Rhino Ark News

33 Pages·2009·3.29 MB·English

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE RHINO ARK NO. 35 NOV 2009
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(cid:1) RhinoCharge2009
Results/MillionairesPage4-7
(cid:1) BenWoodham’sBeeChargein
MogoswokPage12-14
(cid:1) 2008/09AuditedAccountsPage22-23
(cid:1) RhinoArkNewsPage24-31
INSIDE

Chairman’s View
Challenges lie ahead
RHINOARK OBJECTIVES Astheyearcloses,RhinoArknowfacessomeexcitingchallenges.
Itcanalsoproclaimsomegreatachievements.
RhinoArkseekssolutionsintheAberdare
mountainrangeanditseco-systemto:
ThemosthistoricisthecompletionoftheAberdarefenceon28August
• ConserveoneofKenya’sfinestindigenous 2009. The Minister of Forests and Wildlife placed the final post.
Hundredsofforestedgefarmersweretheretocelebratetooaswere
forestsanditstotalhabitat.
someofRhinoArk’sfoundingfundersandvolunteers.(Seepages8-9)
• Resolvehuman/wildlifeconflict.
The21-yearprojecttobuildwhatissurelytheworld’slongest(we
have registered with the Guinness Book of Records and await
RHINOARK IS COMMITTEDTO: ColinChurch
consideration) wildlife conservation fences, successfully creating
harmony with its neighbouring forest edge farmers – hundreds of
• Mobilise stakeholders nationwide and
thousands of them, has given hope to millions and dramatically
internationally for initiatives to protect and improvedtheincomesandwelfareofitsneighbouringfarmers.
conserve the habitat and promote man-
aged use of Aberdare resources for the Whatofthechallenges?
benefitofpresentandfuturegenerations.
Thefenceisworking. Everydayourfencescouts–100ofthem–patrolit,keepitclearof
• Raise funds and other forms of support overgrowth, monitor unsanctioned activity along its near 400 kms and create contact
for the building and long-term mechanisms between the fenceline farmers and the forest and national park authorities
responsibleforitsconservation.Butthewholeexerciseisdrasticallyunderfinanced. Rhino
management of an electrified fence to
Ark’simmediatetaskistovigorouslypursuetheprocessofsecuringthefundsandrequisite
encircle the Aberdare National Park
legalframeworkinwhichtheGovernmentmeetscivilsociety’sexpectations.
and demarcated forestry areas which
formtheAberdareConservationArea. Rhino Ark has been vocal (and outspoken when necessary) in calling for assertive
managementandinvestmentinourvital‘watertowers’andinsistingthattheywillbebest
• Build mechanisms and management protected by a partnership process of stewardship. Government working alone has a
structures to prevent illegal exploitation cupboard-fullofskeletons–forestmanagementfailures. Kenyanstodayarepayingtheprice
of the forest habitat wherever it is ofagenerationofwantoncompromises,abusesofresponsibilityandblatanttheftofstate
assets. RhinoArkisnowapartofthereversalofthisdownwardtrend.
threatened.
In so doing all stakeholders will benefit; the TheAberdarefencehascostupwardsofKshs750million. Itiscurrentlybeingmaintained
rhino,bongo,indeed all flora and fauna will be for an annual cost of approximately Kshs 10 million only from donations to RhinoArk and
inadequate funds from the Government channeled through the Kenya Wildlife Service. In
secure.
addition Rhino Ark continues to outlay major capital injections for radios, vehicles, guard
posts,accommodationforthefencescouts,trainingthescoutsandtherelatedmanagement
costs. No funding support is provided yet by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), despite its
provenvaluetotheKFSinreducingabuseofpreciousforestassets.
CONTENTS
80percentofthefencerunsonornearstateforestborders–secureatlast–butstillporous
duetoinadequatefundsformaintenanceandlackofafullytransparentandenforcedfence
Chairman’sView 3 access policy. The remaining 20 per cent borders the national park. The fence urgently
requiresKshs40-50millionannuallytoensurethefenceitself,thegatesandtheecosystem
2009ResultsandAwards 4 are fully managed. It has already proven that huge savings in assets and supervision
overheadsarebeingachieved. ThisremainsRhinoArk’smajorchallenge.
