Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 27 2008 | By: admin

I just got a call from car salesman saying that they will not be in a position to tell me the exact day of the car delivery till the previous owner comes back from UK in mid April… Wonderful lady called Izabella let us to use her car during this month’s vaccination and we really appreciate her assistance in our project!

Izabella’s driver Eric standing infront of her car.

Lesingo, my dog handler.

6 responses so far

Category: Dogs, Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 27 2008 | By: admin

We have just finished vaccinating 3,200 dogs in Trans Mara! I only got couple of more days till I complete my 2007 vaccination work (which delayed into 2008 due to post-election problem), but our work has so far proven to be a success in reducing rabies and canine distemper in domestic dogs around the wildlife reserve (according to local resident and hospital staff here in this area).

One response so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 25 2008 | By: admin

I just got an monthly report for my current donation. I believe there are other donations which came in, but it has not been reflected on my report yet. I will update the rest of donation as soon as I receive my next monthly report. Thank you everybody for all your support!

Sherri S $20, THERESA S $250, THERESA S $100

2 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 23 2008 | By: admin

The rainy season has returned and it has returned with a great force. It has been raining continuously for almost two weeks here in the Mara, filling up my water tank but at the same time flooding the Maasai land. On the news, I saw that some parts of the country are heavily flooded with this rain too. Early last year, Mara Triangle suffered huge damage due to heavy rain. Bridges were washed away, houses were flooded, and most roads were impassable. Tourist could only fly into Mara, did limited game drive (mostly around the lodge) and they got stucked in mud many many times during their stay.

Rain washed away reserve entrance gate at Mara Bridge (2007).

Mara Bridge no longer cease to exist (2007).

Although it is not as bad as last year, roads are literally turning into clay bed and a vicious car trap… No road works go on till tourist revenue return, but if the rain continues like this, no tourist will be able to go on a game drive…

Game Drive vehicle sinks into clay soil (2007)

One response so far

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

I was told that Kimojino has left home to attend his brother’s funeral. Kimojino comes from area called Emarti where land dispute between Maasai and Kipsigis (Kalenjin) has resulted in a decade long fighting. I was told his brother’s death is also due to this tribal crash.

Here is what is happening in Emarti and Shartuka where people are fighting daily since the election. It is as though tribal/land dispute is gun powder and election was the fire causing the explosion of the underlying problems…

2 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 21 2008 | By: admin

My new car is not ready so I am going back to Mara tomorrow. I heard enough stories about how car dealer is having “technical difficulty” bringing in the car from Mombasa for the last seven weeks. I have to finish the dog vaccination by the beginning of April so most likely have to borrow a car in Mara to finish off my work. It would have been much easier if my new car was delivered, but it is life…

I am leaving my Suzuki here in Nairobi. My car now breaks down even with one way trip from Mara and no longer capable to perform in bush. After welding the exhaust pipe three days before departure, it cracked on the way coming to Nairobi. It will finally have a peacefull retirement in my friend’s parking lot in Nairobi.

4 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 19 2008 | By: admin

I am back in Nairobi and things are already not going as I originally planned. After flying into Nairobi, we went straight to car dealer to pick up my new project car. After waiting and searching for the salesman dealing with my car, he comes and tells us that ‘We are still working on your car’. It has been 6 weeks since we closed the deal…! I am so crossed, I cannot even think of words to say… I am going back to Mara on 21st and we are trying our best to push the car dealer to bring up the car from Mombasa by then.

I have checked the price for the autoclave. It is USD 1,050 (65,000Ksh) and it is sold locally in Nairobi. I just got myself a generator so I can sterilize my surgical equipments if I can get an autoclave.

I just discovered that Will has posted some of my photo on Flickr, only to find out that they are shots of me playing with hippo spear and zebra carcass… Great!

13 responses so far

Category: Dogs, Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 17 2008 | By: admin

Taking GPS readings of the village

Issuing the vaccination card

Lesing (left) teaching the dog owner how to handle his dog without strangling and frightening the death out of the dog.

We cover approximately 500 sq Km of Maasai land.

3 responses so far

Category: Dogs, Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 17 2008 | By: admin

I have little time before I fly to Nairobi, so going to upload all my photos now!

We did the school talk at Olepoipoi Primary School in Olmotoni (yes, for those of you who has been following my blog, it is the area the Canine Distemper outbreak started last year)

Once again, Lesingo showing the poster to the school children

This time, it is pink uniforms!

Showing the red dog collar and vaccination card.

2 responses so far

Category: Life of a Vet | Date: Mar 17 2008 | By: admin

I am going to Nairobi to pick up my new project car today. I really hope it is ready. It was supposed to be ready 6 weeks ago… I will update more photos from dog vaccination once I am in Nairobi with better internet connection.

Here is little quiz from Mara.

Who left these footprints?

1.

2.

3 responses so far