The Colobus Trust is a
conservation organization designed to promote the conservation,
preservation and protection of primates like the rare Angolan
Colobus monkey (Colobus angolensis palliatus) and its coastal forest
habitat in southern Kenya. The Trust was established in 1997 in
response to an outcry from local residents about the high number of
deaths of the Colobus in the Diani area. Now the Trust has numerous
projects concerning the wildlife and the citizens of Kenya,
including animal welfare, biological/ecological research, community
development and education, forest protection and enrichment and
eco-tourism awareness programs.
Our Mission Statement is:
To promote, in close co-operation with other organizations and local
communities, the conservation, preservation and protection of
primates, in particular the Angolan Colobus monkey (Colobus
angolensis palliatus) and its associated coastal forest habitat in
Kenya.
The Trust's Goals are to:
Conserve and protect the Angolan Colobus and its habitat in Kenya;
Inspire interest and participation in primate and environmental
conservation;
Promote the welfare of primates and to reduce the impact of human
development on the environment in Diani and Kenya;
Further understanding of the primate species and their conservation;
Be able to respond and deliver a high quality primate rescue and
rehabilitation service; and
Become a model for other conservation based charities in Kenya to
follow and emulate; a considerate employer through training and fair
wage structure, to be self-funding, producing high quality valuable
work and to be transparent.
What we do
Research
Research projects that have been carried out at the Trust include
studies on colobus feeding ecology, primate censuses, feeding &
behavioural monitoring, forest disturbance surveys and hotel pest
assessments. Please be clear however that we are not a research
training institute. We will not ask you to conduct a scientific
research project unless you have the training and skills to be able
to do this. This is why we ask you to complete an application form
and send us your CV. Obviously you will learn a lot and have lots of
new experiences while you are here, but we do not have the skills
in-house to train you in scientific methodology. If you want to
conduct research while you are here, and have the skills necessary
to do this, then please inform us of this before your arrival, so
that we can discuss your ideas and equipment / computer software
requirements with you (e.g. GPS, GIS, statistics packages, etc). Habitat Loss
Forest Conservation
Working to secure Diani's last patch of primary forest, the Trust is
trying to develop the Diani Forest Conservation Area. The Trust also
works regularly with local community groups to protect and restore
areas of sacred 'kaya' forests. Volunteer projects include forest
surveys, reforestation projects and developing sustainable forest
use ides (e.g. bee keeping).
Wood carvings
The Trust has been working on issues surrounding the destruction of
the forest. Specifically we are working with people in the wood
carving industry to reduce dependence on indigenous forest tree
species and increase the use of sustainable exotic species including
neem, mango and coconut. Volunteers have been working with community
groups on these issues and doing surveys of the current trends of
wood carving sales.
Human - Wildlife Conflict / Pest Management
Since the Trust began its work with the colobus, it has become
increasingly aware of more general human-primate conflicts in the
area. In the past 20 years, deforestation in Diani has been rapid,
and some primates have adapted to their new environment by stealing
food from tourists, hotel kitchens, and waste sites. The baboons in
Diani reproduce almost three times faster than the same species in
nearby Shimba Hills as a direct result of this easier access to
food. This has caused the animal density to exceed the capacity of
the natural habitat, which in turn has made them dependent on these
supplemental food sources.
The Trust believes that co-existence between local residents,
hoteliers, tourists and the environment is possible and is
developing acceptable alternatives to the current methods used to
deter primates. Volunteers can take part in active management in the
area to ensure that Diani remains both a major tourist attraction
and an area of rich biodiversity.
Pest Control Methods
Vervets, sykes and baboons may sometimes become a nuisance to local
residents and hoteliers, as they steal food from kitchens,
restaurants and crop fields. In the past people have resorted to
control measures that have proven both ineffective and inhumane.
These include painting monkeys with glossy paint, tying bells around
their necks and stomachs, poisoning, trapping, clubbing and shooting
them. These deterrent methods are both cruel and unacceptable.
Tactics such as taste aversion and negative stimuli have, to date,
proven unsuccessful in deterring monkeys, and translocation programs
only result in transferring the problem elsewhere. Humane in-situ
solutions must be found. The Trust aims to assess each problem site
with regards to their monkey pest problem, offering practical advice
and assistance in deterring monkeys from their properties (mainly
during 'human' feeding times). Forest Protection
Over 75% of Diani's forests have already been lost to development
during the last 25 years. The remaining forests are fragmented and
isolated. The Trust has a small seedling nursery, and we would like
to expand this aspect of the Trust by encouraging hotel owners and
local residents to replenish the natural environment.