ChargeHeroes 5
Butwearelookingtothefuture. Wehaveatrackrecordofrealachievement. Wehavea
FundraisingHeroes 7
world-classfundraisingmechanismofourownTheRhinoChargeandareattractingmore
andmorebilateralandglobalconservationNGOsupport.
FinalPost 8-9
We are mindful of auditing ourselves. Our Rhino Charge sites have been subject to
RhinoChargebyBenWoodhams 12-14
environment audits and this exercise will continue. With considerable support from the
Sponsorslist 15-20 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and active involvement of the EastAfrican
WildlifeSociety’sForestWorkingGroup,weareundertakinganenvironmentassessment(EA)
QuattroCharge 21 ofthenowcompletedfence.NEMA,KWS,KFSandtheGreenbeltMovementarepartofits
taskforcenowinplace.(Seepage27).
RhinoArkAuditedAccounts 22-23
WewillsolvetheimmediateissuesoflongtermmanagementfortheAberdares;butinturn
RhinoArkNews 24-31 wearestartingtolookatwhatmorewecandotosecureecosystemsthatwithsoundpolicy
andmanagementpracticecouldbecomehugelybeneficialforthepeopleofKenya.
Acknowledgments&Thanks 34
The Moorland Road – NEMA rejects license. Rhino Ark’s consistent objection to this
ecosystemthreateningproject–afulltarmachighwayoverthefragileAberdaremoorland
Picturescourtesyof:JonathanGlynn-Smith,
water catchment at altitudes of over 3000 meters – and its enlisting the support of major
ColinChurch,EricKihiu,KateMwangi,
stakeholders and conservation national bodies has been supported by NEMA.This month
RCTeam39.
NEMAhasrejectedalicensetotheMinistryofRoadstobuildtheroadinsidetheforestand
nationalpark. ThebudgetedcostwastobeoverKshs1.2billion!
Coverpicture:JonathanGlynn-Smith
3
RHINO CHARGE 2009 RESULTS & AWARDS
Car Entrant Controls Km
48 MarkGlen 12 39.45
05 McKittrick/Hutchinson/Trundell 12 40.35 CarNo.5,winnersoftheVictor
02 IanDuncan 12 42.21 LudorumTrophy,receivethe
29 LarsSvensson/PerJohansson 12 43.44 awardfromtheformerpresident
ofKenya,DanielArapMoi.Led
39 BenWoodhams 12 46.09
byAlanMcKittrick,theteam
38 SeanAvery 12 47.91
camein2ndoverallbutraised
30 EdwardJohnstone 12 52.35 thehighestamountoffunds.
26 AsitPatel 12 53.09 FUNDSAWARDS
44 AdilKhawaja 12 53.15
1stDavidSchaeferTrophy: McKittrick/Hutchinson/Trundell Kshs: 7,721,541.68CarNo. 5
09 JohnBowden 12 55.28 2ndDiamondTrustTrophy: MTilbury/HogChargeTeam Kshs: 3,316,397.00CarNo.35
14 PaulAntrobus 12 56.11 3rd BWoodhams Kshs: 3,001,723.64CarNo.39
53 HaikoBacker 12 60.96
EVENTSAWARDS
06 ArbiMussani/ManeeChoda 12 61.72
1stOverall(DuncanMitchellPerpetualTrophy) Glen/Llewellyn/Beaton/Outram/Daykin/Harris CarNo.48
58 GaiCullen 12 62.44
2ndOverall McKittrick/Hutchinson/Trundell CarNo.
28 TorbenRune 12 65.13 5
3rdOverall IanDuncan/KTMCruising CarNo.
