Archive for the ‘Human - Primate Conflict Resolution’ Category
We are very sad to report that on Saturday we picked up two dead Colobus at Leisure Lodge from the same troop as the Nov. 25 electrocution. These were the dominant male mentioned before on the electrocution post, and a large female that was just one week from giving birth. They were both very large (about 2 kg larger than average) and completely healthy-looking, with shiny coats and no injuries. What’s alarming about this situation is that these monkeys died of a suspected poisoning. Today we are sending the contents of the stomachs to Mombasa to get them examined and then maybe we will find out what kind of poison was used. We are not sure who has been doing this or for what reason. It could be that some hotels have been either trying to poison baboons or using potent insecticides in their gardening. We can only hope this doesn’t turn into a whole new issue that the Colobus Trust has to battle. We are going to have this matter investigated as much as we can, and hope for the best. Isabelle
Today was a busy day at the Trust, as Wednesdays always are; the morning involved the trimming of trees in various places along the road. This reduces the amount of electrocution incidences simply because the monkeys cannot reach the uninsulated wires, although we were a little late to save a bushbaby which had been killed after it touched the wires. This also provides an added benefit to the residents as the trees cause frustrating power cuts. On a happier note, the Colobus Trust volunteers (’Team Yeknom’) dazzled the residents with a storming performance to win the monthly quiz at Forty Thieves beach bar last night. We are all looking forward to the weekend to drink our prizes and set questions for the next one! And here’s a video of a colobus monkey crossing a colobridge.
Shiv Colobologist
Diani colobus census was carried out last month with the help of the volunteers. Now the data is being entered into the computer for analysis and will be ready next week. However, road accidents are still taking toll on the primates in Diani. So, more must be done on educating the public to change their attitude towards drivind too fast on the beach road. This I say because last week we have lost one colobus monkey through road accident and one vervet is recuperating in the quarantine cage with injured head. Please help in conserving the primates. Paul G.
I have been a volunteer in the Trust for the past one week. It’s a very nice place and I really love it being here though for a short time. I was on safari over the weekend and saw lots of wild animals. Last week we went out for desnaring activity and it was successful because we found four snares this meaning we helped eradicate illegal hunting. Today we repaired colobrigdes and we were cut short by the rain. Am currently helping out in the study of rehabilitation vervet monkey. It’s a challenge being a volunteer but it’s very rewarding because of what things we do to help in conservation. All you have to do is have an open heart. Everyone in the Trust is very nice including the other volunteers. Tu peux ameliorer le sort de notre planete en rejoignant notre equipe!! come on! Floriane Brenet (French volunteer)
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 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
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. Phil - Colobridge Expert!
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
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 Thanks, Phil. Sponsor a bridge
Costings for translocation of Colobus Trust facilities to new site
The plot that the Trust has been based at for the past 9 years is being sold by the landlords and it is very likely that we will have to move to a new site within the next three months. We have found an appropriate new site to rent but need to raise at least 17,530 $US to construct the necessary facilities at this new location. IF WE CAN’T RAISE THE MONEY FOR THE MOVE, THE TRUST IS IN GREAT DANGER OF CLOSING DOWN. CAN YOU HELP? THIS APPEAL IS URGENT If you can donate money, construction supplies, or labour services to help us with our move please email Jophie at jophie@colobustrust.org for more information.Below are the estimated costs of this building work. 2) Vet clinic 3) Quarantine enclosure 4) Visitors car park 5) Visitors and staff toilets 6) Shower room / toilet 7) Additional volunteer accommodation (permanent tent with thatched roof) 9) Office 10) Shop and education centre 11) Furniture 12) Nature trail 13) Paint 14) Additional costs TOTAL COSTS 1,226,370 KSH / 17,520 $US
Today a team went out to erect the newest Colobridge in a slightly strange place. Johnno the owner of a private house called Norjean found that his Colobus troop were having a slight problem when a branch from his Baobab tree fell down in high winds. It meant that the troop could no longer get onto the roof of his property which is an important route for them to cross the property as well as being a favourite sunbathing spot for the monkeys! So last week Johnno gave us a call to see if we could help! This was definately a first for the Trust, however Phil our Colobridge expert took it in his stride and quickly knew how to slove the problem. So after building our shortest bridge to date at only 8m and an hour and a half of ladder and tree climbing this afternoon the bridge was in place! Sadly the troop were not around to see if it was a success but we are awaiting an update from Johnno! Stuart - Assistant Manager |
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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.
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!
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.
Store room
The Colobus Trust was established in Diani Beach, Kenya, in 1997 to save the endangered Angolan colobus monkey which was a frequent victim of roadkills. The Trust's trademark is Colobridges - bridges over the roads for save overpass. Gwili, a Welsh volunteer at the Trust reports on the day to day activities in an busy local primate conservation charity 
