22 April 2009 Zoo in Mara is still in the works
Apr 22nd, 2009, 05:58 PM
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22 April 2009 Zoo in Mara is still in the works
http://www.maratriangle.org/blog/200...tion-cont.html
Quote from the above link:
"it seems that construction over at "Mara's Cheetah Zoo" has not been halted despite KWS saying that it had. Fences keep away any visitors on the ground, but a flight over the top reveals that the work still continues..."
Director General
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
Popo Road off Mombasa Road
P.O. Box 67839-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Re:
Objection to the "Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary Project" of the Kenya Cheetah Foundation (KCF)
KCF NEMA LICENSE 0002326 dated NOV 10, 2008
KCF NEMA Report PR/4058
KCF NEMA Approval 3/10/2008
Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the Proposed "Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary" dated June 2008
Or email the same to: [email protected].
<b>How awful!</b>
Quote from the above link:
"it seems that construction over at "Mara's Cheetah Zoo" has not been halted despite KWS saying that it had. Fences keep away any visitors on the ground, but a flight over the top reveals that the work still continues..."
Director General
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
Popo Road off Mombasa Road
P.O. Box 67839-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Re:
Objection to the "Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary Project" of the Kenya Cheetah Foundation (KCF)
KCF NEMA LICENSE 0002326 dated NOV 10, 2008
KCF NEMA Report PR/4058
KCF NEMA Approval 3/10/2008
Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the Proposed "Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary" dated June 2008
Or email the same to: [email protected].
<b>How awful!</b>
Apr 23rd, 2009, 10:30 AM
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William from the Mara Conservancy comments on the blog:
<I>Hello all. This just arrived in my inbox:
"Please know that I contacted Julius Kipngetich at KWS yesterday after reading information about the on-going work at the cheetah zoo.
The reply I got from Kipngetich this morning is:
"People have a right to build what they want with their land but take from me there will be no ZOO!'"</I>
<I>Hello all. This just arrived in my inbox:
"Please know that I contacted Julius Kipngetich at KWS yesterday after reading information about the on-going work at the cheetah zoo.
The reply I got from Kipngetich this morning is:
"People have a right to build what they want with their land but take from me there will be no ZOO!'"</I>
Apr 24th, 2009, 05:59 PM
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I contacted a Kenyan tour operator about it. They knew about this scheme and were not in favor of it but expressed optimism that it would be dismantled. I asked for addition addresses, #s, maybe a petition. I'll post anything I get.
Apr 25th, 2009, 04:48 AM
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Call it what you want, but will the cheetahs or other animals that live wild in the area be rounded up and put in cages to breed cubs for export? That's what I want to know.
Whoever had their palms greased to allow this absurdity needs to be told if this is allowed, there will be a net loss in Kenyan tourism.
Can you imagine the folks that stay in the small, exclusive and pricey Mara luxury camps putting up with this? They can go anywhere on safari and won't tolerate a zoo/sanctuary that houses the species they come to see in the wild. They'll head to the Serengeti or Botswana or anywhere else and I won't blame them.
The owners/operators of these places need to put some pressure on whoever will ruin their livelihood, not to mention ruin the lives of the captive cheetahs or other species.
Whoever had their palms greased to allow this absurdity needs to be told if this is allowed, there will be a net loss in Kenyan tourism.
Can you imagine the folks that stay in the small, exclusive and pricey Mara luxury camps putting up with this? They can go anywhere on safari and won't tolerate a zoo/sanctuary that houses the species they come to see in the wild. They'll head to the Serengeti or Botswana or anywhere else and I won't blame them.
The owners/operators of these places need to put some pressure on whoever will ruin their livelihood, not to mention ruin the lives of the captive cheetahs or other species.
Apr 25th, 2009, 05:19 AM
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>>Can you imagine the folks that stay in the small, exclusive and pricey Mara luxury camps putting up with this?<<
These small camps (and large ones along with lodges), whether lux or not are all on board protesting this. Seems even with all the protests, whether from in-country or outside, hasn't put a complete halt to this fence. And, a picture received the other day.... ugly, ugly.
If this goes thru, it wouldn't surpsie that nigh bandits will tear it down and let the game escape.
