Archive for the ‘Research’ Category
For a few weeks now I have taken on the task of assessing colobridge usage for each of our 26 bridges around Diani to make sure that they are indeed being used. This is a long-term project that I hope new volunteers will take on and continue in the future. Thanks to the help of Jacob, who has now left the Trust, and Vincent, who has now just taken on this project and will continue when I leave, we have been observing the bridges early in the morning between 6am and 9am, which is the time when they cross the most. The video of the colobus crossing a colobridge was taken on one of these mornings while sitting in front of the Leisure Lodge bridge, and it was quite a happy experience to see how well these bridges are working. This morning was a great morning again for those of us on this project - we have seen an entire troop of 8 colobus crossing the bridge we were watching, including two females with black and white infants holding on to them. It was a beautiful thing to see, and I hope that by sharing this it will make people realize how important the colobridges are to Diani’s ecology. Isabelle
Every year the Trust undertakes Diani Primate census in August. Yesterday, we conducted a presurvey of colobus monkeys within the remaining forest within Diani. To our suprise we only found six colobus monkeys. This is very alarming to us and the public. Our thought is that the monkeys have moved from the more forested areas to smaller patches of forest within Diani. However, we hope that when we undertake the census in mid August which wil cover the whole of Diani, the outcome will be different. Also, this year we intend also to carry out census of the colobus monkey with Kwale district. During this major census activity which will end in November we have involved various stakeholder namely, KWS, KFS, GVI and Kenya Kesho. We hope by the end of this year, we will have the number of remaining angolan black and white colobus monkeys in Kwale district. If you want to be a part of this, you can send us donations that will go to facilitate the census activity. Thank you. 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
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
PLEASE CAN YOU HELP US????? WE URGENTLY NEED FUNDS. The Colobus Trust has been on a plot of Diani Beach for 10 years that is 80% forest. This forest is a habitat for a troop of Colobus monkeys as well as many vervets, sykes, yellow baboons, bush babies, suni antelopes, and many other birds and mammals. It is also the home of our Colobus Trust Cottage which contains our visitors centre, housing for volunteers and an administrative office. The plot also has our rehabilitation cages, our quarantine cages, a veterinary clinic and a nature trail for eco-tours. We have been renting the plot for the past 10 years, and now the owner has put it up for sale and development. There is currently a bid on the plot, however, if we can raise the money to match the price we could possibly purchase it ourselves. If we don’t raise the money to purchase the plot ourselves, we will be forced to move, and all of our hard work we have put into developing the cottage, vet clinic, etc. will be lost! In addition, it will cost us a lot of money to move - money that should be spent on saving the Colobus Monkeys! Please email Jophie at jophie@colobustrust.org if you are able to donate funds to help prevent this tragic crisis!
Baboons are such amazing primates. My census of the four troops in the area has become so much more. Today as I waited for them to cross the road, the best time to count the 40 odd members of each troop, I saw interactions and relationships befitting a group of humans. The sub-adults and adult males are always in the lead, moving slowly through the community in that confident gate that only large baboons can do.
I watched as they crossed driveways and abandoned plots in the search of more food and shade. Following were the multiple females, many with infants and juveniles. They certainly take their time getting to the road but I hardly mind. Males, ever vigilant, chase each other, screaming and scrapping as their status in the hierarchy is challenged or their favorite females are courted by young upstarts lobbying for their own position. The females watch with nervous interest, often encouraging or dissuading with subtle gestures and calls. The dynamics of the group are anything but static, and watching, one realizes there is an entire culture to be understood. Eventually, they cross the road, watching carefully for cars, but fearless of other pedestrians. The total comes out at 37 today, some must be exploring other areas at the moment; most likely young males, searching for a new group, a whole new community. - Eric, Colobologist |
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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.
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 
