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JULY 2019
DAILY NATION | Thursday, June 27, 2019
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July 2019 | What’s Hot
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What’s HOT in
SARAFINA THE MUSICAL, JULY 18TH
Following last year’s sell-out shows, Sarafina is back at the Kenya National Theatre and it’s bigger and better than ever! Starring Sheila Munyiva from Oscar Nominated film Rafiki, Mkamzee Mwatela from Mali and Lusala, Martin Githinji from Sue na Johnnie and the wonderful Hellen Mtawali. With a cast of 40 and a live orchestra, it’s sure to be the musical event of the year. Other stars will be Makmzee Mwatela (Mali – NTV), Hellen Mtawali (Tusker Project Fame) and Gilad. Buy Tickets Online: www. kenyabuzz.com
NAIROBI WINE WEEK & FESTIVAL JULY 5TH
More than 40 wines from all over the world paired with delicious gourmet bites, an international wine masterclasses & live cooking.
JAH CURE LIVE IN NAIROBI, JULY 6TH
SAMANTHA’S BRIDAL EXPO, JULY 19TH
Kenya’s most dynamic platform housing over 125 vendors. Meet leading dealers in the wedding industry including: planners, fashion coaches, suppliers and caterers. To crown it all, witness the fashion show showcasing stunning gowns designed by leading fashion designers.
The UMOJA splash Festival is Kenya’s premier cross-country unity themed music festival. The launch will be headlined by Jah Cure the King of Lover’s Rock.
Jah Cure Live In Nairobi
RUGGED WARRIOR RACE 2019, JULY 13TH
An obstacle race that mixes military style training with fun challenges; utilising your fitness and ingenuity. Lots of family fun guaranteed.
MMA TOPDOG FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP JULY, JULY 20TH
The MMA TopDog Fighting Championship is the first ever mixed martial arts event in East Africa, and the first series of many to come. “TDFC 1 “A New Era” will comprise of a maximum (10) amateur mixed martial arts fight card consisting of three - 3 minute rounds with a 90 second rest in between rounds; translating to approximately 120 minutes of action packed cage experience. Buy Tickets Online: www.kenyabuzz.com
KENYABUZZ A NATION MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION 25 PARKLANDS ROAD NAIROBI
EDITOR: CHRISTINE ODEPH SUB-EDITORS: JACQUELINE KENDI | FLORA M’MBONE CREATIVE DESIGNER: ALICE OTHIENO COVER DESIGNER: BRIAN MUNENE
NAKURU NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW JULY 3RD
Agricultural show & trade fair. Nakuru town is highly agricultural with the highest percentage of Kenya’s large-scale farmers. Its proximity to Egerton University makes it a premier National Agricultural Showcasing venue.
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS: LENA ANYUOLO I JESSE MWEU | OLIVER NASH | MAUREEN KASUKU ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: RODRICKS OIDI
KENYABUZZ CONTACT US: SALES +254 770 314 554 FEEDBACK: INFO@KENYABUZZ.COM @KENYABUZZ
MISS PLUS WORLD KENYA, JULY 6TH
Miss Kenya Plus World
The Miss Plus World Pageant is dedicated to promoting, elevating and celebrating the accomplishments and humanitarian services of women from across the nations. It is their goal to build a sisterhood of confident and influential women who share their cultures with each other and the world as they promote education, peace, wellness and cultural awareness.
July 2019 | Events ART
Exhibition - Jean-David Nkot & Abdul Kipruto: Alliance Française de Nairobi, July 1st – 3rd, 8am. A dual exhibition featuring artworks by Jean David Nkot, Cameroon & Kipruto Rop, Kenya. The two artists, using different techniques, explore the human condition in the story of migration, the story of humankind. info@alliancefrnairobi.org Free Contemporary Flamenco Workshop: School of visual and performing arts, Kenyatta University, July 4th, 10am. Alvaro Murillo Garcia is a Spanish contemporary flamenco dancer and teacher. The workshop is open for students and dancers. valeriad. cultureroutes@gmail.com Art & Grapes: Art & Wine Karen, July 6th, 10am. Find out about wine: distinguish between the aromas, tastes and textures while getting your art on. 0723 650803. Onesmus Okamar Art Exhibition: Photizo Art Gallery, July 9th, 10am. Onesmus Okamar is a young upcoming and self-taught contemporary Kenyan artist who was inspired and mentored by the works of his uncle Peter Elungat. info@photizoartgallery.com
COURSES, LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
Sustainability Reporting & Integrated Thinking Conference: Villa Rosa Kempinski, July 1st – 2nd, 8am. Bringing together leaders, directors, CEOs, institutions, parastatals, county governments etc; following the UN call for sustainability, the training shall educate those leaders from reporting agencies and people responsible for internal and public reports for companies/ organizations. chandraaguko@ gmail.com
www. The Founder Club: Westlands, July 2nd, 9th, and 16th, 10am. Bringing together young entrepreneurs from diverse fields and different geographical locations to interact, network and collectively pursue ventures to meet their social, financial and professional needs while still having fun and building lifelong relationships. hello@ thefounder.africa Raising Humans- Feelings: APA Arcade, July 2nd, 6pm. Learn more about how to understand and raise children to use emotions as positive, helpful sources of energy. info@pts.co.ke WhatsGood Destination Marketing: Mettā Nairobi, July 3rd, 6pm. Nest in partnership with Turnup Travel is excited to announce the sixth edition of the WhatsGood series where we will be focusing on the beautiful nascent destinations in Kenya as we usher in the peak safari season. reservations@turnup.travel Interior Design Workshop & Training: Sarova Panafric, July 5th, 8am. A forum to promote participants’ technical knowledge, skills, capacity, networks, competency and professionalism. info@adke.or.ke Dadasphere 09: My Battle: Western Heights, July 6th, 9am. Five African women sharing their stories in 15 min talks. The theme is My Battle – a conversation about the experiences we go through and the impact they have on our lives. info@dada.co.ke Connecting Entrepreneurs to the Dream Team: KeMu Towers, July 6th, 8am. Connecting aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and SME’s to the components of a successful business. perigonevents@gmail. com
SME Engage: Nairobi Garage, July 11th, 5pm. A series that aims to promote and help startups/ entrepreneurs grow their business through innovation, plus an opportunity for B2B networking, finding new referrals, and a showcase of their businesses. info@thebhub.co.ke 1st Regional Coaching & Leadership Conference 2019: Radisson Blu, July 11th – 12th, 8am. Bringing together organizational leaders and coaches from across the region. We have an experienced panel of speakers and it will be a great opportunity to network with like-minded market place leaders. info@cdi-africa.com Afro-Asia Fintech Festival: Kenya School of Monetary Studies, July 15th, 8am. Organised by the Central Bank of Kenya and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The festival will connect Africa and Asia; a platform to exchange ideas, forge partnerships and nurture thriving FinTech ecosystems. ksmscommunication@ksms.or.ke The Blockchain Forum Nairobi: Nomad Lounges, July 18th, 5pm. A two-hour workshop focused on an introduction to Blockchain Technology and how to use Blockchain applications across different industries such as finance, supply chain, healthcare, and real estate. info@chaptrglobal.com IDEC 2019: Interior Design Conference: Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi, July 24th, 8am. Bringing together professionals discussing how to best ensure a safe built environment by addressing potential risks during the design stage. spaceplansolutions@gmail.com The 3rd Health Development Sector Forum: Catholic
