Dwindling tourists numbers affecting conservation

Initially formed in 1997 as a trust and later converted into a not-for-profit limited liability company, the Colobus Conservation (CC) has become Diani’s foremost conservation NGO, dedicated to much

Initially formed in 1997 as a trust and later converted into a not-for-profit limited liability company, the Colobus Conservation (CC) has become Diani’s foremost conservation NGO, dedicated to much more than just focusing on the Colobus species these days. Lesser tourist numbers in the Diani resorts are having an impact on fundraising by the Colobus Conservation.

The organization today treats injured Colobus but also other monkey species until they have recovered and can be returned into the wild. It also brings up orphaned young ones until they are able to be released into the wild to join a group. More recently, when visiting the organization’s offices, a feathered guest was spotted which underwent rehabilitation, but more about that a bit later.

Andrea Donaldson and Keith Thompson took time from their busy schedule to sit down with this correspondent and discuss their various challenges. The decreased tourist numbers are having an affect in terms of donations by tourists who got to know about the organization, as well as from hotels and other businesses. This cash-strapped organization is suffering as a result of the business downturn of the tourism sector.

Safarilink, a Wilson Airport based local airline flying a daily scheduled service to the Ukunda airfield, which serves the South Coast and Diani communities, continues to support CC with a US$2 donation for every passenger flown in and out of Ukunda. Last year, Base Titanium, a Shimba Hills-based mining company, donated a brand new pickup truck to the organization, but such generosity, while much needed, is few and far between as regular supporters struggle to make their own ends meet. Despite such challenges, however, the performance of the organization is nevertheless impressive when it comes to its conservation work.

Back to the visit and the feathered occupant found. A “Masked Booby,” which had been delivered to CC, had over several weeks recovered and in fact was taken for daily walks to the beach, to get reacquainted with its natural habitat. Shy to reclaim its freedom, this pretty little sea bird returned evening after evening to the holding pen, but yesterday the day finally came when it spread its wings for good and flew off to resume a regular life amid its species. Another success story for Colobus Conservation, and a story worth telling.

danii | eTurboNews | eTN

Diani based Colobus Conservation’s Andrea Donaldson and Keith Thompson

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Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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