Story & pics by WILL KNOCKER:
Much effort & debate swirls around the ‘dispersal area’ of the park.
Below: the ‘real’ dispersal area for much of the park’s migratory grazers: the Sheep & Goat land.
This is government owned land (it used to be/still is? a holding ground for livestock going to the slaughterhouse at Athi River.)
It adjoins the block of NNP which lies across the Empakasi River just downstream of the hippo pools….
It is quite large: several thousand acres & heavily grazed by Maasai livestock
Part of NNP across the Empakasi, looking north into the park…….
The Sheep & Goat land is VITAL for the last few gnu in NNP (once there were 100,000 (est.) in the ecosystem. They drop their calves there…..
We now have 1000 (1 % of the above) who have access to the park. The remainder are on the Kapiti plains across the Athi River/Namanga highway….
The Sheep & Goat land is not only of ecological importance to gnus: thousands of grazers (see these current pics) use this area which is or SHOULD BE an INTEGRAL AREA of NNP.
So what steps are being taken by KWS, FONNAP, Wildlife Foundation etc. to conserve & BIND TO THE PARK this essential area: the only true short-grass plain habitat available to gazelle sp., gnu, zebra etc?
The debate on the ‘dispersal area’ really, urgently, needs to focus on this prime bit of habitat.
We wildebeest are watching you……….
7 Comments
Its going to be very tough given the ongoing unsustaineable growth of Kenya’s human population:(
i agree. so long the humans are forever increasing their number in such high rate per year, all vital land will be taken or stolen away from grazers and predators. i can’t find this blog on facebook while KWS is there.
The Wildlife Foundation, KWS and the Kitengela Landowners Asso. have prepared and signed an Environmental Easement to keep the former Sheep & Goat land in one parcel (2,912 acres) and un-fenced. All that awaits is the signature of the Commissioner of Lands to secure this vital wildlife/grazing habitat.
Hi Sauwah: there is a Nbi Nat Park page on Facebook: you’ll just have to read updates on NNP here on Wildlifedirect!! Thanks for reading & commenting…where are you??
Great news Ed: let us hope that this transpires & that the S & G land remains available for the migrating wildlife of NNP going into the future…..
Hi! I am travelling to Nairobi near the end of May and would love to go to NNP. Can someone tell me about how we go about getting there and going around the park? Do I have to reserve a tour? Also, will the parks accept a Unites States student identification card for the discounted student price? Thanks!
Ed Loosli: did the Commissioner of Lands sign your easement??