way towards Arusha city or a neighboring country. To date, there has not been a substantiated concern that produce is destroyed in godowns/holding facilities due to lack of markets or ready buyers.

Karatu, Mto wa Mbu and their respective environs are the ‘fruit and vegetable baskets’ for Arusha City consumers; if not the whole Arusha region and beyond. Again, we have not yet received substantive reports that their local produce is rotting in farms, warehouses or other storage facilities due to lack of markets or buyers. In fact, I am reliably informed that there are times when even their whole stocks are depleted, the demand for more supplies is there.

My point here is: the LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES of these areas East of the Serengeti really do not have JUSTIFIABLE need or requirement for a NEW Commercial Highwayfor their current infrastructure needs. If the existing infrastructure funds would be utilized to IMPROVE existing roads and other facilities, a lot of revenue would be saved. This similar situation is prevalent in the Western Side of SENAPA. Instead of introducing a NEW Commercial Highway, let the Government employ available funds for major improvements on existing roads and other societal services.

With the above having been mentioned, it is therefore my HUMBLE opinion that there is really no JUSTIFIABLE reason to build a NEW COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY between Mugumu – Loliondo – Mto wa Mbu.

But let us say that the Government will go ahead with its plans and implement the project- what next?

• There will arise the need to establish permanent maintenance and service camps along the Commercial Highway, (Permanent Human Activities)
• There will arise the need to install service stations, rest points, human activity facilities etc between Mugumu and Loliondo; and between Loliondo and Mto wa Mbu,
• The above will necessitate emergence of ‘satellite villages’ along the whole stretch from Mto wa Mbu to Loliondo; as well as from Loliondo to Mugumu – within the ‘conservation, reserve and park boundaries’ contrary to existing and current regulations governing similar lands,
• The speed limits applicable to Park regulations will not be applicable to the Commercial Highway, thus being an imminent threat to life and limb,
• The standard ‘Commercial Highway’ two way lane is at least 10 Meters wide, with a ‘service area of about 5 meters each side, making the width of the road about 20 Meters. Which means we end up with a ‘belt’ 20Meters wide from Mto wa Mbu to Mugumu
• As per the Kiswahili adage ‘Aendapo Mamba, Kenge Hufuata’ (Where the Crocodile Goes, the Monitor Lizard will Follow’): The 1.5 million or so wildebeest migration is also joined by other species of grazing wildlife e.g. zebra, impala etc; and they in turn are followed by the predator animals like lions, hyena, cheetahs etc – this cycle will be severely disturbed.

Your Excellency, already there exists complaints (imaginary and real) concerning Land Disputes in the areas East of SENAPA, within the NCA and nearby environs. According to various media, NGOs, Human Rights groups etc – events of violence, bloodshed, brutality and various Human Rights abuses have been mentioned. These have not yet been COMPLETELY AND AMICABLY RESOLVED. The Commercial Highway project would possibly aggravate more such misunderstandings between LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES and the authorities. I humbly propose solving the existing issues first before commencing on a new project of such magnitude as this Commercial Highway.

The Commercial Highway will OPEN THE FLOODGATES of various greedy land grabbers in the guise of ‘investors’ – both local and foreign based. It COULD get out of hand, and the result would be catastrophic for our Nation’s peace and stability. Similar to the Berlin Meeting after WWII when ‘conquerors’ gathered for the ‘PARTITIONING OF AFRICA’, the Commercial Highway is likely going to be the ‘conference table’ for the ‘PARTITIONING OF SERENGETI!!’.

If we are to honour our Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere – who had made a solemn promise to preserve and upkeep wildlife and nature sanctuaries for posterity; then we must maintain our National Pride, refuse to sell our values and seek the maximum good for the majority citizens, which is the LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITY throughout the Nation.

Your Excellency, an alternative; a ‘win-win’ route has been proposed. This is the southern route, which will end up serving FIVE times the number of LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES the so-called Serengeti Highway is envisaged to serve. All the information I have mentioned above regarding the whole issue is available on the website ‘http://www.savetheserengeti.org’ and its links. The information regarding Land Disputes is available in various Tanzanian Human Rights websites as well.

Please consider the above with due attention, Your Excellency; and decide with your known wisdom, discernment and farsightedness. Let the footprints you will leave your successor come 2015 be a legacy of Honour, Pride and Admiration not only of your Tanzanian subjects; but to the World as well.