56 HarveetObhrai 12 65.44
2
24 JaspalMatharu 12 67.05 VictorLudorum(LandRoverTrophy) McKittrick/Hutchinson/Trundell CarNo. 5
21 MichaelKontos 12 67.98 1stinClassU AdilKhawaja CarNo.44
2ndinClassM Glen/Llewellyn/Beaton/Outram/Daykin/Harris CarNo.48
63 PritenPatel 12 72.20
35 MarkTilbury 12 72.47 CoupeDesDames(TimNicklinPerpetualTrophy) SapiehaSisters/TeamWacus CarNo.47
47 KasiuniaSapieha 12 80.66
SpiritoftheCharge(RobCombesTrophy) PeterKinyua/MuhohoKenyatta CarNo.23
17 TanyaChurch 12 NoGPS TimSamuelsGauntletChallenge: TeamJohnBowden CarNo. 9
12 JaswaranSinghSehmi 11 47.65 TigerLine1(NjiayaNdumeAward) Glen/Llewellyn/Beaton/Outram/Daykin/Harris CarNo.48
13 JonathanStichbury 11 50.36 TigerLine2(NjiayaNdumeAward) EdwardJohnstone/TheInternationals CarNo.30
MichaelWerikhe(EAWLSConservationAward) TwoCommunities/Geita/Muharati/Mbushi
11 RaviPatel 11 61.54
36 NaishMalde 11 63.47 TheKijabeAward AnthonyHughes CarNo.33
KenKuhleMemorialTrophy CarolineArmstrong/PinksinCharge CarNo.18
61 EkyaShah 11 64.29
60 RowenaWhite 11 65.84 OURTEAMSPIRIT
41 RoopRuparel 10 38.01 Wewouldliketoexpressoursinceregratitudetoallthosewhomadeitpossibletostagetheevent.
03 SimonHoughton 10 44.95 RHINOCHARGECOMMITTEE:AntonLevitan(ChairmanRCCommittee&ClerkofCourse),SimonWelland
01 JamesKelmanson 10 47.85 (DeputyClerkofCourse/PressLiaisonOfficer),ColinChurch(ChairmanRAManagementCommittee),Brian
Haworth (Deputy Clerk of Course/Control Liaison Officer), Pierre Parsons (Deputy Clerk of Course/Chief
59 NishLakhani 10 51.67 Scrutineer),TarsemSembhi(Competitors’CampsiteManager),PhilipHechle(RadioCommunication),Gran
07 MaheshBhatti 9 39.43 Calder(GPS/Security),CharlieHewitt-Stubbs(DeputyClerkofCourse/SearchandRescue),ValerieGunputrav
(Administrator).
45 PhilTilley 9 41.33
64 PeterBondeNielsen 9 47.48 SPECIALASSISTANCEFROM:TM-AM,KKSecurity,PEPCOKenyaLtd.,RiverCrossTrackingLtd.,Belinda
Levitan,SueHaworth,MaggieParsons,TarpoIndustries,Ker&Downey,AggrekoInternational.
42 NeilMcRae 8 26.08
LANDOWNERS:MogoswokGroupRanch–Migotio.
33 AnthonyHughes 8 32.86
EVENTOFFICIALS:LarrySutcliffe,StuartAllison,PhilipandJanineValentine,JimVernon,RainieSamuels,
55 BharatPattni 8 48.61
Andy Russell, Graham and Sally Timmis, Dave Green, John Porter, Geoff and Cathy Nightingale, Julian
43 SteveMwagiru 7 31.92 Cordingley,NickTrench,JohnnyLawrence,MandeepRajbans,GranandRosemaryCalder,AndrewandSally
31 JacquesNell 7 40.51 Challoner,DavidLowe,GavinBennett,AndyTownsend,GeoffDagger,DebbieBasden,MikeandSarahHiggins,
WillemDolleman,KimBhari,SueHaworth,RolfDavey,CarlChaffee,TonyHopkins,TrishCombes,George
57 MbabuMuturi 7 NoGPS
Gunputrav,BalbierBains,Dr.PramodShah,KateMwangi,BerylOkundi,EricKihiu,LydiaWakio,JoandJan
