Safeguarding green spaces in Nairobi

2020-03-17T06:46:51+00:00March 17th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

The presence of green spaces in urban areas offers an area for physical activity and relaxation while filtering noise and dust. With urban forests, oxygen produced by trees filter out harmful air pollution and enhance water distribution into lakes and ponds which moderate temperatures within the city.

Retain Hell’s Gate National Park for its original purpose – to protect endangered wildlife

2020-02-12T08:41:40+00:00February 12th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |

It was, therefore, a real shock and surprise to hear that in one of Kenya’s jewels of its protected areas which is under direct KWS protection, Hell’s Gate National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty and a key breeding site for globally Critically Endangered species, that an event of extremely high disturbance and impact, the Koroga Music Festival, was being organised and supported by KWS! 

A Tribute to Tim

2020-02-05T13:02:29+00:00February 5th, 2020|Categories: Blog, featured|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tim, the Super Tusker elephant in Amboseli has died. Our hearts are broken. Tim was one of Africa's very few Super Tuskers and an incredible elephant whose presence awed and inspired many. He was one of Kenya's National Treasures!

Why we should kick Koroga Festival out of Hell’s Gate National Park

2020-02-05T10:09:52+00:00February 5th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |

The true history of Hell's Gate and why mistakes made in the past by allowing public events should not be an excuse to continue destroying the park. Instead, it should be rescued, rehabilitated and protected against further degradation.

Hell’s Gate needs tender loving care – not the Love Festival

2020-01-22T06:59:19+00:00January 22nd, 2020|Categories: Blog, featured|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Many people are shocked, as I am, by the approval given to hold two large-scale public events in Hell’s Gate National Park later this year. The Koroga Love Festival, on 14–15 February, and the East African leg of the World Rally Championship, programmed for July, will attract thousands of people to the Park for activities that are unconnected with wildlife conservation.

Cultivating Wildlife Warriors

2020-01-07T07:46:21+00:00January 7th, 2020|Categories: Blog, featured|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Historically, most African wildlife films have been produced by Westerners for Western audiences. Paula Kahumbu, a Kenyan wildlife conservationist, is working to change that. She is the CEO of the nonprofit WildlifeDirect, which produces a documentary series featuring African storytellers such as herself telling the stories of African conservation heroes.

Kids and Goats for Elephants

2020-01-23T08:27:39+00:00December 20th, 2019|Categories: Blog, featured|Tags: , , , , , |

WildlifeDirect uses citizen science approach to engage children in conservation and one such project is the ‘Kids and Goats for Elephants’. This innovative project is pioneered by Dr. Paula Kahumbu, WildlifeDirect Chief Executive Officer and Prof. Thure Cerling a distinguished professor from the University of Utah.

Showdown looming at CITES

2019-05-11T12:02:56+00:00May 11th, 2019|Categories: Blog, timeline|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eastern and Southern Africa will take the next Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to another ugly argument about ivory trade. They are pitching for a big fight. Kenya and her 'friends' want to transfer all elephants to be on Appendix I, which will send a clear message - NO IVORY TRADE for anyone.

Another trafficker walks free

2019-04-26T15:40:39+00:00April 26th, 2019|Categories: Blog, featured, timeline|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Another suspected trafficker of elephant ivory is set free by a magistrate at Mombasa Law Courts. Directly charged for the trafficking of 1097kgs of elephant ivory in two containers in December 2016, Mr. Gitonga walks out of court a free man.

From ivory queen to jail bird

2019-02-19T16:48:16+00:00February 19th, 2019|Categories: Blog, Legal Program, timeline|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A court in Tanzania has convicted and sentenced Yang Feng Glan, infamously named ‘The Ivory Queen’ and two of her associates to 15 years in prison. This is welcomed news signaling an end to a 5 year protracted case where Ms. Yang and two Tanzanians were charged with economic crimes for trafficking in more than 706 pieces of elephant tusks in 2014.