Diani Beach and the Coastal Habitat

   THE ENVIRONMENT OF DIANI   

Diani Beach, situated 30km south of Mombasa, is home to a diverse array of wildlife. There are four species of diurnal primates: the Angolan black-and-white colobus, yellow baboon, vervet monkey, and the sykes monkey as well as two species of nocturnal primate, the thick-tailed bush baby and lesser bush baby.
The Angolan Colobus monkey is a rare sight in Kenya, only being found in the coastal forests South of Mombasa. Diani has the highest concentration of the Angolan Colobus in Kenya. The coastal coral-rag forest in which the colobus live is now heavily degraded over 75% of it has been destroyed in the last 20 years.

   Diani and Nature - What to See When You Are Here   

Besides being a luxurious beach and crystal-clear warm water and only a stones throw away from game parks like Shimba Hills National Reserve, Diani and the entire south coast of Kenya offer a range of activities, day-trips and excursions for visitors interested in the environment of the coast, the unique species of trees, plants, birds and mammals -- as well as the colourful history of the region. We've put together a list of spots of interest.

   Threats From Human Development to Primates   

Development along the south Kenyan coast, especially for the tourist industry, has been a serious problem to the environment and a dangerous threat to biodiversity and ultimately sustainable economies and livelihoods for the local people. Specific threats to the primates of the south coast of Kenya in general and of Diani in particular are:

Habitat loss: Over 75% of Diani's forests have already been lost to developments during the last 25 years. Remaining forests are fragmented and isolated.

Vehicle injuries: A major road has been built running parallel to the beach, approximately 500 meters inland. This road bisects the remaining patches of forests, and in many instances also divides the home-ranges of the colobus and other primates forcing them to cross the road, regularly leading to injuries and deaths by vehicles.

Un-insulated Electric Power Cables: The main lines of 22,000 volts are all un-insulated, and will instantly kill any primate that touches them. The domestic lines of 240 volts are equally fatal through limb amputations, leading to a high number of secondary fatalities due to infection, dog attacks or road kills. Unfortunately, the Angolan Colobus, due to their arboreal nature, are particularly vulnerable.
 

Illegal Snaring: A recurring problem in Diani forest is illegal snaring for bush meat. Small forest antelope are the primary target of these snares, however other terrestrial dwelling mammals including primates are regularly caught inadvertently.

 Human Cruelty: Cases of human cruelty are numerous in the area. Development, and the high density of primates in the area, have increased the incidents of human-primate conflict, specifically involving yellow baboons and vervet monkeys.

 Pet Trade: The pet trade is an increasing problem in Kenya. The Trust works in association with KWS (Kenya Wildlife Services) and KSPCA (Kenya Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals) to tackle this issue.