University, July 24th, 8am. An academia and private sector led, intergovernmental, academia and general public forum encompassing all matters health in Kenya. 0713 722736. Ruby Conference Kenya 2019: iHub, July 25th, 8am. We’re a single-track event with roots in the Ruby community, featuring expert speakers and workshops on a varied range of topics http://www. nairuby.org Train the Trainers: After 40 Hotel, July 25th, 8am. The objective of this training is to teach potential trainers how to prepare for training, developing content, delivery style, conducting the training and how to conduct a post- training evaluation. 0790 905552. Event Planning & Management - Training Series V2: KIZA Restaurant, July 29th – 30th, 8am. A two-day training series with experienced, skilled and multifaceted industry professionals. mdv@mamadukaventures.com
international dance community with the common idea and understanding to promote and protect the essence of Kizomba as a dance, music and culture. info@ thenairobidanceproject.com
DANCE The Academy of Dance and Art:
6th LightExpo Kenya 2019:
Rhino House Karen, July 6th, 6pm. Celebrate our decade of dance and art in Kenya, featuring the choreographies from various past productions at our Academy. 0790 499377. Salsa Saturday Hangout: Smash Coty Lounge, July 13th, 6pm. Salsa Saturday Hangout is getting bigger and better, join us for a Cuban night. salsafrique@gmail.com World Kizomba Day - Kizomba Flash Mob: Nairobi Dance Project,
July 21st, 12pm. An initiative launched by leading instructors, DJs, organizers, empowered leaders and role models in the
EXPOSITIONS Nakuru National Agricultural Show:
Jamhuri Park Nakuru, July 3rd, 6am. An agricultural show & trade fair. Nakuru is highly agricultural with the highest percentage of Kenya’s large-scale farmers. 020 8070808. 2nd Afriglass Kenya 2019: Kenyatta International Convention Centre, July 4th – 6th, 10am. A unique event; the largest event for the glass market in East Africa. feedback@expogr.com 5th MinExpo Kenya 2019: Kenyatta International Convention Centre, July 4th – 6th, 10am. The latest technology and machinery in mineral extraction, earth-moving, safety equipment and much more, will be presented here. feedback@ expogr.com
Kenyatta International Convention Centre, July 4th – 6th, 10am. As an exhibitor, the show will offer you the chance of increasing your market within the heart and hub of the industry. feedback@expogr. com 6th Afriwood Kenya 2019: Kenyatta International Convention Centre, July 4th – 6th, 10am. A chance to meet woodworking professionals and develop ideas for increasing the range and quality of one’s wood industry related business. feedback@expogr.com BuildExpo Africa 2019: Kenyatta International Convention Centre, July 4th – 6th, 10am. 22nd
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Buildexpo Africa 2019 is the only show with the widest range of the latest technology in building material, mining machines, construction machinery and heavy equipment. feedback@expogr.com Samantha’s Bridal Expo: Sarit Centre, July 19th – 21st, 9am. This a 3-days event showcasing Kenya’s most dynamic wedding industry stakeholders. info@ samanthasbridal.co.ke Water East Africa Conference and Exhibition 2019: Nairobi Hospital
Convention Centre, July 25th, 1pm. A platform for water & sanitation companies to showcase and exhibit products and expertise to all top and middle level Africa and international companies under one roof. 0722 515488. 3rd Edition of the Barrels Whiskey Expo: P&L Luxe, July 27th, 12pm.
A celebration of whiskey, African music, food, art and fashion brought to you in the form of a festival and open boutique market. 0711 449249. African Medical Expo: Nairobi Hospital, July 31st, 9pm. The event is poised to become the premier engagement and procurement platform for health and medical industry professionals in the continent. http://www.usafon.com FESTIVALS & CRAFT FAIRS Machakos ArtFest: Machakos
People’s Park, July 5th, 8am. ArtFest offers a platform for artistic expressions through performances and exhibitions, allowing artistes to showcase and market their services. machawoodent@gmail. com Papshops Pop-up Market: Under the Radar, July 6th, 10am. Our aim is to see local business growth, thus contributing to our overall
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economy and also creating sustainable African business. info@papshops.com 3rd Edition Karen Flea Market:
Tamambo Karen Blixen, July 6th, 10am. A local vendors market with lots of kid’s activities. karenfleamarket@btd.co.ke Kilimani Street Festival: Kilimani Project Foundation, July 6th, 10am. It’s all about healthy living this July as we host our 12th edition. Come around for a 5K run in the morning and for some shopping, food and drinks! info@kilimani.co.ke Vijiji Festival: Nairobi National Museum, July 27th, 9am. Vijiji Festival by Shujaa Stories brings together creatives from various fields including: photographers, artists, musicians, models, performing artists, among others, for an afternoon of fun with a focus on African culture portrayed with a modern and futuristic outlook. shujaa@shujaastories.com Kwenye Festival: Serebuka Edition: Ray Gardens, July 27th, 9am. A full-day music festival event combining music arts with a hangout experience.0723 694562.
July 2019 | Events
.com shocking and emotional tragicomedy centered on a family’s most trying times following one of Kenya’s darkest moment. heartsofartkenya@gmail.com FUNDRAISERS Fundraising Dinner: Azure Hotel,
July 5th, 7pm. A fundraising dinner aimed for Faraja Cancer Trust. A center that provides complimentary cancer therapies and financial assistance to cancer patients and caregivers. Angaza Fundraising Dinner 2019: Nairobi Serena Hotel, July
and soccer. info@rudolfsteiner. co.ke Kiddie Karaoke Fun Day: Y-Not BBQ, July 7th, 1pm. Bring out the kids to sing along to the songs they love from 1 pm. You’ll also get to dig into a delicious barbecue menu and a kiddie buffet at affordable prices. kiddiekaraokeke@gmail. com Summer Sports Camp: Swim Africa, July 8th – August 30th, 8am. We introduce different sports to the children including:
musicians. 0707 612585. Jah Cure Live in Nairobi: Uhuru
Gardens, July 6th, 4pm. The official launch of the Big Five counties tour will be headlined by the King of Lover’s Rock Jah cure. He will be supported by a line-up of the biggest names on the Reggae scene as well as upcoming Mcs and Deejays. 0706 290029 | 0724 542452. The Nairobi String Quartet:
Western Heights, July 6th, 6pm. Come join us for a wonderful night of classical and contemporary music provided by Kenya’s premier string ensemble, the Nairobi String Quartet. c.druppers@gmail.com
5th, 6pm. The Annual Angaza Fundraising Campaign began in 2016 with a Kshs. 20 Million target to enhance KCPF’s capacity to effectively perform and provide technical support to the church and other key actors. info.kcpf@ gmail.com
KIDS EVENTS Rudolf Steiner Fun Day: Rudolf
Steiner School, July 6th, 9am. We invite adults and children to join in our fun packed day. Cycling, camel ride, quad bikes, face painting, tombola, sweet pole, treasure
2pm. A music extravaganza with performances from Femi Kuti, Juacali, Ethic, the Mushrooms and many more.0739 077204. DUA: Frontrunnerz, ICC Nairobi, July 7th, 3pm. A space where individuals who have gone through traumatic mental, physical or emotional experiences can connect with community while finding healing and restoration through music. Mombasa Voice Coaching: Sauti Academy, July 8th – 10th, 10am. A week of Voice Coaching for better Technique, Musical Interpretation and Live Performance by our Director Natalie. The workshop is taking place at Crossroads Church, Nyali. natalie@sautiacademy.com
swimming and golf and horse riding. A great way to keep the little ones active especially during long holidays. admin@swimafrica. net Friendship Camp: Kids Fun Factory, July 8th - 12th, 10am. A whole week of fun activities for kids aged 3 - 12 years. The activities include; cooking classes, music classes, a farm visit and ice skating. 0706 511784.