18 CarolineArmstrong 6 24.06 Mills,JuanMioch,SashaNg’inja,KireGodal,Peter&DeeHuth,PatrickKaranja.
25 MichaelOgwapit 6 27.70 SCRUTINEERS:CharlieHewitt-Stubbs,PierreParsons,BrianNicol.
32 JonnyHavelock 6 45.23
RADIO/RESULTSTEAM:MichaelHughes,PhilipHechle,Brian&PennyNicol,BobMorris,SimonandLucy
19 RajivMehta 5 27.03 Welland,DicconWilcock,KimBhari,GillandClareLlewellyn.
49 TerryChilds 5 27.78 RAFFLECOMMITTEE:RolfandJennyDavey,BelindaLevitan,HenriettaRemnant,KateMwangi,Beryl
23 PeterKinyua 5 29.71 Okundi,ValerieGunputrav.
37 JohnKanyali 4 14.09 AIRCRAFTPILOTS:FanieKruger,BruceField,RobCollinge,EvansSigilai.
50 MikeKirkland 4 15.48 PRESSTEAM:SimonWelland,(PR&PressLiaison),JohnThuo,KireGodal.
40 RommyBamrah 4 27.59 GUARDPOST&SERVICESPONSORS:TM-AM,KarenVineyardChurch,CMC(LandRover),HardiKenya,Satao
27 PreeyeshShah 2 8.43 Camp,BraeburnSchool,BrookhouseSchool,KenyaWildlifeService,CopyCat,Toolcraft,HillcrestInternational
School,Goodyear,Pies-2-Go,HighlandsMineralWater,BrianBradshaw,TotalKenyaLtd.,AONMinet,Malaika
46 AndreasBifani 2 10.61
Media Productions, BINS Nairobi Ltd., G4S Securicor Services, Betting Control & Licensing Board, Kenya
51 JamesSinghGitau 1 2.68 TourismFederation,SteadmanAssociates,TarpoLtd.,EastAfricanWildlifeSafaris,EastAfricanWildlifeSociety,
TriadArchitects,MichaelJonesSoftware,GallagherPowerFenceSystems,AdScreenPrint,ChlorideExide,Ol
20 AdrianWilcox 1 4.61
PejetaConservancy,ZBoskovicAirCharters,LadyLori(K)Ltd.,FujiPhotos,NationMediaGroup,ChurchOrr,
62 StanleyKinyanjui Rob’sMagic,KenyaMotorSports,NigelArcherSafaris,RiverCrossTracking,LindaJasmineFurniss,Sintronics,
22 MikeNolan NS NS ExpressAutomation,JohnKanyali,KenyaFireAppliances,MaishaFlourMills,Eco-TourismCentre,Mantech
InflightSystems,AnimetLtd.,PelicanSigns,UngaLtd.,LoadRunners,KenyaAirways,CapitalFM,MarketPower.
4
Millionaires – almost one
in every two entrants
The Mogoswok 09 Rhino Charge recorded more millionaire Special commendations go to teams 44 and 56 who entered
heroesthaneverbefore. themillionairesstableforthefirsttimeandfinishedtheevent.
24ofthe60entrants–animpressive40%–crackedthemillion Then there are the big fund raisers and constant achievers
shillingbarrier. Thisbeatlastyear’s19andthe2007totalof20. amongsttheallgirlteams–theSapiehasandhugelydeserved
Coupe des Dames winners with over a million in Car 47,and
Evenmorerevealingwasthat12pledgedamillionandallbut Tanya’s Church’s Car 17 Team Rouge who were just short of
one achieved it and a further 10 competitors surpassed their Kshstwomillionandafinisherdespite‘NoGPS’.
Kshs500,000byover100%.
Special recognition too for all who did achieve their Kshs
Of the 24 millionaires – five topped the Kshs 2 million mark 500,000 pledge and were able to sign on again for the 2010
thus more than doubling their pledge. Alan McKittrick’sTeam RhinoCharge.
Five withAlan driving for the first time this year,and his fund
raise superstars John Trundell, Nick Hutchinson,Tim Jessop, ThedatefortheeventisconfirmedforMay31nextyear.
