The Colobus Trust is a conservation organisation designed to promote the conservation, preservation and protection of primates like the rare Angolan Colobus monkey (Colobus angolensis palliatus) and its coastal forest habitat in southern Kenya. The Trust was established in 1997 in response to an outcry from local residents about the high number of deaths of the Colobus in the Diani area. Now the Trust has numerous projects concerning the wildlife and the citizens of Kenya, including animal welfare, biological/ecological research, community development and education, forest protection and enrichment and eco-tourism awareness programs. For More information visit: http://www.colobustrust.org/ http://colobus.wildlifedirect.org/

1. Colobus Trust
Newsletter
12 years of Primate
Protection
Issue I 2009
Www.colobustrust.org
WE ARE STILL HERE!
Yes we are! Many of our valued supporters have asked
directions. For example, this year we are embarking
what has happened to the Colobus Trust newsletter. It
on a major census of primates and mammals in key
has indeed been some time since the last one, so it is
forest patches along the south coast; getting the power
with pride - and some relief - that we are able to bring you
lines insulated to stop the horrendous electrocutions of
this special edition, to bring you up-to-date with all that
primates is already being tackled and EIAs
has been happening at the Colobus Trust and its plans
(Environmental Impact Assessments) of potentially
for the coming year.
damaging developments in forest areas will be
As for many organizations in Kenya, last year was a
undertaken. All the activities
struggle for the Colobus Trust as
will continue in conjunction
we had to weather the massive
with key partners, in
drop-off in tourism following the
particular Camp Kenya and
political clashes in Kenya after the
the Kenya Wildlife
presidential election of December
Service.
2007. 75% of the core revenue
However, the challenges of
comes from tourism and the Trust
running this small
was left with very little income for a
conservation organization
significant chunk of 2008.
increase by the day. As
The reduction in international
Diani develops there is
volunteers also affected the
more and more impact on
amount of conservation work that
our wildlife, and this year we
was achieved, as most of the
also face the challenges of
activities depend to an extent on
the world financial crisis. So
the manpower and skills that
the Colobus Trust needs
volunteers bring with them.
more support and
However, the Trust has survived
assistance than ever. We
this challenging period and is still
hope that this newsletter will
managing to run its core
give you insight into the
programmes trying against greater
front-line conservation work
and greater odds to protect the
that is done, and allow you
coastal forest; caring for injured
to understand how important your support of the
and vulnerable primates; educating school children
Colobus Trust is.
about environmental issues and reducing risks to
To learn more about the Colobus Trust and to keep up-
primates from threats such as snares, traffic and un-
to-date with the daily happenings at the Trust, take a
insulated power lines.
look at our blog: http://colobus.wildlifedirect.org/. As
The fact that the Trust has continued to exist is due in no
we move into a new era for the Trust, we hope you will
small part to those who responded to the appeal for
continue to be involved and help us to try to secure a
support that went out in December. To those who
positive future for the colobus and other primates of
assisted, thank you for your help. Due to you, and of
the south coast of Kenya.
course to the dedicated staff, the volunteers, a few
special individuals and the partner organizations, the
Colobus Trust has come through the storm and is still From the Trustees:
alive and kicking. Raymond Matiba, Jophie Clark, Luciana Parrazi, Lulu
So what does 2009 hold for the Colobus Trust? We are
moving into the coming year with a renewed sense of The Trust would like to thank Superior
vigor and purpose, and with a new strategic plan in place Printers, Mombasa for supporting the entire
for the next five years, which will allow us to continue our print run of this special edition of the CT
core work and to branch out in new and challenging
Newsletter
1

2. 12 Years and fighting on...
By Onesmus Macharia (CT Manager)
Dear Friends of the Colobus Trust,
monkey and so much other wildlife.