Roots Intl Presents Vivian Olang in a Tribute to Tina Turner: J’s
Pub & Kitchen, July 11th, 8pm. Vocalist Vivian Olang pays tribute to the legendary Tina Turner. 0707 612585. Classics in Nairobi: The Kenya Conservatoire of Music, July 13th – 14th, 7pm. Formerly known as classics at the Godown, Classics in Nairobi features the Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra which is well known for its local concerts. info@ conservatoire.co.ke
MUSIC Speaker Box hosted By Patricia Kihoro: K1 Klub House, July 3rd,
10th and 17th, 7pm. A new platform where artists, creatives and culture shifters can express themselves freely. klubhouse1@gmail.com
FILM Black Republic Play: Nairobi Film
Roots Intl presents Anto Neosoul in Concert Thursday Nite Live: J’s
Roots Intl presents Serro & the Charactaz Thursday Nite Live:
J’s Pub & Restaurant, July 18th, 8pm. Kenyan soulful singer and
AFRICA NATIONS CUP
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hunts, bouncing castle, trampoline
Pub & Kitchen, July 4th, 8pm. Anto Neosoul is undoubtedly one of Kenya’s finest vocalists and one of East Africa’s most sought after soul
& Restaurant, July 25th, 8pm. Eric Wainaina is a musical storyteller who has captured the imagination of a nation and used his platform to engineer social change. 0707 612585. NATURE
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July 7th, 4pm. History will be made when Kariobangi Sharks FC host Everton Football Club. http://bit.ly/ KariobangiSharksVsEverton 2019 Ultimate Enduro Combo: Weekly Nairobi National Park Guided Tours: Nairobi National
Park, July 1st and 8th, 7am. Nairobi national park is famous for being the only park located in a capital city. info@luteasafaris.com Paradise Lost Adventure: Kiambu, July 6th, 11am. Our safaris are professionally crafted by our team of safari experts with years of experience. 0706 573229. Karura Forest Adventure: Karura Forest, July 6th – 7th, 1pm. Experience adventure in an urban upland forest on the outskirts of Nairobi. 0717 540284. NIGHTLIFE Circus: Glow in the Dark Edition:
The Alchemist, July 27th, 7pm. The Circus is back! And this time, we’re converting The Alchemist Bar into a full glow in the dark experience! http://www.deejaykace.co.ke SPECIAL EVENTS Ushirika Day Celebrations:
Uhuru Park, July 6th, 9am. The International Day of Cooperatives is a day observed on the first Saturday of July each year to celebrate and promote the cooperative movement. info@ mhasibusacco.com Miss Kenya plus World: Garden City Mall, July, 4pm. The Miss plus World Pageant is dedicated to promoting, elevating and celebrating the accomplishments and humanitarian services of women from across the nations.0741 661578. 3rd SDGs Quiz Night: Western Heights, July 12th, 5pm. Quiz nights are a laid-back way to learn something. If you play your cards right you might win some prizes. rosemary@beyondprofit.co.ke
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Protege Sports Football Plus Program: KCB Leadership Centre,
Kariobangi Sharks Vs. Everton Football Club: Kasarani Stadium,
Hadassah Hotel, July 13th, 2pm. The ‘Song of Songs’ explores the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical benefits that any married couple can unwrap and begin to enjoy. 0721 579534.
Catch ON FUL L L
July 3rd, 2pm. If you want to sell your bike or are looking for a bike, looking to upgrade, or simply appreciate all things two wheels, this is the place for you. 0733 707733. Mud Run 2019: Kenston Outdoors, July 6th, 10am. The Mud run is largely a fun event, no prior running experience with marathons and stuff is necessary. This year the organiser is sure to make it as muddy as possible! 0757 628532. July 6th, 13th and 20th, 9am. The training sessions will be held every Saturday per training cycle (3 months) with qualified coaches at the KCB Leadership Centre Karen, Nairobi. info@vision21.co.ke
Godly Sexuality - Wives Only:
Happy Hour
Centre. July 7th, 4pm. A play presented by National Youth Council in conjunction with Kenyatta University. info@kfcb. co.ke A Kiss through the Veil: Braeburn Theatre, July 12th – 14th, 7pm. A Kiss through the Veil is a
Roots Intl presents Eric Wainaina in Concert Thursday Nite Live: J’s Pub
The 26th Edition of The Koroga Festival: Tatu City, July 6th – 7th,
FOOD & WINE Nairobi Wine Week & Festival 2019: Trademark Hotel, July1st -
5th, 2pm. Experience more than 40 wines from all over the world paired with delicious gourmet bites. Enjoy international wine master-classes & live cooking. info@nairobiwinefestival.com Ankole Sunday Sundowner: Ankole Grill, July 7th, 14th and 21st, 12pm. Have some drinks and put a nice toasty finale to your weekend. admin@ankole.co.ke
songwriter SERRO is out to tell the African story through her Benga and Jazz-fused Afro-soul sound laced with traditional Kenyan folk sounds. 0707 612585.
