Colobus Trust

Category: Human - Primate Conflict Resolution, Primate Rescue/Rehabilitation, Research | Date: Feb 28 2007 | By: admin

The Colobus Trust plot has many monkeys living around and near it. All of them are amazing mammals, living in complex and continually changing groups. The Vervets in particular, display dynamic interactions and behaviors.

The monkeys in the Colobus Trust rehabilitation program are mostly Vervets due to them being a favorite as pets and more likely to become pests around human communities. Last year a group of “graduates” were released onto the Trust grounds.

As one of the Colobologists I have been monitoring two of these rehabilitated monkeys. Overall, the program seems to have been a success. Our released vervets are foraging well, interacting with their adopted wild troop very well and staying generally healthy.

It’s incredibly interesting to see their behavior around humans and each other. There’s no denying that the wild Vervets living around our facilities are habituated to a degree. Often one will hear the distressed shriek of a volunteer coming from the veranda as their biscuits are stolen by a brave Vervet. One of our graduates is comfortable enough that I can sit within a meter of him while observing him. This is not ideal for our released Vervets but he seems readily able to forage for himself and is not one of the biscuit thieves. Number 3 and 4, their respective ids, are often found together. Even when the troop is not in proximity, they can be seen together foraging and grooming, sometimes even playing with juvenile Sykes monkeys.

The resilience of these incredible little primates is astonishing and as a member of this team it’s great to see them doing well after going through our program of rehabilitation.

Eric Neilson - Colobologist

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Category: Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Feb 26 2007 | By: admin

In the last few weeks The Colobus Trust has attended a number of calls to road traffic accidents in two black spots, where at least four monkeys have been killed by speeding cars. After a survey was carried out we decided two new colobridges needed to be erected. One of the colobridges will be erected near Diani house and the other one will be erected at bahati. These bridges will be the two longest we have and have been very kindly sponsored by the following people; John buckle and Tim. This morning I spent some time purchasing the materials for the two new bridges and already a group of volunteers have started working on them by preparing the materials such as steel wire rope, pipes , hosepipes and chain. We are hoping to finish up the construction tomorrow!

Phil - Colobridge Expert!

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Category: Education, Marketing | Date: Feb 26 2007 | By: admin

It started as any normal day would. I was seated at my marketing desk in the hotel lounge and had just finished telling some potential guests about The Colobus Trust and our eco-tour when an old mama approached. I was just getting up to greet her in the usual manner of “Jambo, how are you?” when she reached out for my hands and seemed very sad. I went to comfort her and she told me why she was so upset.

This lady had not only traveled to Kenya but also to other African countries in the past and it seems that although here in Diani we are conserving the Angolan Colobus in other countries they are not being conserved but killed to make rugs. The mama confessed to me that she had, without knowing the plight of these monkeys, bought one of these Colobus rugs, but now after hearing me talk about the Colobus Trust felt an enormous guilt.

The most important thing is that she visited the Colobus Trust and then filled in some forms so that she could keep sending money yearly to the Colobus Trust. She also said she was going to go home and support other organizations which deal with the conservation of natural habitats. For me this was a great achievement because I knew that the information I had given somebody could help to increase and protect habitats to the benefit of all the people and animals that use them.

Mary Mandela - Sales and Marketing

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Category: Education, Habitat Restoration/Conservation | Date: Feb 24 2007 | By: admin

February 2^nd is World Wetlands Day. This year on the Kenyan Coast it was celebrated on February 24^th and the Colobus Trust was invited. I went to the event in Shimoni with another volunteer to take in the festivities. Registration and the opening speeches began a little late but after this minor hiccup the rest of the day was a blast.

The theme was “Fish for Tomorrow”, highlighting the importance of sustainable fish resource management in coastal and wetland regions. As could be expected, the majority of the speeches were in Kiswahili and I missed some meaning but the message was clear. This coastal community is dedicated to maintaining fish habitat and ecology for future generations. This was abundantly clear when local schools did a performance competition consisting of theatrical plays, singing, dancing and group poetry. The passion of the students embodied the entire day.

Participants also did a beach and road clean up. It was amazing to witness how much can be done when a large group of people gets together and works towards a common goal, even for a short time.

At the end of the ceremonies and activities, members of the local Kenyan Wildlife Service took my fellow volunteer and me out for dinner with several other guests from the ceremony. We had a great meal and discussed conservation, global and local ecology and got to know each other a little better.

Thanks to the organizers of World Wetlands Day, Shimoni for having us and arranging such a great celebration of these incredibly important ecosystems.

Eric Neilson - Colobiologist

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Category: Education | Date: Feb 23 2007 | By: admin

Three Colobus Trust staff members (Robert, Peter and myself) and a volunteer, visited Mkokoni primary school for an outreach school workshop. The outreach program is designed to educate the students on environmental issues and conservation in their local area.
We arrived at the school at 9.00 am and started our day with a tour around the school which was given by students from the schools wildlife club.
32 students participated in the full day workshop and it was enjoyed by all. Students asked and answered lots of questions which is always a good sign that they are interested in what is being taught to them.
It was a day full of fun and learning for both the kids and the Colobus Trust staff.

By Hamisi Pakiah.
Head of Education.