Looking back on the last year, I often wonder how we
The Trust continues to address this problem through
have managed to survive. It has not been an easy task
dialogue with forest owners including hoteliers,
but then who ever said that facing the type of
traditional kaya elders and relevant governmental
challenges that we do at the Trust would be easy.
organizations. In a number of incidents the Trust had to
Rather, having a tough ride is the rather unfortunate
resort to exposés through the media and our blog,
reality of conservation that we have to come to terms
thanks to our effective blogger and assistant manager,
with. On the other side of the coin, it is also within the
Gwili Gibbon. We have also made strong
same context that one realises just how many good
presentations to the Land Use Planning Committee,
people there are out there that genuinely care for
which visited the Trust last year. Our recommendation
wildlife, and who have been supportive of the Trust
is that the south coast should be declared an eco-
during this difficult time. So where exactly are we one
tourism zone and all development proposals be
year on from the post election crises that brought our
thoroughly vetted to avoid turning the area into a mass
beautiful country to its knees?
tourism zone dominated by concrete.
Should this approach be adopted at a national level,
HABITAT LOSS THROUGH DEFORESTATION
habitat for the colobus and other primates in Diani will
Tourism is fast expanding along Kenya's fragile south
be safe-guarded. Indeed, habitat conservation has
coast, and particularly in Diani. The level of tourist
been recognized as the most important part of the
infrastructure is ever increasing, including hotels,
Trust's new 2009 -2013 Strategic plan. The Trust will
shopping malls, private villas, sports facilities and
continue to campaign for the preservation of remaining
housing for workers serving in the hotel industry.
forest patches at all available forums.
In most cases, these developments take place in total
disregard for environmental laws (contained in the
PRIMATE ELECTROCUTIONS BY POWER LINES
Environmental Management and Coordination Act of
The rapid growth in tourism infrastructure has meant a
1999). The result has been the destruction of prime
corresponding expansion of the electricity supply lines.
forest habitat, home to the black-and-white colobus
U n f o r t u n a t e l y, s a f e t y f o r
arboreal wildlife has never been
considered by the Kenya Power
and Lighting Company (KP&LC)
during its endeavours to meet
growing power demands. Un-
insulated power lines are
cheaper and have therefore
been favoured by the company,
leading to continued
electrocutions of numerous
monkeys including the colobus.
Recently the KP&LC has
acknowledged the issue of
monkey electrocutions in Diani
and has promised to take
measures to end the problem.
Trial insulation of power lines in
areas where monkeys have
frequently been electrocuted
has been initiated by the
Colobus Trust with the help of
Camp Kenya, and KP&LC have
provided technical experts to
supervise the installation of
insulating conduits.
Ultimately the Trust would like to
see the KP&LC taking full
responsibility to ensure the
problem of Diani's primates
being electrocuted is
eliminated. Based on the
2

3. lessons learnt in Diani, these safety
measures for wildlife should then be
applied by the KP&LC throughout the
country.
CRIPPLING FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINTS
Funding is critical for any
organization. Traditionally, the
Colobus Trust has depended on
internally generated funds through
the volunteers' programme, eco-
tourism activities, sale of
merchandise, and occasional fund
raising events supported by the
South Coast Residents Association
and members of the Trust board. The
Trust also enjoys limited financial
support from international well
wishers through our blog, hosted by
Wildlife Direct. Other sources of
funding are our membership and Colobus Trustee Raymond Matiba and Manager Onesmus
colobus adoption schemes. Appeals to Macharia receive a donation of Ksh. 100,000/= from the Director
individuals and organizations also occasionally of Lantana Homes, Hamish Govani
yield some funding for the Trust.
For the last year the Colobus Trust has been
operating under difficult financial circumstances.
The catalyst for this near crippling situation was
the political crisis that erupted after the
December 2007 disputed presidential elections
in the country. From a full capacity booking of
volunteers in December 2007, we experienced
massive cancellations of bookings only a few
days after the crisis and the situation has never
been the same since. In fact we did not have a
single volunteer in December 2008 despite the
period being the peak tourist season. Eco-tours
did not fare any better as there were very few
tourists on Diani beach.
On a positive note, the crisis has been an eye
opener to the Trust that the organization is too
dependent on tourism for its operations. As a
first step to reduce this dependence, the board of
directors has employed a fund raising consultant
to coordinate all fund raising activities. Working
closely with the management team of the Trust,
the consultant is formulating achievable
fundraising strategies for the immediate and
long term needs of the Colobus Trust.