July 14th, 2pm. Experience brand stories, intimate presentations & activations including exclusive sampling sessions. info@ cafengoma.co.ke Paint The Run 2019: Ngong Forest Sanctuary, July 20th, 11am. This year we take it up a notch. It’s a whole new experience. There will be a fun obstacle run, finish festival and glow festival and much more. 0717 223603. SPORTS Nairobi Bike Bazaar: Two Rivers,
Lukenya Academy, July 13th, 11am. New to the motorcross scene, Dirt Masters, Kenya National Enduro Championship and Mzuka Media Group bring you the Ultimate Enduro Combo. Activities include Enduro dirt bike racing, camping, bon fires, barbeque, a fully stocked bar and entertainment from Mzuka Djs. 0708 874229. Mini-AFCON Charity Cup: Kenya Technical Trainers College, July 13th, 7am. The Mini AFCON tournament is a charity tourney, with the proceeds going to the Paedriatic Cancer Ward of Kenyatta National Hospital. It will be a fun-day with the social games - quick-fire, 7-aside team matches that will emulate the main CAF 2019 AFCON group arrangement. events@africasoccer.org MMA July 2019: The Trademark Hotel, July 20th, 6pm. It is the First series of many to come “TDFC 1 “A New Era” will comprise a maximum (10) amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight card consisting of three - 3 minute rounds with a 90 second rest in between rounds translating to approximately 120 minutes of action packed cage experience. tickets@kenyabuzz.com Discover Kungfu Summer Camp:
Chen Style Tai Chi Nairobi, July 22nd, 9am. This is going to be two weeks as we take young people ages 9 - 16 through various Shaolin training concepts with introduction to mandarin/chinese calligraphy. It’s the perfect fast track to getting your child acclimated to Chinese martial arts and culture. 0700 005 888. Kenya Melt Down: Barclays Sports Club next to KCA University, July 27th, 6am. Aerobics Championship, Nairobi Edition, brought to you by Emperor Fitness. Come have fun, get judged and be awarded the Nairobi champion. THEATRE & STAGE The Barber of Picasso: Kenya
Cultural Centre incorporating Kenya National Theatre –KNT, July 4th, 6pm. Dance interpretation of the documentary “Morente, the cantor, the man, the genius”. Last work in life of Enrique Morente, leaving behind him a musical and thought legacy. A reflection of his work on the contest, from the carefree talent of the writings of Pablo Picasso, with his freedom and sense of vanguard. valeriad. cultureroutes@gmail.com Sarafina the Musical: Kenya National Theatre, July 18th – 28th, 7pm. A musical depicted from the Movie ‘Sarafina’ starring
July 2019 | Lifestyle
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Wild Labour of Love
The captivating story of Joy and George Adamson BY CHRISTINE ODEPH
W
hen it comes to household names, Joy and George Adamson most certainly fit the bill; at least in the world of conservation. They introduced us to Elsa the Lioness and the book Born Free, which inspired an award-winning, heart-warming film, that continues to melt hearts everywhere. Joy and George Adamson were the pioneers behind this incredible journey and their conservation legacy continues today. It couldn’t have been an easy feat; living in a remote area of the African savannah, nurturing and eventually returning an orphaned lioness back into the wild. This couple’s ground-breaking conservation efforts may have seemed silly to many during those early years, but the Adamson’s stuck with it. In the process they laid commendable foundations for future generations. Joy was born to the name Friederike Victoria Gessner; she was renamed by her second husband. She met George Adamson on safari in Kenya. She was a botanist with a deep interest in East African flora and fauna. George was a game warden in Northern Kenya at the
Joy and Elsa time. They married in 1944. In 1956, George brought home three lion cubs. While he had been out working in the wilderness, a lioness charged him and another warden out of the bush. He shot and killed her in defence only to realise she had been protecting her cubshiding nearby in a rocky crevice. In about 6 months, Joy and George found it difficult to care for all the cubs’ needs. As a result, they released the two largest cubs, “Big One” and “Lustica” to a zoo in Rotterdam, and stayed with Elsa with the intention to train and release her back into the wild. This seemingly innocent decision changed the lives of the Adamson’s and set the bar for wildlife conservation in Africa. After months of survival training, Elsa was eventually successfully released into the wild, becom-
George adamson ing the first lioness to do this and still make contact with her handlers after her release. Elsa also went on to have cubs - another remarkable event. The Adamsons kept their distance from the cubs, getting close enough only to photograph them. Elsa died in 1961 from babesiosis, a disease resulting from a tick bite. Her cubs eventually became a nuisance, killing the livestock of locals. Fearing retaliation from the community, the Adamsons captured and transported them to the Tanganyika Territory, where they were promised a home at Serengeti National Park. They lost track of them afterwards. Taking both notes from George’s diaries and her own knowledge, Joy wrote
Born Free, the book about Elsa, which was published in 1960 and became a bestseller. In 1964, actress Virginia McKenna and her husband, actor Bill Travers, came to Kenya and starred in what became an academy award-winning film. The film set off a chain of events for the Travers’, ultimately leading to the creation of the Born Free Foundation, which promotes compassionate conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in different parts of the world by aiming to protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the
welfare of individual animals. Joy spent the rest of her life raising money for wildlife, thanks to the popularity of Born Free. She went on to write two other books: Living Free, which is about Elsa as a mother to her cubs, and Forever Free, which recounts the release of the cubs Jespah, Gopa and Little Elsa. After Elsa’s death and the release of her cubs into neighbouring Tanzania, Joy and George grew apart, and started to pursue different interests. George had already retired as a senior game warden but wanted to continue to work with lions. Joy was focused on working with cheetahs. Both Joy and George were involved in a number of films and documentaries nevertheless. George ran a lion reintroduction programme in northern Kenya at Kora National Park. He wrote a book and worked with a number of orphaned and captive lions including Christian the lion. Joy Adamson’s Africa, a book about her paintings, was published in 1972. During her lifetime, Joy created more than 500 paintings and line drawings. Her work in-
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Events Munyiva from Oscar Nominated film Rafiki, Mkamzee Mwatela from Mali and Lusala, Martin Githinji from Sue na Johnnie, the wonderful Hellen Mtawali plus a cast of 40 and a live orchestra it’s sure to be the musical event of the year. tickets@kenyabuzz.com Refupoet: Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, June 20th, 5pm. The main objective of the event, is to allow for the telling of refugee stories of trials and triumphs in form of poetry, music and dance. poetrypotters@gmail.com TRAVEL Hells Gate Trip: Hells Gate, July
6th and 27th, 8am. Get ready for the best Rock Climbing Trip in the park at Hells Gate with your Preferred Rock climbing guides from BlueSky. The trip offers you a golden opportunity to be in close view of the wildlife while climbing. climb@blueskykenya. org Camp Ndunda Camping-Embu:
Reflex Safaris, July 6th, 7pm. An ultimate weekend full of fun and adventure. This event is for people aged 21 years and above only. reflexsafaris@gmail.com 4 Days Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru: Enchara Camp, July
10th – 12th, 7am. This 4 days
Kenya safari to Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru safari covers the top Kenya wildlife parks: Masai Mara National game reserve famous for its population of lions, leopards, cheetahs and also yearly migration of zebra & wildebeest which occurs from July to October from serengeti in Tanzania. reservation@ enchorowildlifecamp.com
Kereita Forest Ziplining/Hike Day Trip: Kereita Forest, July
Hell’s Gate & Olkaria Hot Spa:
Acroyoga and Massage: Yoga Heart Kenya, July 6th, 2pm. AcroYoga is a dynamic partner practice that blends the wisdom of yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics and the loving kindness of Thai massage. It is a fun way to exercise and connect with others. info@ yogaheartkenya.com Power Yoga: Mental 360 Lavington, July 6th, 13th and 20th, 2pm. This is the place where we unwind with impact. Keep your fitness in check and become a mental health ambassador. info@mental360. or.ke Free Yoga: City Park, July 7th, 3pm. A different form of yoga shall be taught at the hidden jewel that is City Park. info@ yogakenya.org
Hell’s Gate National Park, July 13th, 7am. With breathtaking scenery, complete with towering cliffs, gorges, rock towers, volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam, Hell’s Gate National Park is worth a visit. info@lillaktours.co.ke Outdoor Circuits Rurimeria: The Aberdares, July 13th, 4am. The hiking “elders summit” sits on this massive and scenic hill that needs to be upgraded to a mountain. We leave Nairobi at 4:00am for the mother of all prep hikes. outdoorcircuitsea@gmail.com KARI Challenge: Kalro Muguga, July 27th, 7am. The route takes participants through undulating hills set in agricultural land and forest areas offering a challenging combination of technical and endurance riding. info@mtkenyaepik.co.ke
28th, 6am. One of the longest Ziplining experience is in Kereita Forest.Situated in the heart of the Aberdare Ranges, in the Kereita Forest, The Forest provides an affordable wide range of activities that will cater to your spirit of adventure. 0728289390. YOGA, WELLNESS & MEDITATION
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cluded portraits of the indigenous populations, animal paintings and botanical illustrations for at least seven books on East African flora. She went on to rehabilitate a cheetah and an African leopard, and wrote The Spotted Sphinx and Pippa’s Challenge about Pippa and her cheetah family. Joy Adamson’s posthumous and final book was titled Queen of Shaba. All her book proceeds were shared with various conservation projects. In 1980, Joy’s assistant found her murdered near her camp in Shaba National Reserve. George was also murdered by Somali bandits in Kora whilst going to the rescue of a tourist in 1989. Both their legacies remain imprinted in history and memory. The Elsamere Conservation Trust has been instrumental in many conservation and education projects since its inception. At the Elsamere Conservation Centre, located on the southern shores of Lake Naivasha, visitors can see many of Joy’s paintings in the house and explore the museum with memorabilia from the lives of the Adamson’s – followed by some delightful teas and lunches served on site.
