Population Increases - African Wildlife

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2 African Wildlife News Machache ~ A FEW WORDS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Leila S. Green CHAIR Matthew T. Weir VICE CHAIRMAN Victoria Leslie SECRETARY Douglas C. Walker TREASURER Patrick J. Bergin, Ph.D. PRESIDENT Joanna Elliott VICE PRESIDENT Helen W. Gichohi, Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT Tony Kalm VICE PRESIDENT Thomas W. Nichols VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSISTANT TREASURER Felix O. Otieno ASSISTANT SECRETARY Edward M. Armfield, Jr. Robin Berkeley Crandall C. Bowles Wendy McCrary Breck George R. Bunn, Jr. Jacques J. Busquest Stephen D. Cashin David Challinor, Ph.D. Dale F. (Tucker) Dorn James L. Foght, Ph.D. Christine F. Hemrick William E. (Wilber) James Dennis J. Keller Mark D. Kvamme Robin Lloyd Wariara Mbugua Henry P. McIntosh IV Anne B. Mize, Ph.D. Eleanor G. Nalle Ofer Nemirovsky Dr. Mamphela A. Ramphele Paul A. Schosberg Lisa M. Stevens David Thomson C. Bowdoin Train Nicholas Vingirai Annette Williamson Gordon Wilson TRUSTEES EMERITI Arthur W. Arundel E.U. Curtis Bohlen Joan Donner John H. Heminway George C. Hixon Richard M. Jackson Sally Pingree Russell E. Train African Wildlife News is published four times a year. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Elodie Sampéré ©2004 African Wildlife Foundation 1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 120 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-939-3333 202-939-3332 (fax) 888-4-WILDLIFE E-mail: africanwildlife@awf.org Web site: www.awf.org Printed with soy-based ink Recycled Paper Turn Your Passion for Africa into a Lasting Legacy Each one of us has things we are passionate about. If we act on what we’re passionate about, these things become top priorities in our lives. We often think about being passionate in terms of favorite people, favorite activities, or even our favorite sports team. As a member of AWF, I believe you are passionate about Africa: the diverse wildlife, the amazing environment, and the people who call this continent home. One of the ways you act on this passion is through your support of AWF. Perhaps what first attracted you to our cause was the plight of the mountain gorilla. Or the majesty of the elephant. Or maybe you are fascinated by the big cats – the lion, cheetah, and leopard. Perhaps you appreciate our commitment to work with the people of Africa to protect their homeland and the wildlife that share the land. Whatever particular Craig R. Sholley passion drew you to AWF, I am proud to call you a partner in our cause. Your committed support is so important to fulfilling our mission – to ensure that Africa’s wildlife and wild lands endure forever. We are not just trying to help wildlife survive for the next few years. We want to create and protect vast Heartland areas where wildlife will be safe and thrive continuously. That’s why I’m thrilled that over the past several years, a growing number of AWF members have committed to make this happen in a special way. These members have worked with our AWF staff and their own financial advisors to design ways of giving that protect African wildlife now and for many years to come. AWF supporters who create lasting gifts become members of our Kilimanjaro Society. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the great timeless mountain that towers over so many of Africa’s wildlife treasures. LEAVE A LEGACY FOR AFRICAN WILDLIFE WHEN YOU: • Remember AWF in your will or trust. • Create a charitable remainder trust which provides income for you in your lifetime and for wildlife conservation in the future. • Name AWF as a beneficiary in your life insurance policy or retirement plan. And planned gifts provide a lasting legacy which will help AWF look over and protect Africa’s wildlife. There are several benefits to joining the Kilimanjaro Society, including invitations to special events and letters directly from the field when I’m traveling. If you are passionate about Africa, its wildlife, and its wild lands, I hope you will consider creating a lasting legacy though your support. The future of the mountain gorilla, elephant, lion, and so many other endangered and threatened animals depends on you and other compassionate friends. Thank you. Patrick J. Bergin, Ph.D. AWF President & CEO Protect Wildlife Today & Always Make Your Will Known – Join the Kilimanjaro Society For more information about planned giving, go to www.awf.org/act. Or call 1-888-4-WILDLIFE and give us your state of residence so we can connect you with your regional planned giving officer.
Shocking Decline of African Lion Population Reported Recent headlines tell a sad story: “Lions Close to Extinction,” “Africa’s Shocking Lion Loss,” “Declining Lion Pride Threaten Botswana Eco-Tourism.” The decline in numbers is being reported in both East and Southern Africa – from studies in South Africa and Botswana to Tanzania and Kenya. According to current news stories, African lions number between 18,000 and 23,000 today. Twenty years ago they numbered 200,000. The greatest threats to these big cats are sport hunting and conflict with farmers over livestock. Another killer that could become a very serious problem is feline immunodeficiency virus Lions appear to be declining in the Four Corners Heartland, according to recent research by AWF staff members. (FIV). It’s the animal equivalent of HIV. For the first time FIV is being blamed for the death of lions. It is one of the deadliest viruses in cats and can wipe out an entire pride. A strong predator population suggests a habitat that presents a healthy environment for all wildlife. In addition, the lion is one of Africa’s “big five.” Along with the elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and Cardo Kleberg leopard, the lion is one of the most popular animals to view and photograph. It therefore plays a critical role in attracting tourists to the continent. Your support helps protect Africa’s lions and other threatened wildlife. Through AWF, you help fund critical research, provide education for local communities, and better equip park rangers to protect the animals and their habitat. African Wildlife News 3 News in Brief New Radio System Helps Protect Wildlife A new VHF radio network makes it possible to have complete coverage of Manyara Ranch. The network has a base station in a secure radio room, mobile radio stations in support vehicles, and six hand-held radios. Everything is powered by a solar array buffered by high-capacity batteries. This ensures 24-hour communication with no ongoing costs to run the network. This communication system has already made a big difference in the efficiency and cost of doing work on the ranch. Game scouts can communicate with each other from any area of the ranch. This creates a better network for surveying and protecting the wildlife and their habitat. New Cultural Boma Opens GIS Takes Wildlife Conservation to the Next Level By David Williams, AWF GIS Specialist, Kenya After the sweaty labor of digging his Land Cruiser out of the deep sand of a dry river bottom in Samburu Heartland, Dr. Paul Muoria understands the importance of water. Dr. Muoria is the lead researcher for AWF’s Grevy’s zebra program. He speculates that the seasonal rainfall fluctuations that diminish a coursing river in May to a bone-dry stretch of sand in March impact the movements of the endangered Grevy’s zebra. To test this hypothesis, Dr. Muoria sought to measure the distance from zebra observations to water sources to determine if it varies by season. Previously, making numerous distance measurements was a demanding task involving a compass and topographic map. It yielded only rough estimates. With the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), hundreds of measurements can be calculated to the meter with the press of a button. GIS is a system of GIS map of Grevy’s zebra distribution in southern Samburu, Kenya. hardware and software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data. Through training provided by AWF GIS specialists, Dr. Muoria learned how to use GPS to precisely locate his zebra observations. These continued on page 7 Hassan Sachedina Maasai children celebrate at the opening ceremony of the Esilalei Cultural Boma. The new Esilalei Cultural Boma is the most recent conservation business venture completed in the Maasai Steppe Heartland. A boma is a Maasai homestead with several homes (bandas) in one round compound. The boma is operated by the Naisho Women’s Group of Esilalei village and emphasizes the people’s connection to the wildlife. It will house Maasai handicrafts for sale, as well as photos and brief interpretive displays. This new modern banda was built by AWF with USAID funds to benefit the local community.
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Population Increases - African Wildlife

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