It has been an exciting long year!

Duma Duke has not been too talkative of late. Exercising his well-earned right of seniority, he prefers to laze around, showing off his still impressive magnificence.

He and siblings are up early each morning on their high “throne” overlooking all the other residents of the Orphanage and the Conservancy’s plains beyond.

Not quite expected so soon, our “New Years’s baby” arrived a few days early… this precious fawn, born on Christmas day is our newest and as yet very shy baby bongo. Instinct demands the infant antelope to stay hidden, safe where “Mom” left it in some bushes in the suni sanctuary. For now only “mom” is aware of its sex. We do not interfere and let ultimate privacy ensure the well-being of the precious new born.

Soon though curiosity will win and the new arrival will join the other youngsters.

We are now feeding 80 bongo and counting.

While this is an overwhelming sight and signifies great success, it also presents great problems in the pocket book. Animal feeds alone have doubled in price over the last 12 months. So have costs of vet care, fuel, man power and everything else. We are budgeting with great care and our senior staff and keepers have been wonderful not demanding double pay as so many other striking workers all over the country.

The good news is that the rains have been plentiful and Kenyans expect a bumper harvest. For the Conservancy that means lots of grass for our free ranging animals.

The excellent rains also give the forest a chance to recuperate from the recent drought, making conditions perfect for a scheduled release of our bongo onto Mount Kenya.

We are ready! Working closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service there have been numerous delays. The main hold up is that the Wildlife Service has not felt comfortable with ensuring the safety of the animals once they are beyond our own care. They need to reinforce their anti poaching patrols and there is talk of further fencing sections of Mount Kenya. It all makes great sense to wait until conditions are improved in that respect.

The future looks bright although the long wait brings other challenges. To continue with our successful breeding of this vanishing species, more “bomas” for their safekeeping have to be constructed, increasing amounts of food have to be purchased, vaccinations and veterinary care doubles. More dedicated keepers have to be found and trained and financial help is desperately needed to continue with the project.

Meanwhile, we are happy to report that the white Zebra we rescued and saved from extinction are now successfully re-established in the vast forests of Mount Kenya and can often be seen grazing on the glades.

Similarly, many of our breeding troupes of Colobus monkeys are now well established and once again thriving in the forest above. Some of them return time after time to visit their relatives still at the orphanage, much to the delight of our own human visitors.

Many more orphans, too many to mention have been treated and released this year. Some of them have returned, insisting that the orphanage is their rightful place and we do not deny them to come back into the home of their choice. This is why you may see some animals in residence at their old place in the Orphanage even after release to the wild.

This year we also celebrated Bwana Don’s eightieth birthday. Blessed with good health he’s still the first up every morning touring the Conservancy and actively involved assisting and directing our Wildlife managers with their tasks.

Mama Duma has been battling some health issues but with great success, and is happy to report that she’s back “at it” and will assist ‘Duma Duke’, the talking cheetah on this page to update you more often.

As you make your New Years plans and resolutions, please don’t forget your four legged friends at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and Orphanage.

Like countless generations before them, freedom to roam their ancient habitat on Mount Kenya must be ensured for all, including mankind.

Their future is in our hands. Help us to continue to lead the way and remain a shining light in the world of wildlife conservation.

Wishing you continued health and the warmth of love in your heart,

from
MAMA DUMA and BWANA DON (aka Don and Iris Hunt)
and all of us here at the
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

Donations may be made online from this page:
www.animalorphanagekenya.org/donate.php

He had received word from a (northern) Maasai that a zebra foal had followed his cows into his “manyatta” (a Maasai traditional homestead). The Maasai people are known for their benevolent ability to respect wildlife, sharing what little grazing there is for their live stock with zebras and other wild grazers and tolerating even the king of beasts, the lion on their turf.

The Maasai herdsman narrated the story, how only 2 days ago he had witnessed 2 lionesses making a kill of a zebra mare. Then, “the king” male lion who had been observing from a distance, claimed his right to feast first on the still warm and twitching Zebra, with the lionesses dutifully waiting their turn.

The whole commotion of the chase of course had totally unsettled his herd of cows who had fled in panic in every direction.

Unnoticed in the excitement, a zebra foal no more than two days old, had been swept up in the flight of the cows. Unable to locate her slain mother the confused little foal had followed the cows as they gathered for the trek home. Once united with their herdsman they entered the manyatta, a safe enclosure giving them protection from the predators at night. That’s when the odd one out was first noticed, now feeling quite safe amongst the warm assuring bodies of other larger animals even though they did not have stripes on their pelts. The Maasai herdsman just left the little one there and went to consult with the elders. When it was time to milk the cows, a little was spilled on a hollow stone for the foal who, following the lead of the calves, licked it up.

