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Primate census - comparing to 1977 figures // July
A short census was done to compare the number of primates in a
small area of Diani to that recorded in 1977. The results
showed all primates increased in numbers. |
Good Woods // April - September
These aims of this study was to promote the use of sustainably
grown woods as an economically viable alternative to the use of
indigenous hard woods for wood carvings in Diani. This project
focuses on increasing the knowledge of local people and foreign
tourists of the impact of removing indigenous hard woods from the
forests of Kenya and Tanzania and especially those of the Eastern
Arc and Coastal Forest biodiversity hotspot. Specifically, market
forces will be used to reduce the sale of indigenous forest hard
wood wood carvings in the tourist resort of Diani. |
Radio Tracking of release ex-captive vervet monkeys // June -
September
Nine vervet monkeys underwent a rehabilitation process after
being confiscated from illegal circumstances. This group was
released into Shimba Hills National Reserve. Three of the nine
were radio collared. The monitoring was carried out over three
months. Though there were losses from baboon predation, the
release was a success and the Trust has now been able to adjust its
rehabilitation procedures to make next years release even more of a
success. |
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Diani Forest Disturbance Survey
The Diani Forest was surveyed for the number of cut saplings and
trees. The survey showed that the forest is under pressure
from resource extraction. |
Colobridge Survey // August - September
Teams recorded monkeys crossing on our aerial ladders and those
that crossed on the ground. Two days were censused for each of
our colobridges. Extrapolated out, it shows more than 110,000
crossings per year, a huge reduction of risk of being hit by
vehicles for monkeys trying to cross the road
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Hotel Pest Management Survey // December - January
A survey was carried out in each of the hotels in Diani for
primate pest problems. The survey culminated in a meeting on
April 27th with General Managers of the hotels to present solutions
of these problems. Four KWS officers, the government
parastatal in charge of wildlife, were present and supported the
work of the Trust and insisted that the hotels manage the problems
with the management tools that the Trust had presented to them, in a
humane manner. |
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Kaya Diani Survey // July
The Trust is engaged in a new two-month Kaya Diani survey programme. |
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New Hotel Tree Species Identification Project // July
The Trust has completed a new project in identification and cataloguing
the numerous tree species on the grounds of Leopard Beach Hotel in Diani
as a service to help shape the hotel's tourist programme on local points
of natural interest. |
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Tourist Survey // October
This survey was part of our cure activities during October 2002, and was
of 455 tourists in Diani. The survey was wide-ranging; encompassing
tourists of 19 different nationalities from 18 different hotels. [results
of this survey here] |
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Angolan Colobus Census // July-September
The Angolan colobus census was
successfully accomplished. 68 forest patches were surveyed and 309
troops and 41 solitary individuals counted including the monkeys in
Diani forest. The survey teams consisted of both ecologists and primate
enumerators. |
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Malewa Valley Colobus Survey (Naivasha) // August
In order to verify alarming reports that the colobus monkeys were being poached, verify the status of the colobus in
the Malewa valley, to assess the threats to the troops as a result of
crop raiding and to interview farmers as to their perception of the
colobus guereza. A fact-finding team did sweep surveys and
interviews with farmers. Pestilence, habitat degradation, rampant
poaching, use of snares and dog hunting were reported. Compared to
results of a survey conducted in 1999, it was revealed that local groups
of colobus had been completely wiped out due to hunting pressure, in
some cases the numbers reported in 1999 had reduced by half. |
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Malewa Valley Colobus Survey (Naivasha)
Initial colobus survey in the Malewa Valley as a part of the
follow-up programme for translocation of Colobus from Malewa to Soysambu
in 1999. The aim of the survey was to map the home ranges of the
colobus and report the group sizes and compositions, it also aimed to
record births and the dietary preferences. |
