COLOBUS CONSERVATION – AND MUCH MORE
(Posted 07th July 2015)
Initially formed in 1997 as a trust and later converted into a not for profit limited liability company, has Colobus Conservation become Diani’s foremost conservation NGO, dedicated to much more than just focusing on the Colobus species these days. 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, was a feathered guest 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. Lesser tourist numbers in the Diani resorts had its impact too on the fundraising by Colobus Conservation, not just through donations by tourists who got to know about the organization but also from hotels and other businesses, cash strapped as they are as a result of the business downturn of the tourism sector.
(Diani based Colobus Conservation’s Andrea Donaldson and Keith Thompson)
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 two US Dollars donation for every passenger flown in and out of Ukunda. Last year did Base Titanium, a Shimba Hills based mining company, donate 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 is the performance of the organization nevertheless impressive when it comes to its conservation work. The annual reports, which include detailed information on a range of conservation issues, speak for itself and readers interested to access the full 2014 report just need to click on the following link: http://www.colobusconservation.org/images/Annual_Reports/Colobus%20Conservation%202014%20Annual%20Report.pdf
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 did this pretty little sea bird return evening after evening to the holding pen, but yesterday did the day finally come 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.
(A ‘Masked Booby’- set free after a full recovery)
More information on CC’s location in Diani and how to support the organization can be found on the website www.colobusconservation.org