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Category: Human - Primate Conflict Resolution, Primate Rescue/Rehabilitation | Date: Feb 22 2007 | By: admin

My name is Catherine Wangombe Office Administrator and this is my first blog. My major area is accounts and making sure that people are happy and things are running well despite our small income. Do you know we spend a lot of money each month to buy food for the monkeys in rehabilitation and drugs and vet consultation for the injured monkeys. It is very difficult for us to raise the money to enable us to satisfy these demands especially due to high cost of things around Diani. Thankfully we usually manage to afford it due mainly to the support from our volunteer donations.

What it costs per month

8000ksh (120us$)………………..Vegetables & Fruit
60000ksh (90us$)………………………………..Drugs
3000ksh (45us $)……………………Vet consultation

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Category: Education | Date: Feb 21 2007 | By: admin

This morning, together with Shelly Waterland, a previous manager who is currently working for Born Free Foundation in the UK, we visited Ngo’nzini primary school. The aim of the visit was to check on the school’s progress and to inform them that some grants that they had applied for, soap processing (Aloe vera), will be sent next week.

Some BFF members who had earlier visited the school had agreed to sponsor secondary education for two students from this school. Shelly was also supposed to talk to the head teacher about this and if possible identify the students.

We had a warm welcome from both teachers and the very excited students. The meeting was conducted in the main staff room and all the teachers were grateful for the funding and hoped to continue working with BFF. After some refreshments, three boys took us on a tour of their nature trail, (where we also had a chance to watch elephants in the nearby Mwaluganje community sanctuary) followed by singing and dancing at the school compound. Some kids pulled us to join in with the traditional dance, and it was great fun which we all enjoyed.

By Hamisi Pakiah
Marketing and Education.

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Category: Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Feb 19 2007 | By: admin

As you walk or drive in Diani road in south coast of Mombasa you will notice monkeys crossing the road by an erected ladder above. These ladders are known as COLOBRIGES or Colobus bridges. This is because these bridges are mostly used by Colobus monkeys, although Sykes, Vervets and young Baboons also use them. Colobus monkeys are known as territorial monkeys because troops usually occupy a certain territory throughout their lives from generation to generation. If these territories are then split by a new road the troops will then have to risk crossing the busy road! This is why we came up with the Colobridges. Bridges are made from conduit pipe, steel wire rope, hosepipes, wire grips and electrical poles. As Diani is near the beach we have a problem with corrosion due to salty humidity, so most of these wire grips and wire rope get corroded and all 24 bridges need constant maintenance. This morning I spent with a team of Colobus Trust volunteers and staff replacing a rotten wire rope in one of the Colobridges’ in Diani road. Some of the bridges maintenance has been sponsored by donors and the sponsor can choose to name a bridge as they like. The one we repaired this morning is sponsored by BEE JAY. It was a busy day.

Thanks,

Phil.

Sponsor a bridge
To help us maintain our bridges you can sponsor one for $90 a year and give it a name of your choosing. If you would like to sponsor a bridge contact us at info@colobustrust.org

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Category: Habitat Restoration/Conservation | Date: Feb 15 2007 | By: admin

On a weekly basis a team from the Colobus Trust go to Kaya Ukunda, an area of sacred forest, and plant trees as part of their forest restoration scheme.

First of all we loaded the truck with barrels of water, tools and saplings from the tree nursery. We also needed our black ’skirts’ to wear as we are working in a sacred area and do not wish to offend the ancestors. After a short but extremely bumpy drive along dirt roads we are deposited at the site to start watering and planting.

Whilst I start watering the previously planted trees the stronger members of the team start to dig holes. Strenuous work as there is only a thin layer of top soil and then solid coral rock. Planting the trees involves putting a large handful of dry manure at the bottom of the hole before placing the sapling and covering with what top soil there is. Straw is placed at the base of the new tree to help retain moisture and the sapling is then watered in well. Apparently, according to Phil and Robert, it also helps if you tell the tree “maisha marefu” (Long life in swahili) as you plant it!

The job is finished when we run out of manure for planting. Still 43 trees planted today is not bad going! Very hot and dirty we are collected and returned to the Trust for a well deserved shower and lunch!

Lynne Colobologist

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Category: Education, Habitat Restoration/Conservation | Date: Feb 14 2007 | By: admin

Today was the grand opening of this new conservation project at Gazi Bay and the Colobus Trust had been invited to send some representatives.

We arrived at Gazi Bay at around 09:30 which was the published time for registration. However we caused a great uproar because by Kenyan time we are at least an hour early!! So to while away the time we are taken to have sodas at the Kenyan Fisheries HQ before heading back to Gazi village and down a track to Mwahore Beach in time for the start of proceedings.

We are honoured to find ourselves seated amongst the guests of honour under an awning at the edge of the beach with the most beautiful views in front of us. The entire local community seems to have turned out for the day in a colourful display of costumes along with many school children who keep the crowd entertained with songs before the start of the speeches. Understandably this is a very special day for them all as 100% of the profits made from the project will be used by the Gazi community to improve healthcare and education.

There are several speeches from various dignitaries - The KWS area Chief, the Director and Chairman of KMFRI, the Chief conservator of forests, a representative from Overljse (a Belgian company who have donated a substantial sum of money to the project) and the District Commissioner. The final part of the day is to take a walk along the boardwalk, an impressive 300m walkway through the Mangrove forest

All in all we had a fantastic day and despite starting a bit late it was well organised and have to mention the amazingly good PA system considering it was on a beach with no electricity for miles around!

We wish the Gazi Womens group every success with their new project!

George, Christine, Jane, Lynne and Ben - Colobologists

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