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waso Lions is dedicated to the conservation of lions and other large carnivores by promoting co-existence between people and wildlife. Their scope spans across northern Kenya’s Samburu and Isiolo Counties, which comprise one contiguous ecosystem; covering about 3,000 km2 of lion habitat, including National Reserves (Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba) and Community Conservancies (Westgate, Oldonyiro, Kalama, Nasuulu and Nakupurat Gotu). Samburu warrior Jeneria Lekilelei is the Field Operations & Community Manager at Ewaso Lions. He talked to us about his foundation Warrior Watch, his duties at Ewaso Lions, his favourite cats and how we can all help with lion conservation: KB: How did you first get interested in lion conservation and how long have you been doing this? JL: When Shivani [Bhalla, the founder of Ewaso Lions] came to Samburu National Reserve and started looking at lion threats outside the park, she met with the warden at Samburu Conservancy and asked if she could hire three guys to work with her. That’s when I first got interested in lions. Before that I didn’t know anything about them. I’ve been working in lion conservation for ten years now. KB: Tell us a bit about Warrior Watch and how you got the community Morans to be part of it. JL: Although we were aware about
July 2019 | Main Story
.com the human-lion conflict, I first (directly) encountered this situation with the Morans. We knew that to protect lions from being killed we had to bring the community into conservation. We started with six warriors and discovered that being involved in lion conservation directly changed attitudes. When the Morans give their livestock water they can still talk to non-warriors not involved in the Warrior Watch program and tell them where the lions are and what areas to avoid. They also talk about the importance of lion conversation. KB: What does your job at Ewaso Lions entail? What does a typical day at the ‘’office’’ look like? JL: Most of the time I’m out in the field monitoring the lions so I can tell the community where they are when the people are out in the bush with their livestock. Second, I run community meetings and workshops - maybe four a month, sometimes more -because if a lion moves to a certain area, I need to initiate a community meeting to make sure everybody is vigilant and doing careful husbandry. I also attend conflict situations when lions kill livestock. I drive very quickly to that area before the warriors or anyone can take action (to act as a mediator). I always
empathize and tend to first talk about the culture - within our culture we believe if you have ten cows one will be killed by a lion. And culturally, people also think lions are a good sign of hope – lions mean healthy ecosystems, and heathy landscapes mean healthy livestock. I also talk about tourism and that people come from all over the world to see lions and we’re so lucky to have them in our homeland. Finally, people like the scholarship program through Ewaso Lions that helps send kids to high school. They know if you had 100 cows, you can’t send ten cows to sponsor kids for school; only the lion program can do that. Wildlife helps everyone. People ask how many lions are in Kenya. It’s important for them to know there aren’t that many - fewer than 2000 in Kenya. Every year about 100 lions are lost and if we continue to lose that many, we won’t have any lions in 20 years.
Jeneria
KB: What’s the most exciting part of your job? JL: I like seeing the lions, sitting with them when I’m in my car, building trust with them and knowing that unless they feel threatened lions aren’t as bad as people think. After all these years seeing them is still the most exciting part for me. Witnessing them raise cubs is also very exciting for me because I can see we’re making a difference. Also seeing them in the community area and seeing that the community has accepted them. Hearing them in the community at night is a way of knowing that the community has accepted them and the lions feel safe now. If they were threatened in the community they wouldn’t be there. KB: How do you go about naming the lions the organization tracks? JL: With the lions who live in the community, we look to the community to give them names. This makes them feel connected to the lions, the project and part of lion conservation as well. Jeneria receiving his Ranger awards from Paradise foundation. Pic by Henk Kruger
KB: How do you tell these magnificent cats
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apart without using any fancy tech? How do you know who is who? JL: Two things. First, whiskers are very unique, like a thumb print. Once you are around them and know the whisker spots, they can go away five years and come back but their whisker spots remain unchanged. Second is their markings. When they hunt, they go through bushes and get cuts on their ears, or if they get in a fight, they get cuts. So, you can use ear notches and other scars to tell them apart, but that’s not the best way because they can get new cuts so we don’t use that the most. KB: Any scary encounters you’ve had with a rogue lion? JL: I’ve never been attacked by a lion but there was one lion who had a broken leg. He couldn’t hunt by himself and went across the river to a village and jumped into a boma and killed 15 goats. In the morning he couldn’t run to escape the people so we wanted to get him away from the village. He was really scared. We had to use a different approach after we saw the lion was stressed. I got my warriors and we formed a big line of people and made noises so he
July 2019 | Main Story
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Conservation Hero Award from The Walt Disney Company and the Wildlife Warrior Award from the Houston Zoo. How did they find out about your work and how did winning these awards impact you? JL: Disney is one of our partners. They knew me from Ewaso Lions and our other partner groups. Winning the awards makes us know we’re not forgotten in northern Kenya. It means a lot to my team as well because of how much we put into lion conservation. It motivates us to see people recognize the work. It’s an award for all of us – the team and our partners working together. KB: Are you mentoring future Jenerias in the local schools? JL: Yes. I take the young generation to see lions up close and that helps build and mentor future Jenerias. With our Lion Kids camps there are so many of them that want to do conversation in this area as a career. One boy, Junior, first came to Lions Kids camp and said “I need to be like Jeneria. I need to go to school.” KB: What are some of the ways we can help you and your team conserve these beautiful cats? JL: One of the best ways is to join us in lion conservation – help spread the word. Tell your friends, tell your family. That will really help my team, the lions and with lion conservation. We can’t do anything without financial support to hire people, so we always appreciate that kind of support too. KB: Before we wrap it up, who’s your fave Ewaso cat? We know you love them all but you’re allowed to be biased.
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JL: My favorite cat is a female called Nanai – which means “my own” in Samburu – because she was among the first lions I saw as a cub and I studied her litter a lot. She was so cute and was always the last of the litter – she walked slowly and was never in a rush. She’s fearless now – looks at the car and wonders what it is. She doesn’t know about threats in the world, so if her pride gets in trouble she could be in trouble. She just means a lot to me. That female built something in my heart. Now she’s has had two litters of her own so that’s good.