Primate Rescue
The Trust responds to calls to rescue distressed monkeys (of all
species). Frequently, these are due to road injuries, electrocution,
snares and animal cruelty. In general, we do not handle monkeys
unless it is unavoidable. The permanent staff at the Trust deal with
animal welfare as this work requires specific training and
experience, however, there are plenty of opportunities to take part,
for example, in the measuring of animals, assisting with vet work,
and releasing.
Emergency Veterinarian Care
We have a veterinary clinic on site at the Trust. Primate
rehabilitation is done under the supervision of the local vet,
however volunteers can assist where possible. This is a great
opportunity to try your hand at wildlife rescue!
Long-term Injury Care & Rehabilitation
Vervet monkeys are commonly (but illegally) kept as pets in Kenya.
Once confiscated by the Kenya Wildlife Service, they come to the
Trust for rehabilitation. At the Trust they are encouraged to
develop skills to allow them to survive in the wild, including
developing normal social behaviour with other monkeys, eating wild
foods, and developing a healthy fear of humans. These monkeys are
eventually released back to the wild. Volunteers take care of these
monkeys by feeding them, cleaning their cages, and cage enrichment
tasks. At a recent release, volunteers were involved in the
monitoring of the vervets in nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve
using radio tracking equipment.
Bridge Building
When the Trust was founded, one of the main threats to Diani's
colobus monkeys was death caused by motor accidents. The home ranges
of these arboreal primates have been bisected by a major road, and
they are subsequently very prone to road injuries whilst crossing
through their ranges. The Trust has aimed to reduce this problem
through the construction of 'colobridges', which span the road from
tree canopies on either side. In the past five years, we have
constructed 22 colobridges in the most dangerous spots along the
road. Consequently, the number of road kills have been reduced
dramatically. Volunteers may be required to assist with the
practical construction and erection of bridges.
Electrocution Hotspot Monitoring
After the success of the colobridge campaign, the main cause of
death and injury for the colobus is electrocution on the
un-insulated power lines in the Diani area. The Trust has succeeded
in getting the Kenyan Power and Lighting Company to assist in
regularly cutting back the trees beside the power lines with our
field staff. Our goal is eventually to have all the pre-existing
lines insulated and to have any new lines insulated. Insulating is
an expensive process, however, and volunteers may be asked to assist
in identification of hotspot areas and help with tree cutting.
Education Workshops Every week during the school year, the Trust runs an all-day work
shop for primary and secondary school children, to educate them on
environmental and primates topics, help them develop computing
skills, and give them a fun-filled day of activity. Every year more
than 1000 school children attend our workshops. Volunteers often
help Trust staff run the workshops and love the chance to interact
with the kids.
Environmental Workshops
Meetings have been held by the Trust bringing together hoteliers,
residents and Trust workers to discuss long-term waste management
options in Diani. Lack of effective and environmentally responsible
waste disposal mechanisms encourages the animals to become dependent
upon humans, and so attempts to clean up the dumps in Diani may
alleviate the animal's dependency on hotel grounds. Garbage dump
surveys, mapping, hotel garbage assessment, and research into
efficient garbage management options available in Kenya are just
some of the duties you could become involved with as a volunteer.
Eco-Tourism
The Colobus Cottage boasts an information and education centre,
which is also open to the public for specific hours each week. We
have full-time staff members, trained as tour-guides, who give
educational talks about the Trust and the colobus, as well as a tour
of our Nature Trail. Training is given, and volunteers can assist
with tours. Tourists are predominantly given in English, French and
German. Bilingual volunteers are especially welcome!
Colobus Publicity & Marketing
Every six months the Trust produces a Colobus Update - an
informative newsletter aimed at the local public. Volunteers may be
asked to help in producing the newsletter by editing, taking
photographs, contributing articles or generally helping in its
design and production on computer. Other work includes: assisting
with education displays, Diani publicity distribution, attending
local events, translations, school party activities, and nature
trail development at the Colobus Cottage.
Current Directors are:
Raymond Matiba (Chairman)
Lulu Archer
Luciana Parazzi
Julie Anderson
Elias Kimaru
Jophie Clark
Wakuluzu: Friends of the Colobus Trust Limited is a Kenyan
registered, not for profit company limited by guarantee and not
having a share capital.
Every week during the school year, the Trust runs an all-day work
shop for primary and secondary school children, to educate them on
environmental and primates topics, help them develop computing
skills, and give them a fun-filled day of activity. Every year more
than 1000 school children attend our workshops. Volunteers often
help Trust staff run the workshops and love the chance to interact
with the kids.
