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End Year Newsletter | December 2024
Community Wildlife and Conservation is a Non-Governmental Organization that was founded during the Covid 19 pandemic with the aim of supporting the local community, conserving wildlife, and promoting local tourism

Featured This Month

Greetings from Community & Wildlife Conservation!

Community & Wildlife & Conservation is a dynamic non-governmental organization founded in 2020, dedicated to community development and conservation efforts. We work to engage with local communities, promote sustainable practices, and protect our environment for future generations. Conservation can only happen IF the community benefits from it.

So far, during the year 2024. we have accomplished projects in different areas, revolving around creating awareness of environmental and wildlife conservation and community development projects. Our community development projects are based in communities near wildlife-protected areas and to those people who have given part of their land for conservation. This ensures that these communities get tangible benefits from wildlife conservation as they extend their support towards conservation. We are working with communities near LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy and the immediate neighborhood of Samburu National Reserve.

The following are some of the incentives that we have accomplished;

Creating Awareness of Wildlife and Environmental Conservation

Our commitment to creating awareness of environmental conservation in addition to wildlife conservation continues. From the plastic for books projects to creating awareness of wildlife conservation, particularly bush meat, logging, and charcoal making, as these are the most immediate schools in the Oza conservation area. Also, at Samburu, we had wildlife and conservation awareness at Girgir Comprehensive School.

Clean-Up Activities
In February 2024, we conducted the clean-up at Archers’ post town, as we launched the ‘Plastics for Books’ project for 4 primary schools and 3 secondary schools, where 10 students and 2 teachers participated. Also, two youth groups participated, Exotica FC and Transform Samburu Affirmative Project. In addition, we had a clean-up activity at Maktau Shopping Center. We involved over 180 persons from 3 secondary schools, 2 primary schools, and community members from the Maktau region. From the litter we collected, we separated plastics that will be ferried for recycling for our "Plastics for Books" project. From the litter we collected, we separated plastics that will be ferried for recycling for our "Plastics for Books" project. The proceeds will buy textbooks for the schools that participated in the clean-up. A total of 329 kg of plastics were collected during the clean ups for recycling.
‘Plastics for Books’
CWC is running a project, “Plastics for Books”. The project involves 31 primary schools neighboring LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy and 7 schools neighboring Samburu National Reserve. We are also engaging 2 youth groups at Samburu. With the groups, they are rewarded with soccer kits and conservation advocacy items. During the year, we made 40 wire mesh cubes for the schools and the two groups, and we collected over 2129kgs of plastics, which we ferried to Nairobi for recycling, and the proceeds we got, bought 421 textbooks for the school. The two groups are then rewarded with soccer kits and conservation advocacy items.
Conservation Debate at Mwavunyu Primary
We joined the LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy team at Mwavunyu Junior Secondary School (Grades 7 & 8) to create awareness of wildlife conservation through participative learning. The motions were about the impact of government penalties on wildlife poachers, and how wildlife tourism contributes positively to conservation efforts.
Environmental Awareness at Lions Bluff Lodge
We also created awareness among our casual workers at Soroi Lions Bluff Lodge on environmental conservation. The activity involved cleaning and picking up litter around staff accommodation and in particular part of their residence. In addition, we created awareness of waste management to ensure reckless disposal of litter around the area doesn't reoccur.
Hosting Korogocho Kids at Soroi Cheetah Tented Camp
In April 2024, Sunworld Safaris sponsored 36 participants (26 children and 10 caregivers) from Korogocho slums in Nairobi to have a safari to LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy. They were accommodated for two nights at Cheetah Tented Camp and Leopard Lair Cottages. The children got the opportunity to have the guest type of experience for accommodation and meals. In addition to game drives, the group participated in tree planting activities, planting over 50 trees, and later in the evening watching a bush cinema about the life of a lion.
Game drives
During the year, we facilitated game drives for Godoma, Msorongo, Latika, and Marungu Schools, reaching over 100 pupils. Apart from the students learning about wildlife conservation, they get a chance to visit Lions Bluff Lodge to understand the relationship between wildlife conservation, tourism, and community development benefits. In addition, we organized game drives for Lorubae Primary, Waso Muslim, Gir Gir Primary, and Gir Gir secondary from Archers Post in Samburu region to Samburu National Reserve., where they have lunch at Soroi Larsens Camp.
Wildlife Cinema
We had a wildlife cinema-watching session for Maktau and Mwashuma Schools, where 250 pupils and teachers were present. The cinemas were held at the individual schools, and they watched the jungle lives of different wildcats, their eating habits, and their survival tactics. After that, the pupils and the teacher were involved in an interactive session by the LUMO ranger on lessons they learned. Also, during the period we organized a bush cinema for the LUMO Youth Forum.