These small camps (and large ones along with lodges), whether lux or not are all on board protesting this. Seems even with all the protests, whether from in-country or outside, hasn't put a complete halt to this fence. And, a picture received the other day.... ugly, ugly.
If this goes thru, it wouldn't surpsie that nigh bandits will tear it down and let the game escape.
Apr 25th, 2009, 08:27 AM
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<i>These small camps (and large ones along with lodges), whether lux or not are all on board protesting this.</i>
I was wondering if the plot thickens and there were reasons that those with influence were not exerting more of that influence to halt the debacle.
I also wonder if when these plans were launched, late in 2008 that times were good and maybe there were people who would want to fly to the Mara and spend beaucoup bucks to stay at the cheetah hotel. Now times are not so good, so this project might be suffering along with others. That could at least buy some time.
The other news that has come out since the inception of this project is the overall decline in the Mara's ecosystem. The Mara cannot suffer more bad PR without drastic consequences to anyone with a financial stake in it. This zoo, sanctuary or however you want to spin a facility that cages the wild cheetah and perhaps other animals is really bad PR.
Here's another contact that will get an email from me.
Kenya Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife office
Utalii House, Off Uhuru Highway
P.O. Box 30027, Nairobi, KENYA
Tel: +254-020-333555, +254-020-313010
Fax. +254-020-318045
Email:[email protected]
I was wondering if the plot thickens and there were reasons that those with influence were not exerting more of that influence to halt the debacle.
I also wonder if when these plans were launched, late in 2008 that times were good and maybe there were people who would want to fly to the Mara and spend beaucoup bucks to stay at the cheetah hotel. Now times are not so good, so this project might be suffering along with others. That could at least buy some time.
The other news that has come out since the inception of this project is the overall decline in the Mara's ecosystem. The Mara cannot suffer more bad PR without drastic consequences to anyone with a financial stake in it. This zoo, sanctuary or however you want to spin a facility that cages the wild cheetah and perhaps other animals is really bad PR.
Here's another contact that will get an email from me.
Kenya Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife office
Utalii House, Off Uhuru Highway
P.O. Box 30027, Nairobi, KENYA
Tel: +254-020-333555, +254-020-313010
Fax. +254-020-318045
Email:[email protected]
Apr 25th, 2009, 08:47 AM
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Here's the email. Feel free to use any part of it for your own note of dissension.
The Honorable Minister of Tourism:
A zoo and cheetah hotel in the Maasai Mara is an appalling thought.
Your fine organization needs to fight any plans to house captive cheetah in the Mara. Isn't this commercial exploitation of a wild animal?
Maintaining and breeding cheetah in captivity requires a high degree of scientific skill and knowledge. A host of qualified scientists would need to be recruited to oversee this operation if it is truly for the benefit of the species.
Wild cheetahs will be removed from their natural environment and caged with the hope that tourists will pay to look at them in cages instead of the wild? Not only is this unethical, I believe it will be unprofitable--unless the real purpose is breeding and export of cheetahs to other zoos or as pets. Is this what the "partnership with zoos" clause is all about?
Domestic feed will have to be brought in or poaching in the Mara must be allowed to feed the cheetahs. When will the cheetahs learn to hunt so they can be released? But maybe release is not part of the plan, because they were wild in the first place. I have a feeling the plan is that they will remain captive to breed for zoos.
If you build a zoo, you will lose the visitors who can go anywhere in the world for a zoo, but who come to the Maasai Mara for wild animals, including wild cheetah. You will lose my tourist dollars.
I am currently corresponding with a Kenyan safari operator about an August 2010 trip that will include a week in the Mara. If you are going to trap the cheetahs of the Mara and put them in a zoo and charge me to see them in cages, I want no part of it. In fact, I will likely choose another African country to visit in 2010. I visit Africa every year and I have come to Kenya four times but I will stop coming to Kenya if this ridiculous zoo in one of the jewels of the continent is built. I cannot properly convey to you my level of disgust and revulsion with this debacle.
Thank you for your attention and I hope you put an end to this horrible scheme.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Minister of Tourism:
A zoo and cheetah hotel in the Maasai Mara is an appalling thought.
Your fine organization needs to fight any plans to house captive cheetah in the Mara. Isn't this commercial exploitation of a wild animal?