TomPorterandGuyJackraisedthemostandtookthecoveted
topprizeofvictorludorum–highestfundraisetodistanceby
formula. Alan McKittrick’s ability to goad the millionaire pack
into attempts to‘top car 5’ continues to elude. Though there
are murmurings amongst entrants that it is by no means a
donedealyear-inyear-out,andthedeterminationtopipCar5
to the top slot is very much out there amongst the top
millionaires. McKittrick’s Car 5 total in 20 years of Charging
hassurpassedtheKshs50millionmarkwithanexacttotalof
Kshs56,347,244.78.
It was just 4 years ago that Car 5 overtook the blockbuster
performance of the late Mike Higgins and his street standard
Car 22 - the 20 year old Niva Lada that between 1990 and
2008 when Mike and his wife Sarah retired from Charging
raisedKshs39,607,239.
Those hot on Car 5’s heals include some veteran and skilled
driversanyofwhomcouldachieve themostfundsraisedand
a victor ludorum win. Second highest fund raise in 2009 at
Mogoswok was the Hog Charge Car 35 of Mark Tilbury with
Kshs3,316,397. Theiroverallkittyin12yearsofHogCharge
successesnowtotalsKshs17,069,211.
InthirdfundraiseslotcameBenWoodhams’TeamThirtyNine
withKshs3,001,723followedcloselyinfourthfundraiseplace
by the Charge Fanatic Avery family team of Bundufundi with
Kshs 2,855,967. Trustee Jonny Havelock of Car 32 –the dark
horse - took fifth place with an impressive Kshs 2,408,891.
Jonny was hugely helped this year by the Welles and
McKennas father and son additions all the way from
Connecticut.
“This event is like nothing on earth. If more Americans knew
about it, and especially those with a thirst for adventure and
toughoff-roadchallenges,therewillbemanyknockingonthe
door soon”, Chris Welles described it. The Welles and
McKennashavesignedupagainfor2010.
Butitisthoselowerinthefundraiseladderwherethespotters
are looking to see who will crack the Kshs 2 million mark in
2010.
Kelmanson’sCar1manoeuvresroughterrain.
5

FUNDRAISE HEROES - RHINO CHARGE ‘09
Millionaires Gold Award by year
YEAR NAME AMOUNT YEAR NAME AMOUNT
2009 McKittrick/Trundell/Hutchinson 7,721,541 2006 EdwardJohnstone/TeamInternational 1,927,361
2009 MarkTilbury/HogChargeTeam 3,316,397 2006 PeterKinyua 1,694,650
2009 BenWoodhams/TeamThirtyNine 3,001,723 2006 MarkTilbury/HogChargeTeam 1,665,531
2009 SeanAvery/TeamBundufundi 2,885,967 2006 SeanAvery/BunduFundi 1,616,693
2009 JonnyHavelock/ChrisWelles 2,408,891 2006 JacquesNell/TeamSA 1,261,100
2009 TanyaChurch/TeamRouge 1,961,449 2006 GaiCullen-Gargoteam 1,264,235
2009 Glen/Llewellyn/Beaton/Outram/Daykin/Harris 1,593,943 2006 WillemDolleman 1,258,472
2009 PeterKinyua/MuhohoKenyatta 1,439,000 2006 PreeeyeshShah 1,245,202
2009 MichaelKontos/JonathanSomen 1,415,321 2006 MikeKirkland 1,243,040
2009 PreeyeshShah/TeamTwentySeven 1,404,077 2006 W&MCarr-Hartley/McRae,Larby/Francombe/Evans 1,124,400
2009 StanleyKinyanjui/MagnateChargers 1,339,000 2006 NishLakhani/TeamRandyKruzer 1,078,000
2009 JamesKelmanson 1,286,981 2006 JanKortland/TeamTanzania 1,067,600
2009 SachinPatel 1,261,608 2006 MichaelKontos/Somen 1,060,000
2009 GaiCullen&TeamFargo 1,261,561 2006 MbabuMuturi 1,051,200
2009 MikeKirkland 1,150,781 2005 McKittrick/Knight/Hutchinson/