It my ardent wish that the SERENGETI SYMPHONY OF NATURE – WILL NOT BECOME A SERENGETI TRAGEDY OF HUMAN FOLLY!!

Thanking you for bearing with me for such a long duration, I wish to assure you of my best intentions and total cooperation at all times, and in the meantime

WISHING YOU PERSONALLY CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH, STRENGTH AND WISDOM AS YOU LEAD AND GUIDE OUR NATION TOWARDS A PEACEFUL 2015!!

Mungu Ibariki Tanzania

Mungu Ibariki Africa

Bipin Vishani

Kenyan police, wildlife rangers seize ivory in Nairobi home

Last Friday, 22 October 2010, police and wildlife rangers raided a Nairobi home after being tipped off by the public and seized a cache of elephant ivory, leopard skin and other wildlife products. Kenya’s NTV reporters were there during the raid and broadcast this in their TV channel. This video shows how little we know about the illegal trade in wildlife products and should inform us that this grisly  trade is far more widespread than we think.

Who will save our wildlife?

Russia’s ‘Guilt-free’ Mammoth Ivory: How will it affect illegal elephant ivory trade?

In recent times, mainstream press has carried stories of the growing trade in ‘guilt-free’ mammoth ivory being dug up in Russia and being sold mostly in China. The most recent news items are based on a research paper published in Pachyderm – the journal of the African Elephant, African Rhino and the Asian Rhino Specialist Groups of the IUCN – by Esmond Martin and Chryssee Martin.

Huffington Post image of Michelle Obama wearing a necklace made from mammoth ivory

The paper, titled, ‘Russia’s mammoth ivory industry expands: what effect on elephants?’ explores the effects that this growing trade will have on Africa’s elephants. On the one hand, the paper acknowledges that this trade could reduce demand for elephant ivory and consequently considerably reduce poaching of the African Elephant. On the other hand, the authors are cautious that should mammoth ivory be imported into Africa (none has been reported to have entered the continent so far), then – it being legal and all – it could provide an easy disguise for poached elephant ivory. Illegal ivory traders could start selling elephant ivory disguised as mammoth ivory.

That said, Martin and Martin specifically say that the trade in mammoth ivory should not be banned as it does not presently pose any threat to the African Elephant. They however make it clear that monitoring of the chief markets of mainland China and Hong Kong should be monitored to see how the trend goes.

Some facts:

• Russia sells about 60 tons of mammoth ivory to China
• There may be as many as 150 million dead mammoths (genus Mammuthus) frozen beneath the Siberian tundra just waiting to be dug up.
• Mammoth ivory can command a much higher price than elephant ivory and sells for as much as £330 per kilogram
• Woolly mammoths are thought to have first appeared on the earth 4.8 million years ago and to have finally become extinct at least 3,600 years ago.
• Trade in raw elephant ivory is banned globally but one off ivory sales have been allowed by CITES on different occasions since the ban.
• Illegal trade in ivory is the major threat to the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) survival.
• A list of press articles related to Martin and Martin’s paper can be found here.

Poachers kill 10 elephants in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, which the CITES meeting of 2008 – CoP14 –  allowed to sell their stockpiled ivory because they have many elephants and are managing their population well, is indeed far from this idealistic lie. Poaching is not controlled. No one should expect, with the disastrous economic and political mess that is Zimbabwe, that this same country would be able to control poaching.

A good example: News just in indicate that poachers killed 10 elephants in one gruesome attack in Zimbabwe. So once again, Zimbabwe has proved that they are not in control as they lied to us in order to get to sell ivory.

The news item below was shared by Melissa Groo the Save the Elephants News Service Researcher

Poachers kill 10 elephants in Zimbabwe

Associated Press
June 10, 2010

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The state wildlife authority says poachers killed 10 elephants in a single attack in southeastern Zimbabwe. All the tusks were removed, leaving the carcasses on a river bank.

Caroline Washaya-Moyo, an official of the wildlife department, says heavy caliber cartridge cases were found at the remote scene in the Gonarezhou national park on Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique. Investigators reported the animals were shot and the ivory was removed in what appeared to be a “quick and professional” onslaught in a single day last week.

Germany’s Frankfurt Zoological Society has offered $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the poachers, Washaya-Moyo said Thursday.

In the nation’s ailing economy, state anti-poaching patrols are suffering from shortages in funds, transportation and manpower.

Full article here.