Colobus Trust

Category: Habitat Restoration/Conservation, Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Jun 08 2009 | By: colobus

It’s always great to have media publicity and I even happier when local papers pick up stories. The Coast Spirit, a new local newspaper distributed for free across Kenya’s coastline has published an article by ex-assistant Gwili which was taken from his very interesting blog post about the unique and very serious problems we are facing in Diani. Our two biggest issues at the moment are electrocutions (we have lost 14 monkeys since the beginning of 2008) and road kills.

Currently, we are gearing towards putting it another 170mts of insulation of open electric cables this month and hope to do about the same amount in July. It costs slightly less than a dollar to do one metre of cabling. If anyone would like to contribute, please do donate. THIS REALLY SAVES LIVES.

To read more about this, click on the image below. And thanks very much to the Coast Spirit for covering this critical issue…

Tags: Coast Spirit, diani, electrocutions, Habitat Restoration/Conservation, human-wildlife conflict, primates, Protection, Urban Conflict

One response so far

Category: Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Dec 19 2008 | By: colobus

Re: Electrocution of Colobus Monkeys on your property

We are writing to ask for your personal support in our ongoing fight to protect the endangered Angolan Pied Colobus in Diani from extinction.

In the last 4 years The Colobus Trust has recorded over 60 confirmed deaths where the power lines that pass through the forest and your private property have killed arboreal primates instantly. Shockingly 46 of these cases were of the now highly endangered Angolan Colobus Monkeys. Our statistics confirm that electrocution from un-insulted power lines claims more Colobus monkey lives than any other threat, natural or man-made. The power lines also wound and severely maim many more primates when they come into contact with them, the results being flesh cooked and burnt to the bone, loss of limbs and more frequently infection, which leads to an agonising and slow death.

The data collected by The Colobus Trust has so far identified 17 “hotspots” where electrocutions most frequently occur. The total length of un-insulated power lines on the south coast runs into may hundreds of kilometres, however 4,888 meters of live cable have been identified as the most harmful. Working with Camps International and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) the Colobus Trust has recently completed a pilot project at the hotspot surrounding Diani Marine and the Ali Barbour’s properties; after identifying and installing a unique and highly cost effective insulation system, all the previously un-insulated cables in this area have now been made 100% primate safe. This is a very significant result for the Colobus population in this area who can now live peacefully without the risk of a traumatic death.

Initial finances to jump-start this program were contributed by the Camps International Trust, with the work being completed by volunteers and KPLC engineers under the supervision of the Colobus Trust.

The electric cables on your property have been identified as one of these leading electrocution ‘hot spots’ and an area where recorded Colobus deaths through electrocution have happened. We are now requesting you as a responsible landowner to contribute to the cost of insulating these power lines to save these magnificent animals for generations to come. The alternative to not acting is possibly the end of the wild Colobus monkey on Kenya’s South Coast forever.

We believe that the material costs (Average Ksh 7,500 per plot) are minimal, in return for the absolute privilege of being able to view these rare and beautiful primate, living at peace and without threat of electrocution in your garden. There is also a unique satisfaction in knowing that your personal contribution will have a significant and immediate effect in conserving these beautiful Colobus monkeys. Your contribution will be used entirely for the materials to insulate your power lines, which will be 100% effective after a very quick installation.

There is indeed a strong argument from many quarters that this project should be funded by KPLC, however after many years of appealing NOTHING has happened, with the result being continued deaths by electrocution and a steady decline in the Colobus population. It is for this reason that we are now acting directly to effect change. Other than your contribution the provision of materials there will be no further charges, as The Colobus Trust, Camps International and KPLC will provide the workforce, tools and expertise to place the insulating conduits.

Your voluntary contribution to fund this highly effective project will be recognised through a joint program grading landowners & local stakeholders on their efforts in conservation. The Camps International Trust will also provide indigenous hard wood tree saplings FREE OF CHARGE that can be planted on your property to reduce habitat loss & increase the local forest cover. Your contribution and support for this very important program will be recognized online, through e-newsletters and throughout the international conservation community.