2009 Backer/Kortland&TeamTanzania 1,143,632 Trundell/Pleasance 7,161,209
2009 RameshVishram 1,108,000 2005 Mike&SarahHiggins 3,491,890
2009 JamesGitauSingh/EdwardMwakio 1,064,000 2005 RobCollinge 2,388,352
2009 NishLakhani/TeamRandyKruza 1,039,049 2005 TanyaChurch 1,624,413
2009 MikeNolan 1,038,000 2005 MarkTilbury/HogChargeTeam 1,618,900
2009 JacquesNell/TeamSouthAfrica 1,028,750 2005 W&MCarr-Hartley/McRae,Larby/Francombe/Evans 1,523,100
2009 HarveetObhrai/Bigfoot 1,013,000 2005 Hugo-DouglasDufresne 1,354,501
2009 TeresaSapieha/TeamWacus 1,012,216 2005 EdwardJohnstone 1,324,953
2009 AdilKhawaja 1,006,601 2005 SeanAvery 1,277,340
2008 McKittrick/Knight/Trundell/ 2005 NishLakhani 1,153,000
Hutchinson/Jessop/Porter 9,395,552 2005 MarkGlen 1,111,215
2008 Mike&SarahHiggins 4,261,390 2005 WillemDolleman 1,107,345
2008 Woodhams/Sickmueller/Roest/DuToit/ 2005 BenWoodhams 1,074,345
Matthewman/Coates 3,536,324 2005 MarkJefferey 1,068,452
2008 Avery-Sean,Patrick,Kuki/ 2005 SimonHoughton 1,039,000
McBride/Jethwa/Brainch 3,280,993 2005 JonathanStitchbury 1,031,910
2008 MarkTilbury&HogChargeTeam 2,962,708 2005 MikeDowding/Rhinovices 1,006,220
2008 PeterKinyua 2,040,000 2005 AsitPatel 1,002,000
2008 MarkGlen/BrynLlewelyn 2,038,088 2005 JanKortland/TeamTanzania 1,000,112
2008 TanyaChurch/RhinoRouge 2,010,085 2004 McKittrick/Knight/Stubbs/Trundell/Hutchinson 3,759,213
2008 GaiCullen/TeamFargo 1,402,266 2004 Mike/SarahHiggins 3,627,801
2008 TeresaSapieha 1,215,000 2004 TerryDavies/TeamRhinovices 1,598,591
2008 HaikoBacker/TeamTanzania 1,196,600 2004 W.Carr-Hartley/N.McRae/JustinLarby 1,319,900
2008 JacquesNell/TeamSouthAfrica 1,181,958 2004 W.Dolleman/FlyingDutchmen 1,253,501
2008 NishLakhani/TeamRandyCruza 1,163,000 2004 RobCollinge 1,223,300
2008 MichaelKontos/JonathanSomen 1,157,001 2004 JonnyHavelock 1,160,657
2008 PreeyeshShah/RhinoChargeTeam27 1,089,881 2004 J.Stichbury/DouglasDufresne 1,112,311
2008 JamesGitauSingh/EdwardMwakio 1,050,500 2004 PeterKinyua 1,060,500
2008 RaviPatel/FryingSquad 1,011,560 2003 McKittrick/Knight/Stubbs/Trundell 5,295,484
2008 JamesKelmanson 1,007,270 2003 Mike&SarahHiggins 2,999,547
2007 McKittrick/Knight/Trundell/Hutchinson 9,275,754 2003 DebbieShah/ArkAngels 2,210,655
2007 Mike&SarahHiggins 5,260,577 2003 T.Davies/Dowding/Ryburg/Gromly/Harrison 1,394,333
2007 MarkTilbury/HogChargeTeam 3,145,885 2003 N.Cahill/R.Campion 1,187,146
2007 BenWoodhams 2,855,397 2003 HOGChargeTeam 1,155,340
2007 SeanAvery 2,624,324 2003 C.Sawyer 1,114,037
2007 TanyaChurch/RhinoRouge 2,549,026 2002 Mike&SarahHiggins 2,730,099
2007 RobCollinge 1,962,806 2002 McKittrick/Knight/Stubbs/ 1,325,695
2007 PreeyeshShah 1,707,076 2002 Dr.S.Avery&Crew 1,300,350
2007 SapiehaGirls 1,564,552 2002 Kahumbu/KWS/EAWLSTeam 1,038,714
2007 WDolleman/FlyingDutchmen 1,508,370 2001 McKittrick/Knight/Stubbs 2,617,690
2007 NishLakhani/TeamRandyKruza 1,418,511 2001 Mike&SarahHiggins 2,290,901
2007 GaiCullen-Fargo 1,280,000 2000 Mike&SarahHiggins 1,517,858
2007 WCarr-Hartley/NMcRae/Justin/Larby 1,236,150 2000 McKittrick/Knight/Stubbs 1,332,933
2007 PeterKinyua 1,207,000 2000 HogChargeTeam 1,059,031
