Animals still desperate for water
Category: Community work | Date: Oct 22 2008 | By: lionguardians
The rains still have not come to the Chyulus. This means that both livestock and wildlife are still very thirsty, and are becoming weak. This is a dangerous time for animals here.
The wildlife on this ranch had two ways to get water. They could walk to a river way off in the southern part of the ranch, or get water from breaks in the water pipeline. Recently though all the broken pipes were repaired, so this means of getting water has been removed. Instead they resort to drinking from private water troughs, sometimes breaking them. The community cannot afford to pay for water for wildlife too, since it will mean additional costs to their monthly water bills. So conflict is high, and we are all left in a difficult situation, as the rains still do not come.
The idea of tagging elephants with SIM cards and creating an artificial geofence (mentioned by Hashi Hanta) sounds great, but would not work here. The elephants here do not have collars, and we are not inside a protected area - this is wild Maasailand, and animals may roam where they please. It would also be very expensive, and we do not have enough money for the Lion Guardians - there is certainly not enough for this kind of measure, however successful it may be.
Let’s hope the rains come soon. In the meantime the Lion Guardians are working with their communities to reduce any conflicts that arise from the water shortage. Please help them and their communities by making a donation to, if you can. Thank you.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, lions, Maasai, masai, water
Situation desperate as community water points destroyed by elephants
Category: Lion Guardian reports | Date: Oct 15 2008 | By: lionguardians
Elephants are becoming a problem in Olngosua once more. Previously this area was troubled by a lone elephant that was scaring the local community. Now, the two Lion Guardians that live in this area, Mokoi and Olubi have reported that elephants have broken and dismantled water pipes from three different water troughs.
The community need this water desperately, and have asked for help from the game scouts. Representatives have been sent to the area to scare the animals with thunder flashes, and to help the community to repair the broken pipes and water troughs. This time of year, just before the rains it is extremely dry, and water is in short supply. This situation could become very dangerous for the local people if they cannot get water for themselves and their animals.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, lions, Maasai, masai
Good news - elephant no longer a threat
Category: Community work | Date: Sep 12 2008 | By: lionguardians
We have some good news for you about the elephant that was worrying the community in Lion Guardian Olubi’s area of work. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers from Amboseli have now visited the area and met with Olubi and were able to track the elephant. We are pleased to say that they confirmed he was well, and is now in a new location where there are no people. Olubi will continue to monitor the situation and I will update you if I have any more news.
The community is so happy that this situation has been resolved without any conflict or injury to themselves or to the elephant. Thank you all so much for your advice and suggestions. I hope you are also pleased that this problem has been solved.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, Maasai, masai
Community still worried by elephant
Category: Lion Guardian reports | Date: Sep 04 2008 | By: lionguardians
During our end of month meeting, Lion Guardian Olubi reported that the single elephant that has been in his area is still there, two weeks after he reported that it is posing danger to herders and women that go out to collect firewood.
I followed your suggestions and have contacted a number of people about the issue, but we are still waiting for somebody to help by removing the animal from the area.
If something is not done soon, the community will surely spear this animal, so as to avert human death.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, Maasai, masai
Dangerous elephant still at large
Category: Community work | Date: Aug 21 2008 | By: lionguardians
The elephant we reported a few days ago is still in the area. I gave the details to the game scouts but so far no action has been taken by them. It is a dangerous situation, particularly as Lion Guardian Olubi thinks the elephant may be sick. When he saw it today it was not feeding and the area is very dry.
The community is worried, mostly for the herders who graze their livestock around the area since most of them are women or young boys. Olubi has been working tirelessly to make sure that herders or women collecting firewood will not bump into this elephant. Pepper is indeed a good prevention method but there are no farms near the area so we have no way of getting it.
Sadly a brother of Lion Guardian Koikai was killed by an elephant a few weeks ago. We are pleased to say that despite this the community have not retaliated and attacked the elephant that is roaming near their community. Even Koikai, whose brother was killed says he doesn’t feel anger towards elephants. Here he tells us that even though this sad thing happened it doesn’t make him feel like he wants to go out and kill the elephant. As a Lion Guardian he feels he must protect all animals.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, Maasai, masai
Elephant causing problems in the community
Category: Community work | Date: Aug 18 2008 | By: lionguardians
Lion Guardian Olubi has reported to us that there is an elephant worrying the people that live in the community of Olngosua. The single elephant has been in the area for the last three days and the community is asking for help to chase away the animal.
Elephants can be very dangerous, and it is not safe for the people that live there. This comes barely a month after a man was attacked and killed by an elephant at Ilchalai south of Olngosua. It is encouraging to see that the people are not trying to kill the animal as one might expect so soon after a fatal interaction in the area.
I have passed on the information to the game scouts who will assist the community.
Tags: elephant, Kenya, lion, lion conservation, Lion Guardians, Maasai, masai
-
100% of your donation, minus a small bank fee, will go to your intended purpose.
Donations made here are safe.
-
Visitors to Lion Guardians blog
-
Join the Facebook Cause
Facebook Cause: Lion Guardians -
About Me
My name is Antony Kasanga, Assistant Director of the Lion Guardians program. -
Donations Received
- Nov 5th Hashi H. USD33.00
- Nov 4th Sauwah T. USD33.00
- Nov 1st Black C. USD5.00
- Oct 29th Richard V. USD80.00
- Oct 28th Richard G. USD44.00
- Oct 26th Hashi H. USD16.50
- Oct 26th Lois B. USD11.00
- Oct 26th Michael B. USD10.00
- Oct 25th Evan B. USD15.00
- Oct 25th Eric B. USD82.50
- Oct 25th Susan A. USD27.50
- Oct 25th Deb O. USD33.00
- Oct 25th Jia L. USD80.00
- Oct 23rd Hashi H. USD27.50
- Oct 22nd Lisa R. USD22.00
- Oct 21st Pirjo I. USD40.00
- Oct 18th Tanya D. USD50.00
- Oct 17th Anna M. USD55.00
- Oct 9th Loki Q. USD45.00
- Oct 1st Black C. USD5.00
Subscribe to the Lion Guardians feed.