We believe that the only way forward to conserve the now highly endangered Angolan Colobus Monkey is to work together with responsible conservation-minded landowners; in this regard we are appealing for your much needed and valuable support. Representatives of the Colobus Trust, KPLC & Camps International will be contacting you shortly to arrange for a survey and to provide an accurate cost for the required insulation work to be completed.

Many thanks in advance for your cooperation,

Kindest regards,

From caring Diani residents…

Tags: Camps International, Colobus Trust, diani, electrocutions, Human-Primate Conflict, Kenya Power Lighting Company, South Coast

One response so far

Category: Habitat Restoration/Conservation, Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Sep 10 2008 | By: colobus

We had a fantastic day yesterday, together with Camp Kenya & KPLC we started insulating and covering powerlines in two areas where previous fatalities have occurred!

Firstly we had to prepare the PVC piping by cutting it laterally. Students and Colobus Trust staff were doing this for most of the day and together cut over 200 meters of piping…all this with only little improvised saws!

We took advantage of a planned power outage for the whole of the south coast to allow us to get a whole days work done. Once the pipes were prepared the KPLC team put them in place covering two of the four lines, thus insulating the span. All together we insulated over 100 meters of lines in two key areas. We hope the success of this pilot project will lead to great things! 

Many watched as this momentous occasion occurred and we hope to get more of our hotspots done next week.

Below is a photograph of the piping in place 

We will keep you updated!

Gwili

Tags: colobus, diani, electrocutions, kplc, primates

6 responses so far

Category: Habitat Restoration/Conservation, Human - Primate Conflict Resolution | Date: Sep 01 2008 | By: colobus

As many of you will already know, the un-insulated power lines that run through Diani Forest are responsible for numerous wildlife fatalities. In the last 4 years The Colobus Trust has recorded over 60 confirmed cases where arboreal primates have been killed instantly by power lines that pass through the forest. Shockingly 46 of these cases were Angolan Colobus Monkeys, claiming more lives than any other threat, natural or manmade. Even more are wounded, where the grounding of current can cook flesh to the bone and result in the loss of limbs and frequently, infection that leads an agonising death.

Arboreal (tree-dwelling) primates natural instinct is to avoid coming down to the ground (where they are more at risk from predators) and they use any available material, natural or otherwise as pathways through the forest. Therefore if human encroachment on a forested habitat is to be non-detrimental to the environment, all power-lines should ideally be underground. But this is expensive. Suitable short-term solutions have been found by trimming back branches allowing access to power-lines. This has been a core part of our Electrocution Management Program for the last 10 years. Where Colobus Trust teams have worked in collaboration with the Kenya Power & Lighting Co. Ltd. Another “longer”-term option we have always considered is insulation. A project we have long been pushing KPLC for.

Thankfully there has been a breakthrough in our work to combat this horrible situation. This was in the form of an idea brought forward in a meeting initiated between the Colobus Trust and KPLC. Joseph Njoroge, Managing Director and CEO, Mr Huko, head of KPLC’s Diani Branch as well as a high-powered team from Nairobi represented KPLC. Also in attendance were the, the Chairperson of the South Coast Residents Association, Volker Bassen & Nimu Njonjo (local resident conservationists who run the East African Whale Shark Trust) and the Colobus Trust’s management & two of the Trust’s Trustees. 

During the meeting Volker suggested a novel idea to combat electrocutions. Using PVC piping, which can slide over the power lines, without need for them to be lowered, then fasted with ties. This would act to insulate the lines and considerably reduce the decline of the species! The initiative steps in this wonderful idea have now begun and we hope KPLC will insulate their pilot project area (one of our identified electrocution hotspots) soon and will update you on progress!

Below is a picture of those in attendance (except one who is behind the camera!)

This has been a landmark achievement for all involved and we hope that working together with KPLC & other organisations we can really tackle this pressing issue.

The Colobus Team

Tags: colobus, diani, electrocutions, kplc, primates

2 responses so far