Fundraising this year got off to a good start with a
generous donation from Lantana Homes. These
are the sort of local support initiatives that are so
necessary for non-profit organisations like ours.
The Trust will also continue to participate in the
WSPA sponsored fund raising training
programme. This programme is intended to help
participating organizations to develop capacities
in fundraising instead of being donor dependent.
Thus expectations are high that the current
financial crisis will soon be resolved. With the
determination of management spearheaded by
the board of directors, we know we can steer the
3

4. Wildlife Care by Lulu Clark (Trustee)
If you enjoy having wildlife in Diani as much as I do, and especially in your own garden, and you wish to help them tackle
the dry season, traffic, dogs, snares and power lines, here are a few things you can easily do to help them out:
1.Put water into the trees; select a tree that allows monkeys access by tree as opposed to on the ground, especially if you
have dogs. A simple 'karai' or bowl filled with water and securely positioned into a fork in the tree, above the reach of any
dogs you may have and away from any roads where cars may be
passing close by, is a great help to the monkeys, and you will be
rewarded by a steady flow of visitors. The water will also attract a
lot of birds and maybe some squirrels. Remember to fill it up
morning and evening as once they know it is there your arboreal
waterhole will be an important stopping place on their daily travels.
2.If you are lucky enough to have suni in your garden, during the dry
season you can keep a patch of grass watered so that they always
have something to eat. Ideally it should be at the edge of the
garden as they feel more secure near the bush, and again, make
sure it is well away from any dogs or roads. You could also keep a
karai or basin of water on the ground as although suni usually get
enough moisture from the vegetation they eat, when the
vegetation dries out they will drink water.
3.Did you know that you can order suni meat at Mwisho wa Lami? Ask your gardener to do regular checks for snares in
your own garden and in any bush nearby, even if it is not your property.
4.Dispose properly of your own rubbish and collect rubbish whenever you can … empty tins, broken bottles etc are a
hazard to wildlife. A member of staff at the Colobus Trust recently helped a civet cat that had its head stuck in a tin;
imagine its relief when the tin was pulled off.
5.Get ready to plant indigenous trees … to be ready for the long rains, now is the time of year to be digging holes for trees.
Remember the holes should be 4 ft square and filled with good topsoil. The Colobus Trust has an indigenous tree
nursery and can offer advice on what to plant and where.
6.Support the Colobus Trust power line insulation program; get your power lines insulated and prevent any more deaths
by electrocution on your patch.
7.Stick to the 50 kph speed limit on the Diani Beach Road and encourage others to do the same.
T/A: Superior Printers Ltd.
Purifies any Source of Water
be it from Tap or Borehole
to Bottled Quality Drinking Water
in your Home or Office!!!
Superior House, Makadara Road, Opp. G.P.O., P.O. Box 90181, Mombasa 80100 Kenya.
Tel: 2311390/2316792/2223978, Fax: 2227532,Cell: 0733 786 552 / 0712 457 555
E-mail: sales_superior@nurseif.com
www.superiorpurifiers.com
4

5. FUN LEARNING WITH
EXPERTS
By Hamisi Pakiah
(CT Education Officer)
Charity work can be very broad, and that's why there is
charity education at the Colobus trust. Come every
Tuesday and you will see our dedicated staff, with at
least a group of thirty happy students, ready for a full
day’s learning. And on two Fridays of each month the
team visits a school for an outreach programme. The
education programme is about eleven years old and
provides education to primary, secondary and college
students. There is nothing as fun as an educational
workshop at the Colobus Trust. Students get to learn
more about wildlife, habitat, ecology, conservation and Last year, 2008, generous donors helped the
being kind to the animal kingdom in general.
Colobus Trust to employ more casual
By taking a walk through our nature trail, students learn
labourers to remove snares in the
more about trees, monkey species, and other small
animals. At the Centre, they also get to see the surrounding areas in Diani. They were
unfortunate ex-pet monkeys undergoing rehabilitation.
removing an average of 40-50 snares per
This empowers them to report any such future cases to
the Colobus Trust as well as passing information to the day, the worst having been 137 snares in
entire community around them. Monkeys are part of
just one day in one area. It was a gruesome
our wildlife and an attraction to the tourism sector. They
job as several dead animals were found
deserve the same respect as leopards and elephants.
