Hi Gwili and Machari, thanks for this, your photographs are horrific, it is a terrible terrible news and I can’t express how angry I am at the KPLC - I hope you are successful in raising the money, it’s about 800 dollars per electrocution spot! Thanks for bringing this up and do keep up the good posts.

How tragic, it would seem to me that KPLC should assume a major part of the cost. If this happened in the US, a lawsuit could be filed against them and you would win. Is there anything that you can think of to keep these monkeys safe, in the mean time? I’m with Paula, you needed to show these photos, as everyone has to be made aware of this serious threat. You have my support, another donation is on the way.

My God, those pictures are horrible. I, too, don’t understand why the Trust has to bear the brunt of the costs? Shouldn’t this be an issue of national concern and the government can pick up the tab?

s.

Tragic pictures…is there no way at all to get the power company to eat some of the costs?

I´m deeply sorry about this problem, wishing it can be solved soon.

Hi guys.
Horrible pictures, but worth their weight in gold when it comes to getting the message across.
A couple of years back, I brought a short piece of foam pipe lagging out to you, to see if it could be used as an insulator on the power lines. Unfortunately there were other priorities, and then the land problems, and the last I knoew, the lagging was used for blade protectors in your ‘toolshed’ and its probably still there. See http://www.tomalin.org/misc/coltrust1.jpg.
You might want to see if this could be a low cost option for some of the higher risk sections. A couple of tie-wraps or local string would secure each piece in place.

If so, it could be sent out from UK/US for very little as its so light.
Just a thought.

Charles

Charles, sounds like a practical solution, at least in the short term. Gwili, if you think this might work, let us know. I’m willing to help with the purchase and transportation costs to get the ball rolling. My email address is siskind8@msn.com Please contact me if you decide to go this route.

Hey Charles, I tried your link two separate times and it doesn’t work. Could you look into this. Thanks!

Thanks so much for all your thought. There’s some very promising ideas here.

Chris, I will look into the piping tomorrow and ask KPLC their thoughts.

Theresa, thank you for offering your support.

Watch this space and we’ll update you soon!

sorry - the last ‘full stop’ should n’t be there.
Try this http://www.tomalin.org/misc/coltrust1.jpg

We thank you Charles; now that I have seen this photo, I understand exactly how this might work. Good stuff. Thanks Gwili for addressing our comments.

Charles,

I have been looking in to how the lagging would work as a tempory safeguard for the power lines. KPLC agree that this would be a much cheaper option but they worry about whether or not this material would last in the heat & humidity of the Kenyan coast. Do you reckon it would last?

Also, we have an issue in that KPLC have offered their workforce to help us in this project. This is not something that happens every day. The worry is that if we use this offer towards a tempory solution we may not get this chance again.

Let us try and work with KPLC to isulate these powerlines properly. Then, if this fails due to a lack of funding, we can use the lagging as a back up. Also, we can look into using lagging on the smaller voltage lines.

Thank you for your efforts. It’s great to have your help and thoughts on this situation. Hopefully we’ll see changes very soon.

Gwili

Hi Gwili /all

I think the lagging will be okay in the climate, so long as
it is secured with something like plastic tiewraps to hold it onto the
wires - sticky tape would not hold up.

Gwili - hopefully you have found the samples I left with the trust? If so, its been over there (albeit in your workshop) for 2 years, so you could assess directly how it is standing up to the climate. As it is designed for lagging hot water pipes, it should probably be okay.

If I have a concern, its over the effect of colobus/sykes climbing along it - whether their finger/nails might penetrate it or tear it.

Again, if you can find the samples, then your knowledge of the primates feet should help you make that assessment too.

The lagging already has a split cut down the side, so should be relatively safe/easy to fit, so long as the fitter has his gloves on!

I suggest that some form of ‘trial’ is the way forward - perhaps in an area
where the colobus are particularly active - to see if it stands up to them, and whether there are any unforeseen problems.

This could be done in parallel with any work you can get the KPLC to do/fund, as in future the lagging might provide you with an ‘emergency repair’ option anyway.

Rgds

Charles

Very good suggestions, Charles!

Hi there

I read with interest your item on the ongoing electrocution of Colobus monkeys. We have been involved in a partnership with the South African electrical utility Eskom to address wildlife interactions with electrical infrastructure since 1996. A great deal of experience has been gained in SA on the various issues – perhaps you would be interested in collaborating in some way? We work predominantly on birds – and are always looking for suitable partners in African countries, where we can collaborate on these issues.

With respect to your specific problem, perhaps approaching the suppliers of the insulation materials that are to be used for sponsorship might be useful – they may be prepared to sponsor the project in return for some positive publicity? I’m not sure which suppliers are involved, but they may be the same companies as those operating in SA –perhaps you could enquire?

Best regards

Jon Smallie

Eskom - EWT Strategic Partnership

Endangered Wildlife Trust

011 486 1102

082 444 8919

jons@ewt.org.za