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BY MAUREEN KASUKU
could hear people coming and walk away by himself without being harmed. That’s the one scenario I’ve ever had with a lion. KB: You recently lost an Ewaso cub; our sympathies go out to the Ewaso family. Your response to her plight was quick. How did you get to know about her suffering without a ‘’cub distress’’ hotline in the park? JL: We got a report from the guides at one of the lodges. They found the lions at 9 am and one of the guides saw a big lion grab the cub by the neck and shake it. He called me up immediately about the injured cub. We rushed to that area and found the young cub dragging half her body on the ground, trying to drag herself into the bushes. We immediately called the KWS vet -luckily, he was in the park and came right away. There were broken bones in her back and we agreed to monitor her and see if she could recover. We guarded her day and night for five days and we saw she wasn’t going to survive. It was very hard for us to watch the cub suffering. She couldn’t go with her mom or drink water or anything. We called the vet again to come and see if there was any chance of recovery, but we saw she wouldn’t make it and, together with Samburu National
Reserve rangers and the vet we agreed to put her down. So, we do have a hotline in the park because we’re all communicating with each other. We all work together – the guides, the park management, Kenya Wildlife Services, the community, Ewaso Lions. KB: You’ve won the
Jeneria with a young warrior.
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The Kenya Wildlife Service The KWS) is responsible for the conservation and management of Kenya’s wildlife, and is often directly or indirectly involved in all conservation efforts from other organisations based in the country. Lion conservation is a key focus for the KWS, given its impact on both the species and tourism related revenue streams. The launch of the Wildlife Migratory Corridors and Dispersal Areas report in July 2017 saw conservation stakeholders join hands to preserve corridors used by wildlife. Additionally, KWS has adopted various strategies to help communities living close to wildlife areas deal with losses brought about by carnivores. These include: helping build predator proof bomas, monitoring the predator’s movements, running education and awareness campaigns and implementing the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 - which provides for compensation on cases of depredation on livestock. Find out more at www.kws.go.ke
Ewaso Lions Project The Ewaso Nyiro ecosystem of northern Kenya provides a critical habitat for lions, but the ones in this region are highly vulnerable to their pastoralist neighbours, which means conflict regularly occurs when lions attack livestock. Through scientific research and community outreach programs, the Ewaso Lions Project (founded in 2007) addresses the issues facing lions and promotes human-carnivore coexistence. Believing that the long-term survival of lions depends on coexistence with humans, the project places local people at the centre of lion conservation programmes. With support from African Wildlife Foundation, their community-based conservation work engages and builds the capacity of all groups of people in the area, including women and children. These projects include: Warrior Watch, Mama Simba, Lion Kids Camp, Lion Watch and local school-based education programmes. Find out more at www.ewasolions.org
July 2019 | Conservation
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The Cat in Crisis: A Conservation Spotlight
BY CHRISTINE ODEPH
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he African Wildlife Foundation reports that Kenya’s lion population currently stands at fewer than 2,000. With the lion population in Africa estimated to have declined by 43% in the past 20
The Northern Rangelands Trust This project supports 39 community conservancies across northern and coastal Kenya. It covers 42000 square kilometres and involves 18 ethnic groups in total. As a result, Northern Kenya is a very different landscape now compared to ten years ago. The region once infamous for conflict and poaching is now at the forefront of community-led development, enterprise and peace efforts, all inextricably linked to the protection of its incredible wildlife and landscapes. The project has a total of 768 conservancy rangers, 5 rapid response teams and 70 exwarriors now acting as peace ambassadors. It supports communities in governing their wild spaces, identifies and leads development projects, builds sustainable economies linked to conservation, spearheads peace efforts to mend years of conflict, and shapes government regulations to support it all. Find out more at www.nrt-kenya.org
years alone, this majestic beast is rightfully classified as a vulnerable species in danger of extinction in less than two decades. Today, we only have a dismal 20,000 lions roaming the entire African continent. The main causes for the decline are habitat loss and degradation, reduction in prey,
and trophy hunting and poaching. In addition, human-lion conflict is a key contributor and education of communities to appreciate and tolerate lions is key to their future survival. Here are some organisations in Kenya responding to the growing need for action:
Born Free Foundation In 1964, actress Virginia McKenna and her husband, actor Bill Travers, came to Kenya and starred in the wildlife classic, Born Free; the film based on Joy Adamson’s best-selling tale of and her husband George who raised Elsa, an orphaned lion cub, before releasing her into the wilderness of Kenya. The film set off a chain of events for the Travers’, ultimately leading to the creation of the Born Free Foundation. It promotes compassionate conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in different parts of the world, aiming to protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. In Kenya, the foundation is involved in various conservation efforts including Pride of Amboseli – a project that pioneered Smart Bomas, a cost-effective approach to protecting livestock from predation at night. Their Pride of Meru Kenya Lion Heritage Programme focuses on tracking and monitoring lions; deploying desnaring teams and working with communities to nurture tolerance and implement mitigation measures to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Find out more at www.bornfree.org.uk
World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya WWF-Kenya) is a local affiliate of the World Wide Fund for Nature International. They actively participated in the development of the African Lion Conservation Strategy. They are also working in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service and other stakeholders to review the National lion strategy and also conducting a comprehensive nationwide lion survey using a standardized method called Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture Method. They also have the Mara Predator Conservation Programme which monitors human lion conflict, lion population distribution and densities, habitat use and demography. The Mara programme supports wildlife clubs in six schools, training future wildlife conservation champions. They also pioneered the Lion Lights Project in partnership with the Wildlife Foundation. Using renewable solar energy, they installed lights that mimic human movements, effectively deterring lions, predators and other crop destroying animals from local bomas. Find out more at www.wwfkenya.org
African Conservation Centre The ACC aims to promote biodiversity in East Africa and beyond through the collaborative application of scientific and indigenous knowledge, improved livelihoods and good governance through development of local institutions. The project Rebuilding the Pride, run by the South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO), a Maasai landowner group, aims to increase lion and other carnivore numbers across Kenya’s South Rift by reducing human-wildlife conflict, preventing range fragmentation and maintaining healthy prey numbers. The ACC’s game scout programs train and equip community members to protect and monitor wildlife, engage in community conflict resolution, collect ecological data and generate and distribute environmental information to enhance community awareness of biodiversity and the environment. In addition to the critical conservation role they play, the scouts minimize humanwildlife conflict in these areas and have been effective deterrents against poachers. Find out more at www.accafrica.org
The Lion Conservation Fund The Centre for Lion Conservation and Research in Kenya is located in the Samburu District in northern Kenya. Although largely remote, the area is seeing rapid changes that could affect the wildlife ecosystem. LCF’s mission is primarily holistic conservation, recognizing that the health of wildlife, livestock, humans, and the environment in which they exist, are inextricably linked. Because Samburu is so remote, vast expanses of wilderness remain intact. In partnership with local community conservancies including: West Gate Community Conservancy, Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, Kalama Community Wildlife Conservation Trust, Northern Rangelands Trust, and others, the LCF involves more than 200 remote villages and 3 municipalities in an initiative to preserve traditional ways of life while conserving rare ecosystems in the face of globalization and resource overuse. LCF supports many other projects, including Project Simba, the Samburu Lion Project, the Tsavo Lion Project, and the Rift Valley Lion Project. Find out more at www. lionconservationfund.org The lion population in Kenya covers an estimated 19% of the country, including significant areas outside of formally protected sites such as national parks and nature reserves. Born Free reports that in 2013, best estimates from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) suggested that roughly 2,000 lions or less remained, and that it is therefore vital for effective conservation solutions to be implemented, especially in collaboration with local communities and with the participation of KWS.