It is very true that every tourist staying in Diani will take which included not only suni and monkeys,
a picture of a monkey.
but also cats and dogs. The attached photo
At the trust you can also watch “Mizoga”, a video by
Born Free in collaboration with Kenyatta University, is of a lucky Suni, called Bambi, who
which explores the very complicated problems survived, but sadly her mother was found
surrounding bushmeat consumption. Long
dead in a snare. The Colobus Trust is still
discussions with the students always follows after this
drama. And finally, after a long day of walking, learning continuing with this program, but much
and discovering, kids enjoy our beach (environmental)
reduced, due to financial constraints. Any
games, but not before completing our workbooks and
donations to the Trust for this purpose
worksheets.
Over 1000 students visit the Trust each year. Our would be much appreciated to enable us to
education programmes have been supported by the
go full steam ahead.
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
and our outreach programs could not have been (Luciana Parazzi, Colobus Trustee)
possible without our WSPA donated vehicle.
The Colobus Trust also continues to work very close
with teachers. KWAPAG, for example, is a group of
wildlife patrons from Kwale district under the umbrella
of the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya. Competitions to
registered members have been done twice, both held
at the Colobus Trust. The first one commemorated the
Trust’s tenth anniversary. We supported these events
by providing educational material and prizes. All the
participants agreed that the Trust was the best venue
and that's why it hosted the second prize giving.
Our way forward: In partnership with WSPA, we hope
to purchase visual resources for our outreach
programmes. We will also be launching special
packages for schools to come and stay and learn at the
Trust. Keep visiting our blog for updates. And
Remember: By being kind to any animal you are
helping create a better future.
5

6. The Importance of primate status of the primate populations, and in particular
the colobus.
monitoring programmes (By Monitoring programmes are often used in
conservation biology, especially with large mammals
Julie Belmont, CT Volunteer)
including primates. Such programmes consist of
doing regular and numerous surveys of species
The south coast of Kenya forms part of the “Coastal populations within a precise area. In our case, we
Forests of Eastern Africa” Global Biodiversity Hotspot want to make two surveys per year, conducting
and thus is recognised internationally as a unique area, fieldwork sessions in Diani forest and within all the
the wildlife and ecosystems of which must be protected. surrounding kayas (local sacred forests) (see green
For more than 10 years the Colobus Trust has been areas on the map). During these sessions, we will
dedicated to the conservation and welfare of primates walk along targeted areas, following a precise
living in the Diani area, and especially the charismatic methodology and recording data on each primate
and vulnerable Angolan black and white colobus monkey identified. In this way we will be able to answer
(Colobus angolensis palliatus). many questions about populations and troops
In Diani, the major human impact on wildlife comes from organizations, including for example population
habitat alterations due to the growing human population. sizes, troop structure, sex and age ratios,
Within the last few reproduction rates,
years, increasing etc. This valuable
tourism, urban information will give
expansion and new us indications of how
roads have had a huge stable the monkey
negative impact on the populations in the
remnants of a once area are, and what the
large and rich forest main factors are that
ecosystem. affect this stability.
Yo u c a n s t i l l s e e We will be able to
monkeys on a daily determine existing
basis in Diani, including and new threats and
vervets, Sykes, colobus be able to act against
and baboons. These them in an informed
species have tried in manner.
different ways to adapt Obviously such an
to their rapidly changing ambitious project will
environment, for require a huge
example by foraging on amount of input, both
rubbish tips, eating in the field and for data
introduced plants in analysis and
private gardens, and reporting, and
taking food from therefore needs
kitchens and dining significant funding.
areas. However this However the products
impression of a large of the project will
number of monkeys is benefit not just the
an illusion. The Trust Trust, by informing the
has been conducting regular primate censuses for the future focus of our conservation efforts, but will be
past decade and has seen a decline in numbers for all hugely useful to other students and scientists
species, and especially for the colobus. Colobus have a conducting studies in the area. With future
special and limited diet, constituted only of leaves and collaborations and funding, we hope to extend the
some flowers, which does not allow them to adapt as well monitoring programme on a wider geographical area
as other species. Therefore they are much more in the south coast.