Left to chance, the foal might even have leaned to nurse from a cow if that had been permitted. But the council of elders decided it was better to send a message to the Government Game Warden than risk being accused of having killed the mother themselves.

Another day had passed before the familiar green land rover appeared and game scouts swiftly grabbed the foal and, holding it in their arms for the long journey back across the plains, finally delivered it to Fundi at our animal orphanage.

Domestic motherless foals are difficult to rear under any circumstances, let alone wild striped ones. Muraya, one of our animal attendants, offered to find donkey milk in the village, although I wondered what donkey would let you milk her! He of course returned empty handed (and bruised!!). Fundi agreed to “donate” his sleep for the first ten days to fed the little one on our special formula in a nursing bottle throughout the days and nights.

So far all the fuss and care has paid off: now, 2 weeks later, our foal has gained a little weight, getting stronger each day and with it boosts our hopes for its survival.

“Helping” of course is the never tiring “Chucky” the mini hog, and Bella the little buffalo, who, by example, has persuaded the foal to try some alfalfa leaves.

Each night these three unmatched creatures cuddle up together, having made their choice from all the other orphans around them.

Nature certainly has its ways to adapt and insure survival when the need is greatest.

Your help and support is indispensable for the continued success of the rehabilitation to the wild programs of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and animal orphanage.

“Striped Velvet” can be adopted, even named: click here for details:

adoption.animalorphanagekenya.org

It may look regular to the untrained eye, but on closer examination all agree: this appears to be a cross between the two subspecies of Zebra: the smaller common or Burchell’s Zebra and the much larger Grevy’s Zebra.

If so, this is a significant first! Although the herds of both subspecies are sometimes seen together, no one here remembers ever having seen a cross. Although the scientists have always insisted that it is possible for all equines to mate, the two very distinctly different kinds of Zebra did not like one-another’s stripes, if you will. “Social preference” it was called.

They preferred to keep their relations within their own specific kind.

The Zebra pictured here appears to be pregnant. If so it would mean that the result of this cross is not sterile (as would be the case mule) as one may have expected. We are keeping a keen eye and welcome any further observations you may have made.

Watch for a detailed report on our Conservancy Members Green Page in December.

With the holiday season in full swing and the New Year on the doorstep I have much good news to report.

At long last it has now been confirmed that one small group of Bongo still survives on Mount Kenya. The group are reported to live in a remote area of dense forest, almost impenetrable to man. They have managed to remain hidden there undetected for almost ten years. The Conservancy’s work to breed the mountain bongo for the eventual return to Mount Kenya is progressing well and now becomes more important than ever.

Research is ongoing and we will keep you informed in our bongo rehabilitation segment.

The other good news I have for you concerns our striped friends, the rare white Zebra. A group of 50 of these magnificent animals gets to celebrate the New Year in the freedom of Mount Kenya National Park where their ancestors are reputed to have roamed. The release of this first group comes after thirty years of selective breeding of these rare beauties. It is a milestone to celebrate at our Conservancy.

Here at the animal orphanage we have seen our share of positive changes and improvements. Mores space has been allocated to accommodate more orphans. The kitchen had a makeover. Under Drs. Sayers’ and Murugi’s guidance and Fundi’s supervision our distinctive care programs for individual species of orphaned or injured animals has been streamlined and facilities improved.

A new home has been constructed to accommodate the porcupines (Shamba raiders now in rehab!!) Meanwhile several of our orphanage “graduates” have successfully been released back to the wild. Several new orphans were rescued and settled into their safe heaven.

Recent arrivals include several “bottle babies” keeping us busy.

It is a joy watching our devoted animal caregivers turn a frightened motherless starved and listless little wild animal into the happy and delightful youngsters romping the greens at the Orphanage.

Our very own new Cheetah enclosures have been upgraded to suit our needs better and improve chances of our as yet unsuccessful attempts of “starting a family”.

We are now able to move between four different areas. Summonsed by the charms of the ever graceful Cheetah ‘Diana’ we are able to visit when called upon, and feline favors are now more frequently granted to Bill and myself, so-to-speak! Watch this space for more ‘intimate’ announcements. (If need be we too may have to turn to Namibia to adopt!!)

On behalf of all our friends here at the Animal Orphanage, be it human, primate, feline, equine, striped, spotted or even “quilled,”, we wish all our family of friends and supporters a wonderful holiday season in the hopes that the New Year will shower us all with peace, love and success.