July 2019 | Lifestyle
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BIG CAT TRIVIA
BY JESSE MWEU
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he Panthera Leo also known as the lion or Simba in Swahili, has to be one of the most charismatic animals in the world. As a symbol of strength and royalty, the lion is pretty much like a high-profile celebrity in the animal kingdom. Lions are revered through art, film, culture, and in literature from history books to fairytales and are, of course, considered one of the biggest tourists lures to the African continent. Check out a couple of interesting facts related to this magical beast: The King Comes Second: Within the big cat family, lions come second in size. A male lion weighs about 500 pounds and can grow up to eight feet in length. This sounds impressive, but tigers are actually larger, reaching 850 pounds and 11 feet long. But lions are still number one in Africa. Girl Power: Lions live in social groups called prides that can have up to 40 members. A pride is led by two- four male lions. Most people are unaware that lionesses live together for life. Female cubs stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs, from age two – three years, must venture out on their own. Males then enter a nomadic phase until they are large enough to challenge a sitting dominant male for control of a pride, at around five – six years old. Brothers will usually stay together and form a coalition, oftentimes joined by males ousted from other prides. Females are the main hunters of the pride, usually in groups of 3 or more, while males only hunt when a big kill is involved or the females have not given
him a free meal. King of the Roar: A lion’s roar can be heard from up to five miles away – the loudest roar of any big cat species. Roaring helps them find other lions and proclaim or mark their territory. A pride’s territory may be as big as 100 square miles. Lions have terrific night vision. They are 6 times more sensitive to light than humans. This gives them a distinct advantage over some prey species especially when hunting at night. Ahead of the Mating Curve: At 3 to 4 years old, male and female lions are ready to mate. The female has a gestation period of around four months. She will give birth to her
young away from others and hide the cubs for the first six weeks of their lives. At birth, the cubs are only around 1.5 kg (3 lbs.) each. They are also completely dependent on their mother.
Lions in Europe: Modern lions are thought to have originated around 124,000 years ago in eastern and southern Africa before moving to the rest of the continent and southeastern Europe, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, southern Russia, southern Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Historical evidence suggests that they also inhabited other Europe, including England and Wales which had Cave Lions during the Pleistocene era . Today, the only place outside Africa where “wild” lions are found is in Gujarat, India at the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary- established in 1965 and includes a number of areas where the lions are fully protected.
Dwindling Numbers: The lion population in Africa has been reduced by half since the early 1950s. Over 100 years ago there were more than 200,000 wild lions living in Africa. Today, It is estimated that there are 20,000- 39000 left globally. And lions are extinct in 26 African countries. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says the country is losing 100 lions per year while the current populalion tion is estimated to be less than 2,000. Big Cat Radar: There are six areas
Lion King Remake: Simba Roars Again for His Birthright BY OLIVER NASH
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or the second time, Disney is out to entertain audiences with the new ‘Lion King’ live-action remake. The film journeys to the African savanna where a young prince, Simba (JD McCrary) is born to King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) but from the looks of it, not the whole jungle is thrilled about the news. As time passes, uncle Scar’s (Chiwetel Ejiofor) jealousy of young Simba grows, ultimately leading him to orchestrate his brother Mufasa’s death before forcefully taking over as king of the jungle. The battle for Pride Rock is wrought with betrayal and drama, ending with Simba’s exile. With help from a pair of newfound friends, Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) Simba will have to grow up and figure out how to reclaim his rightful throne. Directed by Jon Favreau, ‘Lion King’ is an update of the 1994 animated blockbuster of the same title. It accurately represented the peak of Disney’s animation production, rising to a critically acclaimed flick. ‘Lion King’ was the highest grossing film of 1994 with over $900 million in sales. The film went on to win Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer) and Best Original Song for ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ by Elton John and Tim Rice at the Oscars alongside numerous recognitions worldwide –including a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Thanks to the success of its predecessor, this remake has essentially become one of the most anticipated films in 2019 thus far –especially after its trailer release back in April. After the trailer release, many questioned the ‘live-action’ factor. Favreau responded to these concerns, stating that the movie uses a
Simba Nala and Zazu combination of virtual reality and key frame animation, which means that the animals were all animated by hand, just like old animated movies. Predictions for the film’s box office sales projections are between $180 – $230 million with a total US gross of $650 million by the end of its full run according to Box Office Pro. If the projections are correct, ‘Lion King’ is bound to top Disney’s live-action remake opening numbers -a spot currently held by ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which grossed over $504 million in US domestic earnings and $1.2 billion worldwide. The Lion King will also be the last family friendly movie until November when Frozen 2 premieres. The film, which also features A-listers in the entertainment industry, is expected to boost the theatre opening as fans anticipate seeing how they perform first hand on the big screen. The full cast includes James Earl Jones –reprising his role as Mufasa, Beyoncé (and her 130 million plus followers) as Nala, Donald Glover as Simba, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa, and John Oliver as Zazu. Lion King is scheduled to hit theatres worldwide on July 19.
known for lion inhabitation: The Serengeti / Mara system shared with Tanzania is believed to contain 3,673 lions in 35,852km2. The Tsavo - Mkomazi lion area of 39,216km2 is estimated to have 880 lions. The Arawale - Bush lion area, shared with Somalia, is estimated to contain 750 lions in 22,540km2. The Laikipia - Samburu lion area has 271 lions in 35,511km2. Meru is believed to have 40 lions in 7,365km2, and The Nairobi National Park has less than 40 lions covering 117km2. August 10th 2019 is World Lion Day: This celebration was founded by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats. The day is for people to come together across the world to pay tribute and to support efforts to save this endangered cat. The Human Connection: Lions have disappeared from 90 percent of their historic range due to habitat loss, hunting and poaching, retaliatory killings by livestock owners, loss of prey and other factors. A 2016 report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) says in the decade between 2004 and 2014, 1.7 million animals were killed for their “trophy”; at least 200,000 of them were threatened species such as elephants, rhinos or lions. IFAW also found that the US was the biggest importer of stuffed animal heads, and South Africa was the biggest exporter - with lions were by far the most traded. Though it’s illegal to poach, and international trade in lion
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parts is mostly prohibited, South Africa has legalized the export of skeletons from captive facilities where lions are bred and raised. In 2018, South Africa increased the annual quota of skeletons exported from 800 to 1,500. This is in light of growing demand for lion body parts, including bones, teeth, and claws; sought after for use in traditional medicines and trinkets, mostly in Southeast Asia. Lions Love Chilling: They spend between 16 and 20 hours each day resting and sleeping. They have few sweat glands so they wisely tend to conserve their energy by resting during the day and become more active at night when it is cooler. Egyptian Royalty: Ancient Egyptians acclaimed lions as their war deities because of their strength, power and fierceness. The famous sphinxes are just one of many mythical depictions of the lion in Egyptian culture. Ancient Rome: The Roman Colosseum and other arenas are often associated with gruesome animal hunts, but fighting wild beasts was reserved for the “venatores” and “bestiarii,” who were special classes of warriors who squared off against everything from deer and ostriches to lions, crocodiles, bears and even elephants. While most animals were merely slaughtered for sport, others were trained to do tricks or even pitted against one another in fights. Wild animals also served as a popular form of execution. Convicted criminals and Christians were often thrown to ravenous dogs, lions and bears as part of the day’s entertainment.
