Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit

Category: Life of a Vet, Wildlife | Date: Jun 25 2008 | By: asuka

Ranger from Mara Bridge, Barnabas came to me the other day to report to me that Mara stickers are not selling at the gate.

This is the sticker Barnabas is talking about. It was made by Japanese gentleman called Mr. Ogihara who wanted to sell the stickers to tourist passing throught the gate so that profit can be donated towards anti-poaching patrol fee. He sent us the stickers couple of weeks ago and I helped him make the poster for the sale which explains how Mara Conservancy’s ranger salary is paid through donation due to lack of fund and that we are in dire need of anti-poaching patrol fee through this sticker sale.

It is sold at Ksh1,000 ($15) and entire amount is directed towards the patrol fee. We thought it would be a good idea for tourist to bring back something memorable in return for their support. Rangers were quite excited and they said they were going to try their best to let tourist know about the situation they are in right now and that by buying this sticker he/she will be supporting the anti-poaching operation.

Solo (left) and Barnabas (right) at Mara Bridge with poster in the background.

Well, two weeks have now passed and rangers failed to sell even one…. Barnabas was in self pitty mood, telling me that they did explain about their need to raise the patrol fund through sticker sale, but the reply he got from tourists was “I am only willing to pay $2 for it”. And this reply seems to killed Barnabas’ enthusiasm in trying to raise patrol fund for his fellow rangers… Ok, I am trying my best trying to help with the Mara crisis which is lingering much longer than we have ever expected, but I am running out of idea for the fund raising! If there is any professional fundraiser somewhere out there, please give us an idea!

24 responses so far

Category: Livestock, Maasai People | Date: Jun 24 2008 | By: asuka

For those of you who donated towards Lesingo’s community animal health assitance course. Here is the certificate Lesingo got after attending the course!

He thanks every single one of you who helped him attaining this cerfiticate.

Lesingo, listening to his lecturer attentively.

“Ashe Oleng!!” (“thank you very much” in Maa (Maasai language)) from Lesingo.

P.S.
Sorry for such a long silence recently! Extended travel, together with piling deadlines for dozen grant applications, plus tax filing due at end of this month all contributed to my silence…

5 responses so far

Category: Wildlife | Date: Jun 24 2008 | By: asuka

Mr. Simon Trevor, founder and film maker of African Environmental Film Foundation is currently filming in the Mara Triangle. AEFF is an amazing organization which has produced and distributed series of 12 one-hour educational films about the range of diverse environmental and wildlife issues (available in English, Ki-swahili and African tribal dialect such as Maa (Maasai language), Ki-kamba, etc).

Here are films available from AEFF.

1. The Great Ruaha River
2. Elephants of Tsavo
3. Keepers of the Kingdom
4. Tombs below Aruba
5. Wanted Dead or Alive?
6. Running Dry
7. The Meanest Animal in the World?
8. The Walking Birds
9. Together They Stand
10. Black Rhino - On the Brink
11. A Keeper’s Diary
12. Natural Security

The Natural Security has some footage from the past on Mara Conservancy, but now Simon is filming exclusively in Triangle to make an educational film on work of the conservancy and their rangers!

Simon’s daughter Tanya also blogs with Wildlifedirect, Filming Wild.

6 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Jun 22 2008 | By: asuka

Apology for my long silence. Jim commented that I have not posted anything regarding my car. It came in good condition, but had one or two things to be repaired. Here is photo of my new ride!

It is wonderful to be able to drive around without fear of breaking down. Oh, by the way my Suzuki is retired in Nairobi following the arrival of the new car. However, it did manage to break down when I was in Nairobi the other day. Car was stalling because of clogged up oil filter (thanks to dirt in the shady petrol I brought at local village).

9 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Jun 05 2008 | By: asuka

I would like to thank the following individual for the donation for the month of May!

Miho Y- $150

3 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet, Wildlife | Date: May 27 2008 | By: asuka

Yesterday, I went on a game drive in the wildlife reserve and we came across the most beautiful creature.

Puff Adder

It looks as though it has just shed its skin.

It was slowly crossing the road to disappear into the nearby bush. Its bright yellow scale pattern was so amazing that I could not stop myself but to jump out of the car to take a photo of this beauty.

During my stay at the Kenyan coast, I visited Bio-Ken Snake Park in Watamu to see what kind of work our fellow bloggers are doing. Their lecture on snake bite was so interesting and indepth, I recommended to tour operators in the Mara to invite the snake expert to give basic snake bite first aid. We all live in the bush, but I don’t think anyone knows what to do in the case of serious snake bite except for calling the flying doctor. So far one lodge has shown an interest in hosting the snake expert’s visit and we are trying to organize the lecture here in the Mara so all tour guides, drivers, lodge doctors and rangers can attend. After all, these are the “high risk people” for snake bite and I feel that it is very important that we have basic understanding on how to handle snake bites. I hope we can organize the trip for snake expert to visit the Mara soon.

2 responses so far

Category: Wildlife | Date: May 24 2008 | By: asuka

According to many people, this year’s wildebeest migration might begin early towards the end of June. Zebras are already congregating in the Mara Triangle and yesterday I witnessed around 1,000 zebras crossing the Mara River!

Nervous zebras checking the crossing point.

Crocodiles are feesting on the zebras.

Check out Kimojino’s flickr photostream for more amazing photo on crocodile feeding frenzy.

I just uploaded some photos on my flickr photostream.

4 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet, Wildlife | Date: May 22 2008 | By: asuka

After weeks of absence from Mara, I just came back to my savannah home. My animals are all doing well, but the land is very dry and dusty. Precious water tanks are almost empty and we are now waiting for the rain.

With little tourists, the Mara Triangle is still quiet but animals in the reserve seem to be going about their normal business. I will update stories from my trip after I finish some report facing deadline…

2 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: May 13 2008 | By: asuka

I am passing by Nairobi and heading back to Mara tomorrow morning. I want to thank the following people who supported our project between April 15-28th!

Dana J $200, Meghan H $25, Jesus Muro $50 and Wanda H $25

2 responses so far

Category: Wildlife | Date: May 01 2008 | By: admin

I am on safari and just checked my email for the first time after reaching Mombasa. It is extremely humid and hot here…something I am not so used to.

I just noticed that wildlifedirect has started a “Stop Wildlife Poisoning” blog and video I took was on there. It is footage of paralyzed lion (Day 2). This lion was completely paralyzed from Day2 to Day10. It was then killed by passerby lion on Day10.

8 responses so far