The future of Conservation: young Rainbow Nation visits Laikipia

KENWEB was part of a green initiation course for some 50 primary school students in Laikipia. Camping out for 4 days allowed them to familiarise with conservation, be introduced to some basic ecological concepts and to experience spectacular species such as Black Rhinos, Elephants, Buffalo, Reticulated Giraffe and large herds of plains animals such as Eland, Hartebeest, Impala, Waterbuck, Zebra, etc. Special highlights were a leopard, a striped hyena and very some cute Black-backed Jackals (who revealed the leopard’s hideout by their incessant barking). Unfortunately an escaped fur farm rodent, the South American Coypu, was also on the observation menu. This potentially invasive critter is considered a major pest in Europe and the United States where its tunnelling behaviour and “wasteful” feeding habits are a threat for wetlands. The high densities of wildlife on the Laikipia plateau remain world class proof of the potential of private sector driven conservation in some of Kenya’s most pristine habitats, see http://www.laikipia.org/ 
Sadly, it will soon be sliced up again by a major powerline and a dam of highly dubious economic benefit and definite negative social and environmental impacts. When will we ever learn?