NAIROBI, Kenya, October 9 – Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala Saturday officiated the first-ever Magical Kenya Elephant naming festival which is aimed at embracing conservation and ultimately ensuring the preservation of Kenya’s heritage.
During the event which took place at Amboseli National Park year, individuals and organizations who donated funds towards the initiative gave names to selected elephants.
The park boasts 1900 elephants including 200 calves that were born in 2020.
Tusker, Serian, Pendo, Magical Kenya, are among the names of the 20 elephants given by their adoptive parents- East African Breweries Limited, Kenya Commercial Bank, and Kenya Tourism Board respectively.
Speaking during the event, CS Balala lauded the event as an inclusion of the public towards conservation and assured of the Government’s commitment to ensure the event remains viable even as he unveiled plans to make it international.
“This is certainly a great milestone for Kenya, this initiative will go a long way in ensuring that elephants are protected in Kenya not only for ourselves but also for future generations, I urge Kenyans to make it a national pride to conserve wildlife, already tremendous efforts have been made in minimizing poaching,” he said.
He said the ministry will collaborate with sponsors by involving them in other conservation-related programs.
As of Saturday, October 19, the ministry had raised Sh 16.5 million against the target of sh100 million it seeks to raise within the financial year 2021-2022.
Director of Wildlife, Research Training Institute, Patrick Omondi noted that the funds will be used to boost technology through Elephant collaring which helps in monitoring the elephant movements aiding the KWS rangers to anticipate when elephants are at risk.
Part of the funds, Omondi said, will also be directed towards the enhancement of existing community-led projects that will improve the livelihoods of the locals.
“It will also be used make strategic fences on farms surrounding the park in order to minimize human-life conflict, especially during the drought seasons when herds are heading towards human settlements, he told Capital Business in a separate interview.
The Governor of Kajiado County, Joseph Ole Lenku, Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Kenya, Kana Kanana, and other Sri Lanka ministers were some of the guests who attended the event.
In his remarks, Ole Lenku urged the Balala-led ministry to ensure that the initiative will benefit the community, especially the rangers whom he described as “unsung heroes.”
Lenku noted that while poaching has reduced in the country, community members especially the rangers have been helpful in fighting conservation amidst rising human-wildlife conflict.
“The stakeholders should also recognize the local communities’ contribution towards conservation, during dry seasons, many animals move to private ranches/ conservancies, and members of the public always play a key role in containing them. I appeal to the Government to ensure that funds collected will also be directed towards the local communities who have tirelessly been players in championing conservation,” he said.
Africa Wildlife Foundation, Animal Adoption, Advocacy LLc, Bonfire adventures, Chandaria Foundation, East Africa Safari Rally, Ken and Joan Wakia, Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), Mediheal Hospital, East Africa Safari Rally, Chandaria Foundation, Oltukai Lodges are some of the adoptive parents of the elephants.