Community Development Projects

Secondary School Bursary
CWC awarded 5 beneficiaries of the secondary school bursary from the 2023 KCPE candidates, 3 from the LUMO Community, and 2 from the Samburu community. The three winners from LUMO represented three ranches, Lualenyi, Mramba, and Oza. These students obtained 392, 382, and 348 marks, consecutively securing chances to join Kenyatta High School, Chogoria Girls High School, and Dr. Aggrey High School. In addition, we sponsored two students from the Samburu community, in partnership with Soroi Larsens Camp and Soroi Samburu Lodge, were the top students from the zone of 10 schools. The top student scored 387 marks from Lorubae Primary School and was admitted to Meru School while the second scored 382 marks, from the Waso Muslim Primary, and was admitted to Chogoria Girls’ High School.
Latika Primary Support
2024 marked our 3rd year supporting Latika Primary School. From the food ratios to cater for their break time snack and their lunchtime meals, providing them with learning materials, and stationery, and supporting the payment of one of the school’s teachers and the cook. We aim to reduce the walking distance that young children between 4 and 13 years living near LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy obtain while attending school thus reducing dropout cases. We also had guests from Soroi Lions Bluff visiting the school, as part of community engagement program, carrying along gifts and toys for the kids. We also hosted 3 carpenters at Soroi Lions Bluff Lodge staff who made 10 desks and 3 staff chairs, to accommodate the growing school roll.
Medical and Dental Camp – March 2024
During the year, we conducted a medical and dental clinic for the LUMO Community, and whereas in October we conducted a dental clinic for Samburu Community. This was in partnership with the Olmalaika Trust-who were the main organizers, Soroi Collection, Lions Bluff Lodge, LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy, Soroi Larsens Camp, Soroi Samburu Lodge, Mama Project, and the County government for the respective areas. For the LUMO camp, the trust came with a team of 21, where 3 provided oral health education. The total number of clients attended to was 364, which includes 210 medical clients and 154 dental clients including 88 extractions, 23 X-rays, 32 Fillings, and 31 Cleaning). Also, we conducted a 4-day dental camp to the Samburu Community, with a team of 8, 4 dentists, and 4 support persons, a total of 274 clients, which includes 164 extractions, 63 X-rays, 105 Fillings and 31 Cleaning, 18 root canals, and 1 excision.
CWC College Sponsorship
We have been closely following up with our college sponsorship students. We visit the schools to interact with students during their practical lessons and meet their tutors to discuss their academics and discipline. 11 out of 13 students joined Soroi Collection lodges for their industrial attachment, to relate the knowledge they have been learning to the industry. This September, we added one more student to our college sponsorship program. The student studies Diploma in Tour and Travel Products at Kenya Utalii College. This makes the total number of our college-sponsored students 14.
Loruko Clinic- Samburu
We have rehabilitated the solar power system at Loruko Dispensary, which serves Samburu Community School and the Ngare Mara community neighboring Samburu National Reserve to the west. The clinic is made of a small structure with two treatment rooms and one office/dispensary that depends on solar power. They were using a small solar system that provides power during daytime hours. Due to faulty batteries, the system could not support power to the dispensary at night, and its fencing system. We therefore rehabilitated and expanded the system to address the power insufficiency. In addition, a fridge for the facility to store important medical supplies was faulty, so we purchased one for the purpose.
Tumaini Necklace Project
Tumaini Jewelry Project
The project involves 10 ladies from the LUMO Community who make necklaces, with pendants made of Tsavorite stones. The stones are bought from the lady miners, to support them, as most of the stones we use are usually rejects. 70% of the sales amount funds to pay school fees for their children.
Youth Support – Exotica Football Club & Samburu Affirmative Project
CWC supports and engages youth groups as ambassadors of wildlife and environmental conservation to other youths and the community. Among the youth groups, is Exotica Football Club, whom CWC has supported with soccer kits and plans to continue engaging them in various conservation and environmental activities. Also, CWC looks forward to partnering with these youth groups, in all environmental activities that the organization plans to conduct for the community.

Wildlife Protection and Conservation

Wildlife Conservation Unit

Wildlife Conservation Unit: CWC has a dedicated conservation unit that operates in the LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service to effectively deter bushmeat & trophy poaching, logging and charcoal burning, and other threats such as illegal grazing, illegal mining, and bush fires. The team is primarily concerned with the protection of wildlife and its habitat. By enforcing state laws and collaborating with other stakeholders to maximize penalties for wildlife crimes through the local administration. So far, in this quarter, we have had:

  • Justice for wildlife: 5 arrests, 1 escaped suspect and 1 pending court hearing
  • Poaching recoveries: 28 snares removed, 254.3kg of bushmeat confiscated
  • Forestry recoveries: 15 cases of logs/firewood stopped, 4 charcoal kilns destroyed, 22 bags of charcoal seized, 1 pending hearing.

Aquaculture Project – LUMO

We constructed our 1st fish pond project, which we stocked with 1500 fingerlings. This is one of the anti-poaching initiatives at LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy aiming to strengthen wildlife protection and create awareness against bushmeat, aiming to provide an alternative source of protein for the LUMO Community to substitute the bushmeat market. The project is based on one of the community members’ lands, thus, being responsible for its security, overseeing the fish feeding, marketing the produce among community members, and creating wildlife conservation awareness.

From engagement meetings, the community agreed to support and buy from the project, to create employment opportunities for youths who can be tempted to engage in poaching activities, to earn a living.

Other benefits from the project will go to the community include;

  • The pond will be a learning ground for the community so that they can develop such a project, with our help or not.
  • The fish pond will employ one of the community members – a suspected poacher, who will be identified by the committee chosen by the community.
  • The pond should at least fund one/two students in the local day school who will be identified by the project committee.

Partnerships, Community Service, and Others

Partnership with Transform Samburu Affirmative Project (TSAP) and Exotica Football Club

On April 19, Larsens Camp staff, led by the Camp Manager, attended a clean-up activity at Archers Post town organized by Transform Samburu Affirmative Project (TSAP). They then collected plastics that were ferried to Nairobi by CWC for recycling. The proceeds from the plastics will then be used to buy supporting supplies for the group. This is a continuation of the initiative started by the CWC clean-up activity at Archers Post to make the town clean.  During this period, the Exotica FC and Transform Samburu Affirmative Project received their plastics cages to put in plastics after collection. In addition, the TSAP received a flexible banner, as a reward bought from the proceeds of plastics collected during the clean-up activity done at archers post on 10th February, 2024. 

Community Service & Support

  1. We joined the Open Defecation Free Celebrations of Ng’ombenyi, Runda, and Madangonyi villages, some of the communities of LUMO Conservancy, and part of the LUMO community. The Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) campaign led by the Public Health Department, World Vision, and other stakeholders, began 10 years ago. During the baraza, we discussed bushmeat poaching from the conservancy, and our vision as CWC to create an alternative affordable source of protein to bushmeat by establishing a fish pond project in the area. With more awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and the provision of an alternative source of protein, we will reduce the bushmeat market, thus eventually reducing poaching incidences from the conservancy.
  2. We distributed 25 eco-friendly bottles to every ranger at LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy, a donation from Kampur Travel Diaries. The bottles are double-walled – walled vacuum insulated, to ensure maintenance of the temperature of their drinks whether under the hot sun during the day, or cold night as they do their patrols.
  3. Also, supported the Kenya Wildlife Service – Maktau Branch with snacks to support pre-ceding activities to World Wildlife Day – 3rd March. Led by the Tsavo Southern Sector Warden, Mr.Kavi, the Maktau KWS team, and the community members, desilted a community water pan, which when holds rainwater, will reduce the pressure of livestock on the conservancy/park water pans.
  4. We are hosting 2 youths, sent by Maktau Special School, who did a selection from the timber off-cuts at the Lodge. They will use some for firewood, and different timber uses. Maktau Special School provides care and education to pupils will cerebral palsy, and has a roll of 30 students.

Important National and International Environmental Dates

National Tree Growing Day

We spent the ‘tree growing day’ on 10th May 2024, at LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy with Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua. This was in remembrance of all the Kenyans who lost their lives during recent floods. We managed to plant 6000 trees all in the conservancy area. Among other dignitaries were the Taita Taveta County Governor, Deputy Governor, the Women Representative, Mwatate MP, Deputy County commissioner, the assistant County commissioner, and other county leaders. Community members and other stakeholders joined in making the activity successful.

World Environment Day

On June 5th, we joined the LUMO Youth Forum to celebrate World Environment Day 2024 at LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy. With the theme “Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience”, we were involved in a discussion about invasive species and weeds and their effects on ecosystems, by experts from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute.

We later proceeded to an area in the conservancy to physically cut down the weed – Ipomoea hildebrandtii, as a mechanical way of controlling weeds. This will ensure grass re-growth, ensuring a more stable ecosystem that provides pasture to wild animals.

VOLUNTEERS

During the year, we have had volunteers who joined to support CWC Activities. The volunteers engage in different projects including the ‘Plastics for Books’ project, facilitating ICT lessons at Mlughi Digital Lab reaching over 200 pupils from different schools; joining Kenya Wildlife Service rangers for patrols and de-snaring; teaching Ukulele lessons and other activities at the lodge.

Thank you for being part of our journey at Community & Wildlife Conservation.

Together, we are creating a sustainable future for both communities and wildlife. Stay tuned for more updates on our impactful projects!

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