Kenya Launches New Project To Conserve Famed Tsavo Wildlife Parks

FLORA AND FAUNA

Currently, KWS is moving 400 elephants from an overcrowded reserve near the Indian Ocean coast to Tsavo, to add to the estimated 10,581 already there.

Nairobi (AFP) Sep 23, 2005
As part of a scheme to revamp its national parks to promote tourism and protect wildlife, Kenya on Thursday launched a new project to conserve the famed Tsavo East and West National Parks, home to the country's largest populations of elephants.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said the 1.25-million-dollar (1.02-million-euro) project would enhance park operations, rehabilitate infrastructure, improve law enforcement, research and conservation as well as reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

KWS said it needs more funds to protect the 21,000-square-kilometer (8,100 square-mile) Tsavo parks, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) southeast of the capital, which is regarded as a nexus for human-wildlife conflict.

"Bandits, bushmeat hunters and human-wildlife conflict pose a serious threat to biodiversity within this ecosystem," KWS chairman Daniel Ndonye said.

"To manage these threats, KWS needs rangers, fuel, aircraft and field worthy vehicles for effective patrols and anti-poaching operations," he said.

Currently, KWS is moving 400 elephants from an overcrowded reserve near the Indian Ocean coast to Tsavo, to add to the estimated 10,581 already there.

But a survey carried out last year found that more than 90,000 livestock from farms on the edges of the parks were encroaching into the protected space and possibly affecting the elephants living there.

Created in 1948, East and West Tsavo - collectively known as Tsavo ecosystem - are home to the largest single populations of elephants and rhinos in Kenya in addition to 60 other mammal species and more than 400 bird species.

FLORA AND FAUNA

US Launches Campaign Against Asia Wildlife Trade Amid Bird Flu Threat

Washington (AFP) Sep 23, 2005
Amid the danger of an avian flu pandemic, the United States launched a global coalition Friday to lobby Asian governments to tighten enforcement on wildlife trafficking.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT PanAmSat Launches Emergency Response Team Devastated By Worst US Hurricane In 1900, Galveston Readies For Rita U.S. Gears Up To Stop Katrina Fraud ASEAN Says Drill Shows Need For Better Emergency Response Coordination	CLIMATE SCIENCE Lands Surface Change On Alaska Tundra Creating Longer, Warmer Summers In Arctic Impact Of Global Warming On Weather Patterns Underestimated Bury Climate-Warming Gas, Scientists Say Earth's Wobble Burps
EARTH OBSERVATION NASA Technology Monitors Wildlife Habitats From The Air Orbimage Announces Awards Totaling $6.1M Of ClearView Orders From The NGA NASA Cooperative Airborne Laser Mapping Studies Katrina Damage Orbimage Announces Agreement To Purchase Assets Of Space Imaging	ENERGY TECH Winter Shutdown Approved For Wind Farms Heart Of US Petroleum Industry Menaced By Rita More Than 70 Percent Of US Gulf Of Mexico Oil Output Cut By Hurricanes Oil Prices Higher On Hurricane Rita Fears
EPIDEMICS U.N. Concerned About Bird Flu In Indonesia Indonesia Plays Down Talk Of Bird Flu Epidemic Indonesia Says It Is Facing Bird Flu Epidemic United States To Press For Bird Flu Action Plan In APEC Summit	FLORA AND FAUNA US Launches Campaign Against Asia Wildlife Trade Amid Bird Flu Threat Kenya Launches New Project To Conserve Famed Tsavo Wildlife Parks Experts Develop Global Action Plan To Save Amphibians Facing Extinction Researchers Predict Infinite Genomes
FROTH AND BUBBLE Toxic Flood Lifts Lid On Common Urban Pollution Problem Metals Giant Rusal Faces Uzbek Anger Over Expansion Plan In Tajikistan New Orleans Suburb Covered In Slime Faces Uncertain Future Canada To Press Chinese President Over Pollution	ABOUT US Scientists Uncover Why Picture Perception Works The Roots Of Civilization Trace Back To ... Roots The Mechanics Of Foot Travel Compound May Prevent Neuron-Degeneration

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement