Nairobi National Park Conservation - Nairobi, Kenya

We are working to support The Wildlife Foundation (TWF) in and around Nairobi National Park with particular focus on their ‘Lion Lights’ project.

The Lion Lights project was started by TWF 8 years ago and has proved to be effective in reducing livestock loss by 90%. Solar-powered flashing LED light systems have been installed around livestock pens within the community homes. The flashing lights trick predators into believing humans are on the lookout which helps prevent night-time predators from attacking the livestock.

The project has been extremely effective in mitigating human/wildlife conflict among the Neratunoi village and its surroundings.

2022 Update:

12 sets of lion light deterrents were installed to protect livestock in 12 homesteads to mitigate human wildlife conflict within the Naretunoi Conservancy.

4 tonnes of rubbish was collected from the 8km distance along the Mbagathi River in the Nairobi National Park and a 3km pathway was cleared on the Echo Nature Trail Path enabling tourists to visit the community curio shops that bring income to the community.

8 washrooms were renovated at the Hippo picnic area.

The Lion Lights system has been proven to benefit the community in other ways alongside the primary use of protecting the livestock. Households are able to make use of the domestic solar energy to light their homes with bulbs as opposed to lantern lamps which can be hazardous. This provides more flexibility within the day and gives children additional time to focus on their homework, even after the light has started to fade.

Rukinga Wildlife Conservation & Marungu Tree Nursery Project - Tsavo, Kenya

Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary is a 80,000-acre wildlife haven that lies between Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Parks in southeast Kenya. Wildlife Works converted this land into a wildlife sanctuary in 1998 after many problematic years functioning as both an important wildlife migratory route and a working cattle ranch. The land had become barren from overgrazing and poachers were destroying what little wildlife was left. Now the sanctuary is thriving again and is home to more than 50 species of large mammal, many of which are endangered including elephants, Grevy’s zebras, cheetahs, lions and African wild dogs. There are also more than 300 species of birds residing in this important wildlife haven. However, the sanctuary faces continuous challenges from ivory poachers, illegal deforestation and conflict between farmers and wildlife, resulting in the need for constant restoration and protection if rare wildlife is to continue to flourish here.

Human wildlife conflict remains a big problem. The human population surrounding the sanctuary is rapidly increasing (around 20,000 people live on the sanctuary borders) and competition between people and wildlife for precious resources such as water, food and space is fierce. Since 2008, we have supported the work of Wildlife Works and the Kenya Wildlife Service by improving wildlife water holes, maintaining roads for anti-poaching patrols, helping farmers protect their crops using fences and establishing environmental education workshops to highlight the importance of Africa’s wildlife and demonstrating how people and animals can co-exist peacefully. We are also involved in indigenous tree planting in both Rukinga and Marungu hills in an effort to reforest damaged parts of the environment and provide a source of income for the local communities.

2022 Update:

Installed 1.5km elephant deterrent fence to mitigate human wildlife conflict to the community living around Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sagala Ranch.

Made 600 pieces of elephant dung paper.

Healthcare Outreach - Msambweni/Tsavo, Kenya

Many people in rural Kenya are living below the poverty line and access to proper healthcare is often limited or non-existent. Marungu has more than 5000 inhabitants and the community has a couple of local hospitals and dispensaries, but facilities are very poor and they do not have enough equipment or expertise to treat so many people. It is not uncommon for women to walk many miles with a sick or injured child in order to reach a medical facility.

We provide ongoing free medical health outreach clinics across the south coast with the support of our dedicated team of UK qualified medical volunteers. Offering much needed support on personal health education and hygiene as well as treating a wide range of ailments and offering critical information exchange with local practitioners. We are also involved in improving medical infrastructure and providing essential drugs and equipment to local hospitals.

2022 Update:

Healthcare volunteers provided 7 free medical clinics in villages and treated over 2000 patients.

Highlights included:

- Delivering dental healthcare education, treatment and extractions

- Treating over 400 patients at the eye clinic and providing 109 patients with reading glasses.

- Over 900 children benefitted from skin screening and treatment.

- Over 400 people benefitted from clothes donation from the UK nurses handed over during the project exercise.

- All patients were administered with de-worming tablets to treat worms.

KC-REF-001

Working alongside the REEFolution Foundation, this project aims to restore corals along the reef shores of Shimoni and Wasini Island. The project works closely with the community, conducts education, and have all year round research students to further the coral conservation effort through the restoration of local reefs and creation of the artificial reefs with the help of the local community. The project combines both local and scientific knowledge to aid coral growth and reef formation. The aim is to sustain local biodiversity and improve the livelihood of those who depend on the marine ecosystem resources.

2022 Update:

10 corals reef fragment frames were constructed.

Did you know?

Coral reefs provide a home that supports more than a quarter of all marine life? Corals are much more than just beautiful. They provide important ecosystem services to people and planet. Yet they are under threat.

Source: UN Environment Programme