*********Stop
Press**********
Hearing postponed
until 25th November
Save Amboseli - update 14th November
This is the final update before
the court case tomorrow (15th November). I had intended on keeping
this update short (and I will do my best) but there have been
quite a few interesting developments both with regard to Amboseli
and the animals from Kenya to Thailand export.
The press coverage on Amboseli and the Thai animals zoo deal
has been extensive over the last week or so with articles appearing
in The Nation, East African Standard, Sunday Times (Kenya),
on CNN, BBC, Capital Radio (Kenya), Kiss FM (Kenya) and more.
Specifically, in relation to the Thai deal, two comments stand
out.
Firstly, the Director of KWS is quoted in the Standard as saying
that the "Wild animals are still in the country ….
and that we have not yet received official communication from
the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife on their release"
(by which I think he means there has been no authorisation to
go ahead with the export).
While the animals remain in Kenya, I am hopeful that this decision
may yet be reversed.
I understand today a press briefing was held at the Holiday
Inn in Nairobi where a statement was read out on behalf of Kenyan/African
organisations including Youth for Conservation, The Kenya Alliance
of Resident Associations, the Eastern Africa Environmental Network,
Olkejaudo Natural Resource Management Network, Born Free Foundation
and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, calling for the export
of wild animals to Thailand to be halted.
With regarding the Amboseli National Park degazetting, comments
submitted to the website are as follows:
"I, having been a tour guide for many years, would even
take the Maasai Mara and give it to KWS. If the President does
this [degazette Amboseli National Park] all the other Parks
will be reclaimed by other councils." (Kenya).
"Wangari Mathai should be incorporated in this campaign.
If we win her in our campaign we will have achieve a lot."
(Kenya)
"Even the local Maasai do not support the downgrading.
It was only a few days ago the Park was given its own flag as
best Park in the country." (Kenya)
"Although I am a Maasai …. From Olkejaudo (Loitokitok)
[I am] strongly opposed to the move as a conservationist and
an honest Maasai." (Kenya)
"Amboseli may be in Kenya but from where I stand it belongs
to the whole world just like Everest or the Nile or the great
coral reef in Australia or the Arctic. These natural eco-systems
define our humanity." (Kenya)
East African Standard, 6th November:"Olkejaudo
County Council has threatened to forcibly eject the Kenya Wildlife
Service (KWS) from Amboseli National Park by month end."
Sunday Nation: "Government was yesterday urged
to transfer the management of the Ol Doyo Sabuk National Park
in Machakos District to the Kangundo Town Council."
As usual, I have a small number of responses from people in
favour of the degazetting and thank goodness the abusive ones
now seem to have stopped.
As before many people have offered constructive suggestions,
particularly in relation to working to establish new ways of
sharing benefits so that local communities genuinely reap the
rewards of careful wildlife conservation and management. I won't
repeat all these again here but they are much appreciated, each
and everyone.
Finally, again I would like to thank those people who have
generously offered financial help with the costs of the legal
action and I would encourage anyone who would like to assist
with this to contact me on traverswill@yahoo.co.uk.
Now, my friends, we must simply wait to hear what tomorrow
will bring. I will, of course, let you know as soon as I have
news.
With good wishes
Will Travers
PS As you will have seen, my front page picture of a bull elephant
in Amboseli has been replaced by the marvellous 'ELEPHANTS AND
KILIMANJARO' shot taken by Martyn Colbeck, wildlife photographer.
Martyn recently won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2005
Black and White category.