NEWS FLASH
Seen FALSE KILLER whales – a real first for Kenya in Watamu today
Keep an eye on Watamu Marine Association
Tag: conservation
Snakes and Blunders
The 10th Bio-Ken International Snakebite Seminar, Watamu
Published Daily Nation 29 November 2016
Useful Snake contacts in Kenya: 0718 290324 Bio-Ken Snake Farm www.bioken.com www.antivenomtrust.com www.snakebiteinitiative.org
13-year-old Menza Benjamin was picking up cashewnuts on the ground when he felt a burning hot bite on his leg followed by another. He started to vomit and broke out in a cold sweat. Close to his hut he fainted. He never saw the snake.
That was three years ago and he’s lucky to be alive, sitting at the snakebite seminar held in Watamu early November.
What saved Menza was the speed with everything that followed. His uncle saw him and immediately put him on a pikipiki and took him 12 kilometers to the Bio-Ken Snake Farm. By the time they reached the snake farm, the boy was already showing rapidly advancing symptoms of black mamba bite. He was rushed by car – along with a supply of suitable antivenom to the local private hospital where he was treated by the hospital’s founder, Dr. Erulu, also present at the seminar.
Black mambas are among the fastest and deadliest snakes in the world. A bite requires urgent urgent attention.
Young Menza with Royjan after surving in his Black Mamba bite. Copyright picture: Rojjan Taylor
A young Orma girl who was treated successfully with good Antivenom from a Red Spitting Cobra bite. Picture copyright Royjan Taylor
The young man who recently died in Voi from bad Antivenom.
Amboseli’s Swamps
Part 2 of 2
Published Nation 26 Nov 2016
Kilimanjaro is resplendent in the blazing morning sun – but its snow cap’s on the peak of Kibo has melted to a thin teardrop. The Maasai bring their cattle into the park under the watch of the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers. As the skeletal cattle head for the swamps, they raise a halo of dust on the dry plains of Amboseli – derived from Empusel, the Maasai word for dry dusty plains. “There’s no water outside for the cattle,” explains the KWS ranger. “So we allow the community to bring the cattle for a few hours to drink in the swamps.”
Away from the edge of the park, we’re up on Observation Hill or Noomotio that’s juxtaposed between the lush swamp and the dry-white dust plains under the watchful gaze of Kilimanjaro. It’s surreal for in the midst of the drought-parched land, the deep blue lake has an islet brimming with the beautiful pink bird – the lesser flamingos and flocks of white pelicans.
It’s an exciting game drive in the custom-designed safari cruiser from Ol Tukai Lodge. By the edge of a swamp an enormous Verreaux’s eagle owl with its pink-eyelids so visible through the binoculars is perched on its yellow-bark acacia tree. It is Africa’s largest owl and the only owl with pink eyelids – we’re suitably impressed.
Drama of the Drought in Amboseli
Part 1 of 2
21 October 2016
Published Nation newspaper 19 November 2016
A dry lake bed catches the eye near Iremeto Gate into Amboseli National Park off the Emali Road. On a whim, we decide to take a walk over the small hill to the dry pan that looks similar to the dry Lake Amboseli inside the park in the shadow of Kilimanjaro.
Months-old dry elephant dung near a waterless lake outside Amboseli National Park Copyright Maya Mangat
On the trail of the elephant dung Copyright Maya Mangat
To the dry lake bed outside Amboseli National Park Copyright Maya Mangat
No to flying over Flamingos at Natron
From late September to early January, Lesser Flamingo’s breed at Lake Natron.
The locations are relatively predictable (see map). Lesser Flamingo build cones out of mud as the water levels decline and lay a single egg on top of the cone. The young fledge and then form a creche and move towards fresh water on the fringes of the lake basin. From the time when the egg hatches until the juvenile bird is able to walk through the water, they are susceptible to disturbance.
I have developed a map below to give you some idea of where the breeding grounds are, you should avoid low flying over those areas between September and January.
Spread the word and if you have any questions please feel free to email me.
Moonlion Safaris 