2007 JacquesNell/TeamSouthAfrica 1,153,000 1999 Mike&SarahHiggins 5,255,897
2007 HaikoBacker/TeamTanzania 1,100,050 1998 Mike&SarahHiggins 1,644,539
2007 JamesKelmanson 1,060,147 1998 StephanoCheli&Crew 1,628,200
2007 MarkGlen 1,038,100 1997 Mike&SarahHiggins 1,215,448
2007 JamesGitauSingh/EdwardMwakio 1,002,000 1997 CooperMotorCorporation 1,000,000
2007 EdJohnstone/TeamInternational 1,000,808 1996 Mike&SarahHiggins 1,010,552
2006 McKittrick/Knight/Hutchinson/Trundell/Pleasance 6,302,413 1996 CooperMotorCorporation 1,000,000
2006 Mike&SarahHiggins 5,810,759 1996 StephanoCheli 1,429,970
2006 RobCollinge 2,141,223 1995 StephanoCheli 1,357,840
2006 TanyaChurch/RhinoRouge 2,143,703 1995 SymonRobinson 2,000,020
2006 BenWoodhams 1,938,527 1994 Guy&BellaBishop 1,345,028
7
“BEACON OF HOPE”... THE FINAL POST
Justunder400kms–finally–theRhinoArkAberdareFence donated by the East African Wildlife Society and selected by the
was completed at a lively ceremony attended by hundreds RhinoChargeCommitteeannually.
ofAberdarefarmersonAugust28th,2009.
Elephants have ranged through forest land that links the two
One of Kenya’s most ambitious, entirely home-grown mountains for centuries. KFS, KWS and Rhino Ark reached a
conservation initiatives started 21 years ago, the Rhino Ark comprehensive agreement on the corridor alignment last month
fenceislivingtestimonythatthreatenedmountainecosystems enabling the final 13 kms of the entire fence project to be
canbesecured. completed before the end of August, 2009. It is the first such
elephant corridor linking the Aberdares with a neighbouring
In bright sunshine Hon.Dr NoahWekesa,the Minister of Forestry elephantrangearea.
andWildlife hefted a 3 meter long plastic post weighing 38 kilos
and placed it into the ground at Geta, the area linking the Main Rhino Ark’s project has created the largest wildlife fence
AberdareswithMt.Kipipiri. Hisactionalsocompletedthe45.5km successfullyresolvinghumanwildlifeconflictinEasternAfrica. It
Kipipiri Extra Section of fencing which now secures this precious contains 8000 kms of wire – sufficient to stretch from Nairobi to
water catchment mountain and includes a linking 4km wildlife London – and 100,000 posts of which 20,000 are made from
corridor. Minister Wekesa was accompanied by his Permanent plasticwaste.
Secretary, Mohammed wa-Mwachai, the Director of KWS, Julius
Kipng’etichandDeputyDirectorKFSEmilioMugo.
ColinChurch,ChairmanoftheRhinoArkManagementCommittee “Start of something
said:“ThisisahistoricmomentforliterallymillionsofKenyanswho
even bigger” -
areeitherbenefitingfromthestabilitythatthefencehasgiventhe Minister Wekesa
forest edge farmers, or the wider elements of society and those
friendsofKenyaabroadwho,over21years,haveraisedoverKshs “We cannot truly celebrate what has been done without
750milliontoseethefruitionofthisproject.” recognising that the Aberdares is only one of six vital
water towers in Kenya, and the biggest of them all - the
“At this time of severe drought and considerable turbulence over
Mau - remains in desperate peril. Kenya’s future
indigenousforestconservationinthe4000sqkmMauforest,the
environmentisnotassureduntilallofitsforestsaresafe.