Maintaining and breeding cheetah in captivity requires a high degree of scientific skill and knowledge. A host of qualified scientists would need to be recruited to oversee this operation if it is truly for the benefit of the species.
Wild cheetahs will be removed from their natural environment and caged with the hope that tourists will pay to look at them in cages instead of the wild? Not only is this unethical, I believe it will be unprofitable--unless the real purpose is breeding and export of cheetahs to other zoos or as pets. Is this what the "partnership with zoos" clause is all about?
Domestic feed will have to be brought in or poaching in the Mara must be allowed to feed the cheetahs. When will the cheetahs learn to hunt so they can be released? But maybe release is not part of the plan, because they were wild in the first place. I have a feeling the plan is that they will remain captive to breed for zoos.
If you build a zoo, you will lose the visitors who can go anywhere in the world for a zoo, but who come to the Maasai Mara for wild animals, including wild cheetah. You will lose my tourist dollars.
I am currently corresponding with a Kenyan safari operator about an August 2010 trip that will include a week in the Mara. If you are going to trap the cheetahs of the Mara and put them in a zoo and charge me to see them in cages, I want no part of it. In fact, I will likely choose another African country to visit in 2010. I visit Africa every year and I have come to Kenya four times but I will stop coming to Kenya if this ridiculous zoo in one of the jewels of the continent is built. I cannot properly convey to you my level of disgust and revulsion with this debacle.
Thank you for your attention and I hope you put an end to this horrible scheme.
Sincerely,
Apr 25th, 2009, 03:26 PM
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This was on the Mara Triangle blog:
<i>“We have recently heard that the Cheetah Project planned for Koiyaki Conservancy in the Mara has been stopped by the KWS. Apparently they had a board meeting last week and it was decided that the project would not be allowed to go ahead. The perimeter fence and other construction has already started and we will try to find out if construction has actually been halted.”</i>
Then NEMA wrote this:
<i>“The Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary was licensed on 10th November 2008. The relevant lead agencies were consulted and they indicated that the project was viable. Specifically, KWS advised that the project could proceed provided that the suggested environmental management plan is implemented throughout the project cycle. KWS also advised that the Kenya Cheetah Foundation should adhere to the prescriptions of the National Cheetah Conservation Strategy by ensuring that “only orphaned or injured cheetahs are received at the centre opportunistically” and that there will be “no re-introduction of captive raised cheetahs to the wild.” NEMA can therefore confirm that the licensing of this project was procedural.”</i>
http://www.nema.go.ke/index.php?opti...272&Itemid=171
I had a look at Bushdrums and discovered that, not surprisingly, it was Jan Goss who got assurance from Julius Kipng'etich, director of KWS, that there would not be a zoo.
It may be an idea to email [email protected]
Maybe the people with the “Idea” should get some emails?
Contact in Spain:
Jorge Alesanco Rodríguez del Castillo, PRESIDENT
PH.: + 34 649 70 87 55
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
Javier López Fernández-Velilla, GENERAL DIRECTOR
PH: + 34 609 08 40 75 - 91 434 88 19
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
Contact in Kenya:
Mauricio Fregoni, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR IN KENYA
PH: 00254729640 975
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
http://www.kenyacheetahfoundation.com/html/en/home.htm
It seems so very unlikely that these people would be allowed to capture wild cheetahs, but about 50,000 even more outrageous things are happening in Kenya every day.
<i>“We have recently heard that the Cheetah Project planned for Koiyaki Conservancy in the Mara has been stopped by the KWS. Apparently they had a board meeting last week and it was decided that the project would not be allowed to go ahead. The perimeter fence and other construction has already started and we will try to find out if construction has actually been halted.”</i>
Then NEMA wrote this:
<i>“The Cheetah Rehabilitation Sanctuary was licensed on 10th November 2008. The relevant lead agencies were consulted and they indicated that the project was viable. Specifically, KWS advised that the project could proceed provided that the suggested environmental management plan is implemented throughout the project cycle. KWS also advised that the Kenya Cheetah Foundation should adhere to the prescriptions of the National Cheetah Conservation Strategy by ensuring that “only orphaned or injured cheetahs are received at the centre opportunistically” and that there will be “no re-introduction of captive raised cheetahs to the wild.” NEMA can therefore confirm that the licensing of this project was procedural.”</i>
http://www.nema.go.ke/index.php?opti...272&Itemid=171
I had a look at Bushdrums and discovered that, not surprisingly, it was Jan Goss who got assurance from Julius Kipng'etich, director of KWS, that there would not be a zoo.
