The ongoing controversy over the "Somak" camp being built along the Mara River brought to light a number of divergent views.  One:  in defence of the construction, written by the Chief Warden, Narok (The Proposed Olkeju Ronkai Camp Development in the Masai Mara – An assessment report to inform the Kenya National Environment Tribunal, October 2008) stated that that development in that area would have no impact on the rhino population, as they did not historically occur there. This statement was challenged by the Acting Chief Park Warden, Trans Mara, Mr Samson Lenjirr. Mr Lenjirr had been head of the rhino surveillance team for several years and his report clearly indicated that rhino had disappeared from the Olkeju Ronkai area since Somak started construction of their camp.  

I would also like to challenge the figures given by the Chief Warden, Narok, on tourism in the Masai Mara, and have used the figures for tourist camps compiled by the consultants for the ten-year management plan (Mara Ecosystem Tourism Facilities Database, Conservation Development Centre, August 2008), a summary is provided below. The Warden underreported the number of beds on the Narok side of the Reserve, stating that there were only six facilities with 570 beds; the database records 50 (lodges, camps, seasonal camps, special campsites and public campsites) with 1,151 beds. Whilst the Chief Warden’s report was reasonably accurate on the number of beds elsewhere in the Mara ecosystem, it overestimated the number of beds in the Triangle and completely overlooked the huge volume of facilities on the periphery – most relying on the Reserve for their game drives.

In order not to misrepresent the facts, we did a reality check on the figures in the Table. Our estimated annual revenue in the Mara Triangle, from Park fees alone, until the end of the May 2010, will be Ksh 246 million (US$ 3.3 million) – almost exactly the same as the estimate in the Table.  The Conservancy retains 45% for management - the remainder is paid to the Council and Group Ranches.  Given the above, we believe the revenue estimate is very realistic and well above any official collection by Narok.

Not satisfied with collecting US$ 20,000,000 (Twenty million) annually from entrance fees alone, Narok County Council has approved the construction of three new camps, two of which are in an area considered too ecologically important to handle more tourist developments;  and they have grabbed the revenue due to Trans Mara County Council for Little Governors Camp. This is surely a case where greed will suffocate the “goose that lays the golden egg”. When coupled with the fact that cattle now invade large tracts of the Reserve we are beginning to notice a major impact on wildlife populations (reported last month in the areas being studied by the Hyena Research Project).   

The “Somak” issue has raised considerable national and international interest, with articles in the Daily Nation, Daily Star in Kenya and the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times and Independent in Britain.  A petition has been set up on the internet: “I will not safari with Somak” and has over 3,600 signatures – the comments have been overwhelmingly against the development and yet the camp continues to be built at a frenetic pace.  

Another new camp, on the junction of the Talek and Mara Rivers, has quietly been constructed in January and February.  It is smaller but no less of a slap in the face to conservationists trying to protect the Mara and its valuable riverine vegetation.

Brian Heath

CEO, Mara Conservancy

Extract from February's Monthly Report

Closing tracks below Oloololo last week.

Last week the CEO, the Warden Lenjirr, Asst. Wardens Kimojino and Tunai, met with driver guides from Kichwa Tembo and Oloonana to discuss the proliferation of tracks below Oloololo and in particular where the rhinos like to roam. 

Together we travelled around the area and agreed to close the majority of tracks (over 100) and leave just 3/4 tracks open. We said that in this way we would not only improve the area and minimise degradation, we would be able to better maintain these tracks for the comfort of drivers and guests. All of the guides present were not only in agreement but showed great cooperation and their advice was invaluable.

At the weekend, I had the pleasure of travelling to Tanzania with our Warden Samson Lenjirr to meet with the new Chief Park Warden of Serengeti, Mtango Mthahiko, as well as the Warden of Tourism, Wardens of Anti-Poaching, and the Head of the Rhino Programme. It was a great opportunity to share ideas and the Chief Park Warden expressed his willingness to continue working side by side with the Mara Conservancy in issues of anti-poaching. 

Serengeti, Tanzania

Elsewhere in the news and on the internet there has been growing debate about the construction of a lodge in prime rhino habitat on the Narok side of the Masai Mara Reserve, the topic not only concerns this critically endangered species but the long overdue Masai Mara Management Plan.

The Plan needs to be gazetted if we want to conserve the Masai Mara, yet unfortunately we are seeing tour operators and opportunists rushing to construct camps and lodges before the plan is implemented. If the Tourism Sector is really serious about conservation we ask those who are building camps and lodges to stop and wait until the plan is implemented. To go against this is to go against the efforts of those who are trying to conserve one of the world's great wonders. 

Cooperation is critical for Kenya's conservation needs, and it does not make sense that conservationists should have to fight so hard against those who seek to profit from Kenya's wildlife resources. 

On 27th January 2010, we had another deployment to track poachers across Mara river at a place known as Ingira. It was indeed a very good track that was least contaminated and the handlers carried MORANI across the river to start the track. 

