Photos by Muguettte Goufrani, Africa Travel Magazine

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Nairobi, Kenya: The Orphans' Project

Nairobi is indeed fortunate to have a National Park on its very doorstep. We visited the area often and took several hour one afternoon to visit an Elephant Orphanage inside the park and a Giraffe sanctuary nearby. Naturally, we had a camera handy, and the following page is an example

The rearing of the orphaned elephants, even though we have been at it for a very long time, for us remains an ongoing learning experience and a source of wonder, filled with moments of joy and sadness, plus surprises on an almost daily basis. This animal duplication of a Big Brother series is recorded in the Keepers' Diary which is posted on the Trust's website monthly and keeps the elephants many foster-parents involved. Following the daily life of a newborn baby as it passes through its fully milk dependent infancy, watching it gradually grow through childhood, one gets to know each one intimately as one follows its daily activities and adventures. Friendships blossom and hit glitches, just as in human society, joy and happiness as well as sadness and grief at the loss of a loved one is evident, and one its amazed by the outpouring of compassion and caring for those younger or the less fortunate.
Just like human children, elephants feel shameful when reprimanded for misbehavior; they take themselves off to sulk; they harbor grudges and feel the need to settle scores, they can be deliberately mischievous, and the little bulls are especially competitive, always striving for one-upmanship. We know that elephants possess mysterious abilities alien to us, such as the programming of a genetic memory within the womb to endow them with elements important to survival; the ability to communicate over distance in mysterious ways and an unerring and uncanny ability to traverse alien terrain surely and accurately, despite the fact that they may never have set foot there before. There's much more to come regarding Nairobi National Park and other attractions.

Elephant Orphanage, Nairobi National Park

Details and many more photos to come

Guests relaxing at Giraffe Village

Happy spectators at Elephant Orphanage

Class learning the rules at Giraffe Village

Photos by Muguettte Goufrani, Africa Travel Magazine
POACHING MAY KILL TOURISM IN AFRICA
 

Delegates at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Nairobi today declared poaching to be the greatest threat to Africa’s tourism industry and branded poachers as Africa’s greatest public enemy. 

Lazaro Nyalandu, deputy minister for natural resources & tourism, Tanzania, said in an address to the whole conference: “Poaching is a global problem needing a global solution.”

He added: “It is estimated that Tanzania has an elephant population of 100,000 today but this is cut by 30 a day by poachers.

“They are so sophisticated that we need a military response. If their activities are not stamped out, we will have lost all our elephants in 10-15 years.

“We want to see our African neighbours taking a stand with us, pressurising the countries where the poachers’ clients live to stamp out this barbaric trade.”


 

The value of ivory and rhino horn continues to rise rapidly, as does the demand for ‘wildlife products’.

Across Africa, one elephant is being killed every 15 minutes for their tusks. This continued illegal trade will lead to the species’ extinction by 2025. The hotel and tourism industry’s concern goes well beyond statements.

Some five per cent of all AHIF revenues are being given to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which looks after orphaned baby elephants and rhinos, including those whose parents have been butchered by poachers, and it has several anti poaching initiatives.

Wildlife is the reason why tourists come to Africa.

As each herd is decimated, so too is the potential employment of thousands of people, most of whom are on low incomes. Poaching is not just about killing animals; it’s about destroying livelihoods.

“Poaching in Africa is happening on an industrial scale,” said Nick van Marken, the leader of Deloitte’s international Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice.

He continued: “Poachers are using automatic weapons to slaughter entire herds. They then hack off the tusks and horns.

“Rhino horn is ground down in Africa and then smuggled out.

“Wildlife is part of Africa’s natural infrastructure - remove it, and one of the primary reasons for visiting the continent will disappear.

“It’s time for the industry to step up and speak out.”

 

KENYA RAMPS UP ITS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS

 Apr 07, 2014

This Spring, the Kenya Tourism Board introduces its campaign for conservation in the U.S., in an effort to demonstrate the importance of wildlife conservation in Kenya.

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), along with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), will host a wildlife conservation-focused media luncheon for key media, trade partners and industry executives at the Harvard Club in New York on April 15, 2014.

The event will feature new programs and current initiatives being implemented in Kenya. A number of conservationists, research scientists from the KWS, and community cultural ambassadors will participate in the event. Featured speakers include scientists Shadrack Mumo Ngene and Dr. Charles Musyoki, and cultural conservation ambassadors, Samson Parashina and Josephine Ekiru from the Maasai and Samburu communities.

"Wildlife tourism is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, therefore wildlife conservation is critical to Kenya’s tourism industry. It is important that we increase awareness for wildlife conservation efforts to ensure that Kenya remains the premier wildlife and safari destination in Africa," said Al Merschen, Regional Director for the Kenya Tourism Board in the U.S.

The Kenyan government has increased its campaigns and awareness efforts for wildlife conservation, including placing stiffer penalties on poachers, as the threats of animal poaching and wildlife extinction remain throughout the region.