Big Mama, our record-horn Rhino has recovered well from her gunshot wound.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) vets decided against removing the bullet at this time to give her time to recover from the shock of the ordeal.

Although KWS recommended the horn be cut off to remove the temptation it poses to would-be poachers, we have not done so. We feel that the culprits must be prosecuted and punished as a deterrent.

Justice as always takes its time. Two suspects have been charged but are out on bail.
Meanwhile the Rhinos remain under heavy guard.

The episode caught us “on Safari” in the U.S., but we are now on our way home to make sure all possible is done to have a positive outcome.

More Rhino pictures soon.

A gang came in shortly after midnight and fired some shots.

The Conservancy’s security force acted swiftly. Within minutes Peter Fundi the Orphanage’s superintendent (who sleeps in the Orphanage “just in case”) was first on the scene. After securing the immediate surroundings and making sure none of our men were hurt, his next move was to check on our pair of Rhinoceros.

The Rhino Big Mama has been shot and slightly wounded

Rhino as you probably know are an endangered species. They are hunted for their horn which brings thousands of $$$$$ when exported to the East where they may become dagger handles or ground into “medicine” said to have aphrodisiac powers.

This is precisely why we have trained our pair, although they are wild and free ranging by day, at night they are rewarded with sugarcane when they return to their “safe-house.” This is a corral opposite the Orphanage and close to our security force. Fundi had last checked on them before retiring late that night and all was well.

The Rhino had vanished. So had whoever fired the shots.

Meanwhile, Bunge, the Wildlife Manager and David McConnell who heads our Wildlife Education Center had joined Fundi and the men in a search across the Ranch. They had to be careful as they knew they could now be the assassins targets. Several hours went by. Finally the brave men managed to locate the two precious animals, even in the darkness of the African bush. They had traveled some distance, but to everyone’s relief, they appeared to be safe and sound. Although confused and refusing to go back to the scene of the attack, at least they were alive.

Our men were joined by armed scouts from the Kenya Wildlife Service. One group stayed in the bush guarding the bewildered animals for the remainder of the night.

Help from a neighboring farm had by now arrived. They brought with them their team of trained bloodhounds and handlers.

The dogs were given the scent of the still fresh footprints of the gang near the Rhino corral. Led by Bunge the team followed the eager dogs. They ran towards the forest and then uphill on the heavily forested mountain slopes. The dogs did not tire until they had found a group of people huddled up at a place called Ontuleli several hours later.

Police were called in and took away the suspects who carried a rifle, a G3.

Meanwhile David McConnell, the head of our Wildlife Education Center went to check on the Rhino at first light. Although they appeared to be okay, in the early morning light he was able to see that one, the female, hat a gunshot wound in her shoulder. She did not appear to be in any pain.

Don Hunt, traveling overseas for medical treatment was swiftly contacted and has been on the phone ever since. Under his direction security has been further tightened.

Eventually the animals calmed and could be persuaded to return to their corral, following the keepers whom they know and trust. Tomorrow the female Rhino will be immobilized and removal of the bullet will be attempted by the vets.

That’s all we know for now folks. The Kenya Police will establish if the bullets matches the suspects rifle. Meanwhile they are doing their own investigations to establish who may be behind all this. Let us hope that this time the culprits will end up behind bars and further tragedies can be averted.

Don and I would like to thank all involved for their dedication and swift and brave response. Without their help these Rhino might have become yet another poaching statistic.

Watch this space for more news when we have some.

breakthrough….

Dr. Kofi Annan, here to help the opposing sides negotiate, managed to get them to go together without conflict or incongruity and sign a pact which promises a better future. They have agreed to a power sharing government but more importantly they have agreed that the events we saw in January are not to be repeated. Ever.

Everyone is joyful at the news, almost forgotten are the differences, for now the yearning for assured peace is paramount.
A great wave of warm feelings goes out to Kofi Annan who did not waver in his resolve to bring the warring parties together. In gratitude game scouts in the Maasai Mara even named a new born Rhino calf “Kofi”. Cute!

But wait, this is a “white” Rhino. Of course “white” does not refer to its color, it only identifies it as the wide lipped Rhino, different from its smaller cousin the black Rhino, indiginous to Kenya.

Here at the Conservancy we wanted to take the hint and name one of our own after the great peacemaker to mark the joyous occasion. All the animals were called to a meeting chaired by yours truly, (I am still the Chaircat).

The council of animals decided that although they sport record long horns not seen elsewhere, our own Rhinos have little in common with Kofi the man and therefore did not deserve the honor of carrying his name.

• Rhinos, (the blacks more so than the whites) are more known for their ferociousness than their intelligence. (Not so Kofi the man)
• They can be highly dangerous when disturbed. (Not so Kofi.)
• They are loners when adult and stay away from others of their kind, (meeting only to mate). (Not so Kofi).
• When they do meet one another they fight often to the death, mostly over territory. (Not so Kofi).

After much debate the council of animals voted unanimously that the honor should go to our own “Speedy” the XL Aldabra Tortoise. Speedy has so much in common with the famous man Kofi. We could not deny the obvious similarities;

• He’s old and wise and has weathered many storms.
• He’s not really from Kenya but said to have African heritage.
• Unhasty, he advances slowly and he carefully calculates his every move.

our own “Speedy Kofi”

And yet when circumstance demands this guy can move with tremendous speed and maneuver his way safely and brilliantly through the most difficult situations. But most importantly he’s every ones respected friend. So with great fanfare we announce :
Speedy the Tortoise will henceforce be honored with the name of :

“Speedy Kofi”

Speedy Kofi : “sharing” power

And with that my friends, we count the days until you visit us here at Mount Kenya.

Last month, only 30 miles away a Rhino and five Elephants fell pray to poachers. Only the slaughtered carcasses minus horn and tusks were the grisly evidence found in the bush.

Duma Duke, our “Chaircat” is scared! He and Bill and Diana are on high alert and ready to fight off any possible intruders should it come to that. But meanwhile Bunge, our Wildlife Manager has laid on extra armed security. Every evening, the Conservancy’s Rhino willingly walk to the safety of their night quarters, led by their own designated game scouts.

We are proud to have such dedicated and able staff safeguarding the animals’ lives!