The drive of the dog was very high and we tracked for a distance of about 3km when the dog made a clean find of three poachers. we arrested them . I congratulated Morani and all the handlers plus the rangers for a job well done. our training program is going on very well. Memusi had a small swelling on the shoulder following a vaccine injection. the swelling though is recoverying swiftly. 

Written by Sabaiya, Head of Canine Unit

Care for the Wild/Anne Kent Taylor Scouts work closely with Mara Conservancy rangers inside the Mara Triangle and also in the areas bordering the reserve. This is an update from Elias Kamande, Field Coordinator:

The team is still going on with the patrols in the Mara triangle and the adjacent wildlife areas. We would like to report that wildlife habitat is diminishing in a very alarming rate due to the land clearance, logging and charcoal burning. Many hard wood trees are destroyed every day in the tune of clearing the land for maize fields. Few metres along the Oloololo escarpment is now dotted with few forest patches.

Huge charcoal kiln up on the escarpment.

We are still talking to the owners who have hundreds of acres to minimize the destruction and showing them the importance of the forest & wildlife. We don’t have any guarantee of minimizing this destruction because most of the land owners have their title deed and have their final decision on how to manage their land though the problem can be blamed on wildlife land policy.

The team is only using the diplomacy in solving this destruction. Farming is now becoming a problem as the wildlife are trying to go through the fence thus destroying the maize plantation. Then these new farmers are complaining that wildlife is bringing loss to them. For sure it’s the man who is encroaching the forest which is a home for multiple species of wildlife .We are losing the forest dwellers and soon we will add more species to the endangered list.

Snared Zebra at Ngusero Sambu

It’s now very hand to see forest hogs and Duikers that used to roam freely for the last few years in these areas although most of them are poached. This vice has increased since last year after many farmers are migrating to the area for farming. A number of them were dislocated from their areas during the post election violence, and also the recent evictions from Mau Forest.

Arrested Poacher with Giant Forest Hog Meat.

The team has noticed that some of the farmers are engaging in poaching activities. It’s noticed that they fence the potion of land and leaving some areas wide open then set the wire snare to catch the wildlife. So it’s very easy for the wildlife to get through the open space but they are always entangled by the snare. This habit can go for days before it’s noticed because they do this during the night and remove the snare early in the morning. However the team is always ready to deal with all these tricks and many are always arrested.

On the poaching side, the team is transversing the area and responding to all calls from the community in case of any poaching activities seen both during the day and night. Thanks to the Mara conservancy Rangers for joining the team during all the patrols…..Just by the way the joint patrol of both the team &Mara Conservancy rangers arrested one poacher with giant forest hog meat at Kilae area (Near Olpikidongoe).He was with other 3 poachers who escaped arrest though they managed to sneak with 2 bush back meat. He was taken to the police station and later to the court where he was charged ONLY Ksh1000 or 1 month imprisonment. He opted to pay the fine and now he’s free and back in the same area.
 
Compiled by Elias Kamande (Team Leader)

Applications are now open for the Born Free Responsible Guiding Award 2009. The award is again sponsored by the international wildlife conservation charity, and long-term friend of Kenya, the Born Free Foundation, demonstrating this organisation’s continued commitment to wildlife conservation in the Masai Mara. We would also like to thank Robin Pope Safaris, Norman Carr Safaris and Flatdog's Camp for hosting the winning guide during his trip to Zambia.

Launched last year, this prestigious award is the first of it’s kind in Kenya and is a collaboration between UK-based Responsible Tourism consultancy Tribal Voice Communications, who founded and organise the Award, and the Mara Conservancy. The Award aims to recognise and celebrate best practices in responsible safari guiding in the Mara Triangle.

The winning guide will receive an all expenses paid 2-week trip to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, a wildlife tourism destination internationally recognised for the quality of its safari guiding. Here the winner will have the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge with, and work alongside, some of Africa's top safari guides.

This year's competition is in three stages:

1. Nomination - All lodges and camps that conduct game drives in the Mara Conservancy are invited to nominate their most responsible resident safari guide, as measured against TVC’s Safari Guiding Checklist. Each lodge/camp is permitted to nominate one guide only by 12 noon 1st December 2009.

2. Short-listing of Finalists - The nominations will be reviewed by the Mara Conservancy, Tribal Voice Communications and the Born Free Foundation and a short-list of finalists selected. This stage will draw on the information supplied in the nomination forms and the Mara Conservancy’s Cheetah vehicle patrol records (anti-animal harassment unit).

3. Mystery Game Drives - The short-listed finalists will be assessed by two 'Mystery Visitors' during normal game drives (unbeknown to the guide) against the Safari Guiding Checklist. These ‘visitors’ are conservation / guiding professionals. The winner will be the guide who obtains the best average score across these two drives.

The Born Free Responsible Safari Guiding Award 2009 will be announced in early 2010.

Good luck!

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