Kenya commemorates the first ever World Wildlife day

Kenya recently joined the rest of the world in marking the first ever world wildlife day at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters in Nairobi.

http://www.kws.org/info/news/2014/11january2014wildlifeday.html

The United Nations General Assembly designated March 3rd as the World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.

 In Kenya, the day was marked with pomp and colour as various leading conservationists, government officials and representatives from NGOs across the country gathered at the KWS headquarters to reflect and celebrate Kenya’s well endowed wildlife.

In a speech read on her behalf by the Principal Secretary State Department for Environment and Natural Resources Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, Cabinet Secretary Prof. Judi Wakhungu noted that Kenya’s long conservation journey has been marked by tremendous successes since independence.

“The country today boasts of more than 50 parks and reserves managed by the government through KWS,” Prof Wakhungu said.With over 25,000 species of wildlife, and 7000 species of plants, Kenya ranks highly as one of the biodiversity rich countries in Africa.

The hallmark of the country’s conservation history however is the enactment of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 which became operational at the start of this year that provides stiffer penalties for wildlife related crimes.

In addition to this, the new law provides for the establishment of County Wildlife Conservation and Compensation committees, community wildlife associations and wildlife managers, in each county.

This provision encourages more involvement of communities in the conservation and management of terrestrial wildlife and marine resources thereby distributing some of the benefits accrued from wildlife conservation in line with the new law.

However, the Cabinet Secretary noted that poaching still remains the greatest challenge to wildlife conservation, not just in Kenya but the entire world in general.She reaffirmed her ministry will continue to provide all the necessary support to KWS in order to stem out the crime.

At the same time, the KWS Acting Director General Mr William Kiprono appealed to all Kenyans and the entire international community to support the implementation of the new law with a view to securing the country’s wildlife for posterity. The day was also marked with entertainment from the International Youth Fellowship, poems and dances from various schools as well as a number of different wildlife exhibitions.

Background                                                                                                

On  20^th December , 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March, the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.

In its resolution, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic, to sustainable development and human well-being, and recognized the important role of CITES in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the species’ survival.

Sharon C

www.soinafricasafari.com

Experience the Beauties of Mombasa Beach- Lamu the Old Town in Kenya safaris.

Lamu Old Town is a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters.

Lamu real attraction is its Old town. The town of Lamu began life as a 14th century Swahili settlement, but the island has seen many tourists and influences, including Portuguese explorers, Turkish traders and the Omani Arabs. All left their mark, but Lamu developed its own particular culture, which has ultimately endured.

Lamu’s narrow streets remain unchanged, and in the markets and squares around the fort life moves at the same pace as it always has. There are no vehicles on this island, and the donkey and the dhow remain the dominant form of transport.

The people of Lamu are great believers in tradition and custom, and this is a strong society built on a respect for the past. For the traveler, Lamu is a hypnotically exotic experience, made even more enjoyable by the relaxed and welcoming attitudes of the locals.

To visit Lamu is to enter another world, and the visitor finds themselves becoming a part of this world. Life slows down, and long days are spent strolling along the waterfront, exploring the town or relaxing on the beaches.

sunbathing at Mombasa beach.

Dhow safaris can take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelago, where isolated villages, ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts lie hidden among the islands of Manda, Siyu, Pate and Kiwayu.

This idyllic island speaks to the heart and soul, and a trip to Lamu is a romantic experience that can become a lifelong affair. Most visitors to Lamu come to experience the unique culture and history of the island. But there are also opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts to explore.

The Palm forests and wetland areas of the island are excellent spots for finding coastal waterfowl and other birds. On the stretches of beach around the shore, populations of crabs can be seen, often swarming the sand in large number.

On the arid mainland opposite Lamu, there is a surprising abundance of wildlife in the Dodori Reserve, which runs adjacent to the coastline and the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. It is named after the Dodori River which flows into the ocean at Dodori Creek and was established in 1976 providing sanctuary for a huge array of marine life including sea-turtles, dugongs, giant clams, buffalo, lions and nesting birds.

 The mangrove channels here are also good for birding and spotting the occasional crocodile. Safaris  to this region can be organized from Kipungani on Lamu. Lamu has a varied range of accommodation, both within town and out, and on  its neighboring. Manda and  Kiwaayu islands. With varied luxurious  beach hotels, beautifully decorated old Swahili guesthouses, basic inns, isolated resorts and private homes to rent among others gives you an ultimate choice to travel in Kenya safaris.

Sharon  C

www.soinafricasafaris.com