RhinoArkfenceisabeaconofhopeandaprovenmanagementtool
Though there are considerable achievements that come
to ensure the Aberdares’ 2000 sq kms of vital water catchment,
with the completion, fencing Aberdares, it is not enough.
precious indigenous forest and irreplaceable flora and fauna are
TheAberdareModelshouldbeusedasatemplatetosave
better secured. The project is a blue print for other threatened
andsecureallothermajorforests.
forest ecosystems in Kenya and the wider Eastern Africa and
tropicalAfricaregions”,saidMrChurch.
The time to rise up beyond ourselves is now.The time to
Its secret of success has always been that forest edge farmers stand for what is right is now. The time to change our
have welcomed the fence since it has resolved human-wildlife actionsisnow...whilewehavetheopportunitytosalvage
conflict on a grand scale. In turn as full crop off-take is secured our environment. We cannot go on talking forever, even
andlandvalueshaverisen,thefencelinefarmershaveturnedto whenwehavetastedtherepercussionsofouractions!We
become the guardians of the indigenous forest inside the fence. should learn from this experience that great risks are
They are now playing a key part monitoring the fence, reporting ahead of us if we do not do our part in conserving our
illegal and corrupt activities, planting indigenous trees inside the naturalresources.
fence, developing forms of sustainable activity on their shambas
andprovidingtrainedfencescoutswhodailypatrolthefenceand Let today be the end of something big and the start of
helpmanageit. somethingevenbigger.”
MrChurchmadespecialreferencetothefounderofRhinoArk,the
late Mr Ken Kuhle and the early supporters of Rhino Ark whose
determinationinthefaceofimpossibleoddsstartedRhinoArkas Alongitsentirelength,forestedgefarmershaveparticipatedinits
afundraiseandfencemanagementmechanism. construction and maintenance. Every 8 kms of the fence is daily
patrolled by fence scouts employed from the forest edge
ThefirstKshs250,000wasraisedfromtheirbrainchild-theRhino communities.
Charge.Thisenabledthefenceprojecttostart.TodayRhinoCharge
– a world unique off-road event – raises over Kshs 60 million TheAberdarefenceisinrealitynowapublic/privateventureandas
(about USD 1 million) annually. Rhino Ark attracts considerable suchensuresthatallwhoneeditsbenefitsareresponsibleforits
furthersupportfromcorporateandbilateralgrantsannuallytoo. longtermmanagement.
Duringthepastthreeyearsrealisationofthebenefitofthefenceas The Kenya Government has started to endorse the principle of
a management tool for Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest shared investment by committing the Kshs 112 million to the
Service has convinced the KenyanTreasury to invest in the fence projecttodate. Theprincipleof‘ashillingforashilling’toensure
aswell. TodateoverKshs112millionhasbeenprovidedforwire sharedfiscalresponsibilityfrombothcivilsocietytaxpayersandthe
andpostsviaKWSandKFS. Treasuryistakingroot.
Amongst the forest edge farmers at the ceremony were groups The formation of a trust with a mandate to manage the fence
from Gatamayiu,Kekika (Keraita/Kieni/Kamae) and Kipipiri - all of technicallyandtoplayanactiveroleintheAberdares’ecosystem
whom have won the prestigious Michael Werikhe Award for managementgenerallyisinpreparation. Itwillbringthisprojectto
servicestoconservationintheAberdareecosystem.Theawardis sustainabilityunderalegallybindingstatute.
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PermanentSecretaryForestryandWildlife, Kipipirischoolchildrensinganddance
Mohammedwa-Mwachai a conservation message
Dr Perez Olindo, Rhino Ark Trustee (cap), the late Mike
Higgins,TrusteeandveteranRhinoChargefundraiser,Higgins
team members and Colin Church place RhinoArk’s last post.
Members of the
Kekika and Kipipiri
Minister of Forestry andWildlife, communities place
Hon.Dr NoahWekesa places final post. their Final Post
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