It may be an idea to email [email protected]
Maybe the people with the “Idea” should get some emails?
Contact in Spain:
Jorge Alesanco Rodríguez del Castillo, PRESIDENT
PH.: + 34 649 70 87 55
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
Javier López Fernández-Velilla, GENERAL DIRECTOR
PH: + 34 609 08 40 75 - 91 434 88 19
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
Contact in Kenya:
Mauricio Fregoni, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR IN KENYA
PH: 00254729640 975
E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
http://www.kenyacheetahfoundation.com/html/en/home.htm
It seems so very unlikely that these people would be allowed to capture wild cheetahs, but about 50,000 even more outrageous things are happening in Kenya every day.
Apr 25th, 2009, 03:35 PM
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Contact info for Najib Balala. Minister of Tourism
Phone Number: 0733 333500 / 0724 – 650000
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 0733 333500 / 0724 – 650000
Email: [email protected]
Apr 26th, 2009, 04:18 PM
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Thank you thank you thank you for this post, Lynn! And for your eloquent e-mail, and information about how we can voice our protests about this disgusting and stupid idea. As much as I love reading trip reports and dreaming of future trips to Africa, this type of post is so important, and (in my humble opinion) one of the best uses of Internet forums. Thank you to everybody who's participated in this thread.
Apr 28th, 2009, 02:24 AM
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This is for everybody who is talking about this tremendous lie.
The cheetah foundation is the only hope of de cheetas in mara.
Is NOT a zoo al all. Who sy that? what kind of interest against them do you have?.
I know well this foundation and they are the most seriuos and good people i´ve ever meet.
And they love cheetahs and massai mara more than anybody and only them knows how to save cheetah
The cheetah foundation is the only hope of de cheetas in mara.
Is NOT a zoo al all. Who sy that? what kind of interest against them do you have?.
I know well this foundation and they are the most seriuos and good people i´ve ever meet.
And they love cheetahs and massai mara more than anybody and only them knows how to save cheetah
Apr 28th, 2009, 03:55 AM
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ecolife -
I don't believe those against this project are against the cheetah! Rather they don't believe a small enclosure (a scar on the land) belongs in the Masai Mara which is small, already overcrowded with lodges/camps and the many vehicles and tourists who visit the area. An area already being pushed to it's limits.
Kenya has many small parks and conservation lands throughout the country that could better be used to - save, breed, teach the animals to hunt naturally - then set free in the Mara or elsewhere. This project doesn't belong in the middle of throngs of human traffic where they are expected to pay, thus making what is planned, a ZOO!
If visitors want a Zoo, they don't have to visit the Masai Mara!
I don't believe those against this project are against the cheetah! Rather they don't believe a small enclosure (a scar on the land) belongs in the Masai Mara which is small, already overcrowded with lodges/camps and the many vehicles and tourists who visit the area. An area already being pushed to it's limits.
Kenya has many small parks and conservation lands throughout the country that could better be used to - save, breed, teach the animals to hunt naturally - then set free in the Mara or elsewhere. This project doesn't belong in the middle of throngs of human traffic where they are expected to pay, thus making what is planned, a ZOO!
If visitors want a Zoo, they don't have to visit the Masai Mara!
Apr 28th, 2009, 01:38 PM
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Another article about the cheetah zoo:
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/...o/-/index.html
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/...o/-/index.html
Apr 29th, 2009, 11:50 AM
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"People have a right to build what they want with their land .......(but take from me there will be no ZOO!')"
The first part of the sentence (stated by the head of KWS) sounds very much ignorant to me.
Thank you for sharing all the email addresses. I will work on them within the next couple of days.
SV
The first part of the sentence (stated by the head of KWS) sounds very much ignorant to me.
Thank you for sharing all the email addresses. I will work on them within the next couple of days.
SV