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July 2019 | Movies
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S A M E IN C O T G IN M O C
MENTAL HAI KYA MOVIE
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever. Release Date: 3rd July 2019 Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Cast: Tom Holland, Angourie Rice, ZendayaFerguson
SUPER 30 Based on the life of mathematician Anand Kumar who runs the famed Super 30 program for IIT aspirants in Patna. Release Date: 12th July 2019 Genre: Biography Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Mrunal Thakur
MENTAL HAI KYA An Indian Hindi-language erotic black comedy following the story of two individuals whose lives pivot between reality and illusions. Release Date: 3rd July 2019 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, R. Bhakti Klein
STUBER An uber driver finds himself tangled in an unexpected night of adventure after picking up a detective Release Date: 12th July 2019 Genre: Action, Comedy Cast: Karen Gillan, Steve Howey, Dave Bautista
YESTERDAY He’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed. Release Date: 5th June 2019 Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Music Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Sophia Di Martino
THE LION KING After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery. Release Date: 19th July 2019 Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama Cast: Seth Rogen, Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor
MALAAL The story of two very different people from contrasting backgrounds who experience the innocence, highs and lows of love. Release Date: 5th July 2019 Genre: Romance Cast: Meezaan Jafri, Sharmin Segal, Badri Chavan
CRAWL A young woman finds herself trapped in a flooding house and must fight for her life against alligators. Release Date: 26th July 2019 Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror Cast: Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper, Ross Anderson
July 2019 | Lifestyle
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Aslan From the novels and film ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ created in 2005, emerged a great lion named Aslan. Aslan has been featured in all the seven books by C.S. Lewis and in the movie adaptation. His character is seen as a mighty, magnificent true ruler of the world of Narnia. Though strong and terrifying, he also appears to be kind and very wise. This bravura beast first appears in Narnia as a guide to the dwellers. Eventually his wisdom navigates everyone’s path the right direction. Aslan is also the Turkish word for lion and is commonly considered to be an allegory for Christ. Aslan is seen as a phenomenal role model and spiritual leader for all things just, courageous and good.
Christian with George Adamson, Rendall and Ace Bourke
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ats -big or small- hold a special place in the world. How else can we explain the internet phenomenon that makes people disappear into hours of kitten and cat videos, GIFs and memes?
Cute distant relatives aside, lions are seen as unique due to their social behaviours and the fact that they are the only members of the cat family with striking sexual dimorphism. These majestic creatures have carved out a lasting impression in hearts and minds across global cultures. Here’s a look at some of the most famous lions of the world:
You’ve probably come across a viral video of a lion running to meet two men; hugging and playing around with them in a remarkable reunion. Well that lion’s name is Christian. Christian was born in captivity in a zoo in England. He was part of a litter rejected by their mother after birth. He was later sold to John Rendall and Ace Bourke. With the help of their friends Jennifer Mary Taylor and Unity Jones, Rendall and Bourke raised Christian until he was one year old when he became too big to manage as a pet. So, they requested George Adamson to adopt Christian and teach him wildlife survival. Christian was successfully released into the wild in Kenya and years later had his own family of cubs. Rendall and Bourke visit him in Kenya years later and, to everyone’s bewilderment, Christian not only remembers them but goes crazy with joy. If you haven’t seen this viral video, look it up, it’s truly heart-warming and demonstrates the huge, loving personality of lions.
Simba The Cowardly Lion
SIMBA is a fictional character created by Disney for the movie ‘The Lion King,’ created in 1994 with subsequent remakes in 1998, 2004 and the most recent one set to come out this July 2019. This fictional character is synonymous with the global feel good phrase: Hakuna Matata (no worries); made popular
by one of the original movie’s songs. Although considered an original character, Simba was actually inspired by the character of Disney’s Bambi in 1942, as well as the stories of Moses and Joseph from the Bible. Disney had no idea that this story, first portraying little Simba as a cocky, confident character who must eventually mature and learn to take responsibility, would ultimately charm the hearts of billions across generations.
Elsa Raised by Kenyan wildlife conservationist George Adamson, Elsa was a female cub orphaned at only a few weeks. Elsa and her two sisters ‘Big One’ and ‘Lustica’ were raised domestically by the Adamsons. The five-week-old cubs were given enough training to survive in the wilderness. Big One and Lustica were taken to Netherlands’ Rotterdam zoo while Elsa stayed in Kenya before later being released into the wild. The story of Elsa has been highlighted in documentaries, books and movies, with the most famous ones being Born Free and Living Free. Elsa’s Legacy: The Born Free Story documentary made in 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of Joy Adamson’s book Born Free. It includes home footage of Elsa and her cubs shot by the Adamsons and interviews with Virginia McKenna and David Attenborough.
The MGM Lions If you are a movie buff then you have definitely seen and heard the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) lion roaring. Since its inception in 1917, the Hollywood film studio has used a lion as its mascot. Interestingly, there have been seven MGM lions but the most popular one is Leo the lion, with an impressive run from 1957 to the present. The first MGM lion was Slats who ap-
peared in 1924, followed by Jackie in 1928. Jackie was the first lion to appear in Technicolor for the opening of Wizard of Oz. In 1930, two lions -Telly and Coffee took up the mantle. Tanner and George were used in 1934 and 1956 respectively, before Leo took the reins. In all lion appearances, there is a ribbon around the faces in the logo that reads “Ars Gratia Artis” which means “Art for Art’s Sake” in Latin.
Created by American author L. Frank Baum, the Cowardly Lion is a beloved character from the fictional Land of Oz. He is introduced in Baum’s first Oz book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900 and then made wildly popular in the 1939 American musical fantasy film. In the Oz books, Baum describes him as a gentle giant at heart and because of his gentle nature, he is loved the people of Oz. Since lions are supposed to be “The Kings of Beasts,” or fierce in nature, the Cowardly Lion felt that his fear made him weak and inadequate. He learns that courage means acting bravely in the face of fear, something he does frequently throughout the Oz stories.
Cecil This has to be one of the most tragic stories about a famous lion. Cecil lived in Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. He was the best-known animal in the national park and was identifiable by his majestic black-fringed mane and a GPS tracking collar. The lions in the park, including Cecil, have been studied by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford as part of a scientific project. On 1st July 2015, Cecile was reportedly lured away from the park and seriously wounded by trophy hunter Walter Palmer, who used arrows. Cecil escaped that night but was later tracked and killed by a rifle the following morning. The culprits were never charged and this brought an uproar by wildlife conservationists, including a world-wide campaign that prompted political responses. The killing of Cecil sparked a discussion
Cecil the lion at Hwange National Park among conservation organizations about the ethics and business of big-game hunting and a proposal for bills banning imports of lion trophies to the U.S. and European Union. These discussions have convinced three of the largest airlines in the U.S., American, Delta and United, to voluntarily ban the transport of hunting trophies. Of the 62 lions tagged during the Oxford study, 24 have been killed by sport hunters.
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Lifestyle I July 2019