Category: Blogroll | Date: Feb 01 2008 | By: admin

TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS AND WELL WISHERS,

In May last year the Colobus Trust reached out to you for a helping hand to enable us to overcome one of its worst crises since conception in 1996. You gave generously and helped us through this difficult time.

We are in the midst of a new crisis. And we have to reach out to you, our dear supporters, again, for help.

The current political crisis in Kenya has hit us hard. The Colobus Trust is apolitical and caught in the cross fire witnessing, firsthand, the collapse of tourism in Kenya. The trust depends on overseas volunteers as the backbone funding of our work. With visiting tourists who come to us for eco-tours as our secondary. The month of February was to be our busiest time. As well as expecting the busiest time for eco-tour we had 14 volunteers due over the month. Unfortunately, within the last month every one of these have had, or chosen to, cancelled their trip. Along with numerous cancellations and early departures during the last month, this has left us stranded. Even money we had already received in the form of deposits has had to be returned.

This is usually our most financially productive time of year. Now the Colobus Trust is faced with the reality that unless we receive funding soon, we will not survive. As well as volunteers the trust relies on our 12 local staff for their expertise, dedication and hard work. It is due to them giving us their all, in this time of need, that we can survive.

We need help desperately. The trusts future is in jeopardy, along with that of its staff. Money will allow us to continue our work and pay our staff, who have stuck with us throughout.

During an average year at The Colobus Trust we:

v Provide veterinary treatment care for 115 primate casualties of human / wildlife conflict.

v Prepare 1095 meals for the ex-pet monkeys in rehabilitation at the Trust.

v Trim back overhanging vegetation from 18,595 metres of un-insulated power lines, to prevent monkeys from being electrocuted and work hand in hand with The Kenya Power and Lighting Corporation with the aim of insulating these lines.

v Spend 52 days building and maintaining monkey bridges to allow monkeys to cross busy Diani Beach road in safety.

v Collect 300 illegally set mammal-snares from areas of forest and bush.

v Educate 1058 school children during activity-filled, all-day environmental workshops.

v Work on a daily basis with local community groups on a range of issues including; habitat protection; support for local environmental initiatives; support for wood carvers working with sustainably produced timber; primate pest management, and much more.

v Conduct 2250 eco-tours of the Colobus Trust plot for Kenyan and international visitors, to educate them about the importance and value of Diani’s wildlife. Another source

These activities have formed the basis of our efforts to ensure the survival of Diani’s amazing primates and beautiful forest. Please help us be there for Colobus such as Toto (below), the youngest member of our resident troop, and the myriad of other creatures that call Diani Forest home.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

· Donate directly through Wildlife Direct.

· Encourage volunteer organisations working in your country to send us volunteers if the situation permits.

· Encourage your friends visiting Kenya to come and visit us.

· Visit our website and see how else you can support us (www.colobustrust.org)

We are currently relying on money raised at our recent fundraiser, thanks to everyone again! But, this money is running out fast so please, please dig deep and make a difference.

Gratefully yours,

The Colobus Management Team