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: 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: 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: Life of a Vet, Maasai People | Date: Apr 22 2008 | By: admin

Right now, besides from emergency things like finishing a report for paralyzed lion case, I am trying to organize my dog handler to attend “community animal health assistance” (course on basic veterinary knowledge and medicine). He has been extremely helpful in my work and it will benefit him in the future if he gets a official certificate from Trans Mara district veterinary department upon completion of his course. I really feel that it will give him more confidence in his work (as dog work in Maasai culture is something people look down upon) and community will look up to him when they know he is certified.

Lesingo has never been to school in his life, so he can neither read nor write. He also do not know a word of English (just Kiswahili and Maasai language). This means I have to arrange a course which is taught everything in Kiswahili and classes which comprises of practicals only so he can get hands-on experience instead of textbook course. I have been considering his request for long time, but it was difficult to arrange a course with other people due to his problem with reading skill (most people who consider attending this course can read and write).

I have inquired district veterinary department whether it will be possible for them to organize a course for someone who cannot read nor write. They told me it will be difficult, but just last week they gave me a quotation on how much it will cost to organize such a course. It will costs Ksh 33,000 (USD 550) which covers for his trainers (district veterinary officer and livestock officer) as well as their transport from district capital Kilgoris to training center in Lolgorian. Right now, I am tied up trying to raise funds to pay for Mara Conservancy ranger salaries for April. It will be wonderful if anybody can assist Lesingo with his course so he can get his first education at the age of 27!

7 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Apr 22 2008 | By: admin

After almost 10 weeks of long excruciating delay, the new car arrived in Nairobi yesterday. Thank you everybody from Wildlifedirect who has donated total of USD2165 towards the car purchase. I went there physically to check if this car really existed, and there it was…

Looking beautifull and robust.

I am extremely relieved that I did not sign a purchase agreement for an imaginary car. I can now pick the car, hopefully tomorrow after they finish with service. Since last week, I have been in Nairobi trying to finish my report on the paralyzed lion and my Suzuki has been giving me problem as usual. It has cracked silencer, squeeking bonnet hindges, unadjustable seats (I am driving with 2 cushions behind my back so I can reach the accelerator) and engine stalls when I drive on 1st gear. I left the car to be repaired on my last trip, but mechanic did not do anything for three weeks while I was away. It is about time to give my Suzuki a peaceful retirement.

Do not know why, but I am not jumping up and down in joy to have this car. Perhaps I was been lied too many times for the unexplained delay of 10 weeks and cannot get myself to be simply be “happy”. I guess I will be in much better mood when I actually pick up my car tomorrow.

6 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet, Wildlife | Date: Apr 13 2008 | By: admin

Sorry for my silence! I have been very busy, basically travelling between Mara and Nairobi (did 3 trips in one week!). I will be posting more entries next week, but I just wanted to share some photos I took with my new camera.

Mara Conservancy rangers posing for me during their patrol.

Beautiful Kijana (young boy).

7 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 28 2008 | By: admin

For the last one week, it has been raining every day. Rain is usually a blessing here in Africa, but its great force really prevents you from lots of things. Mainly, safe and reliable travel plan. Roads get muddy and impassable, river gets high and bridges become flooded.
My vaccination work has to stop when we start seeing this.

Dark cloud is setting in and rain is coming.

Quick U-turn is necessary as river overflows over the bridge in matter of 30 minute, preventing us from returning home. Rain starts around noon so not much work we can do while the weather is like this…

Even school teacher closed his class and started an early trecking back home…

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