sensitive to habitat modification. The Trust will also use the opportunity to gather data
Due to the major financial difficulties that the Trust faced on other wildlife species encountered during the field
during the past year, it was not possible to conduct a work. This will allow us to have a better
proper census of primates and we are therefore uncertain understanding of the species richness of the south
about the current status of primate populations in Diani. coastal forests, and will hopefully inspire new studies
This is really worrying, especially for the colobus which of the fauna of this unique area of the world.
are so vulnerable. As the Trust emerges from this Even though much forest and wildlife has already
difficult period, it is with a will to renew proper scientific been lost, there is still hope. This monitoring
research in the area. One of Trust's objectives over the programme will help ensure that what is left has a
coming decade is to conduct a large, ongoing primate stable and long-term future.
monitoring programme, to permit us to follow closely the
6

7. THANK YOU!
THE COLOBUS TRUST WOULD
Preparing insulation material with Camp Kenya for
LIKE TO THANK ALL THE
open electricity cables
INDIVIDUALS AND
Partners in
ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR
CONTINUOS AND DEDICATED Primate
SUPPORT WITHOUT WHICH WE Protection
SINCERELY WOULD NOT HAVE
For
BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT
Diani
THROUGH LAST YEAR
When I started working for the Trust in October 2007 I had
Assistant only just completed my degree. Whenever asked what I
wanted to do after university my idealistic response was
“run away to Africa and save monkeys”. Needless to say,
Manager, Gwili when I received a phone call asking me to come out as
soon as possible I could never had said no!
Seventeen months have now passed. As you would expect
from a tourist town, not one of these months has been the
Gibbon says, same as another. I have seen volunteers come and go; I
have lived alone for many months and at other times I have
had a home full of great friends. But through all of this we
kwaheri... have, together with the fantastic staff, survived some of the
toughest times the Colobus Trust has ever seen and it is
thanks to the combined force of these people and many
more, that we have survived.
The Colobus Trust truly is a modern conservation
organisation. It is hard to think of anywhere else in Kenya,
or elsewhere in the continent, that is faced with the task of
trying to conserve such a unique habitat. This “uniqueness”
comes from the fact that Diani's remaining forests are
nearly all confined within developed, “urbanised” land,
mostly hotels and luxury private houses. This unique
“urban conservation” effort causes a complete shift in the
prioritisation of well know conservation strategies.
Therefore the well known and widely publicised
conservation strategies such as a continual education
program and the fight against the unsustainable harvest of
plants and animals alike, although still relevant (and
tackled by the Trust) are superseded by the threats caused
7

8. by human introduced elements. Therefore priorities lie new and can build into the Colobus Trust becoming a
in the management of the threats put in place by this host research centre for scientist from all over the world.
urbanisation. Priorities for ensuring the survival of There is lots going on at the Colobus Trust and things
Diani's special ecosystem are therefore combating such are rapidly moving onward and upward. But the truth is
issues as the electrocutions and road traffic accidents that yes we do need more help and yes, we need more
that are responsible for the majority of primate deaths. financial support. But, rest assured, we are doing the
These are difficult issues to manage, given that best we can with what we have so please continue
development usually lacks the foresight required to act supporting the Colobus Trust in every aspect it needs!
responsibly and the tendency of developers to treat the It has been a real pleasure to be part of the Colobus
Colobus Trust as a hindrance. So the Colobus Trust Trust family and although I am moving on, I know I
works, alongside other organisations, to promote these will always be attached in one way or the other!
issues and combat them in a multitude of ways. To (The Trust would like to thank Gwili for his
combat the two highlighted issue we have long been dedication to primate protection and we all wish
known for our Colobridges program and more recently, him the best in his future adventures)
for our successes in working together with the local
community to insulate hazardous power lines that run
through the forest. Whilst at the same time we have
continued our education program, animal rescue and
rehabilitation unit and attempted to control and manage
poaching and irresponsible development.
Rest assured, we are moving forward. So far in 2009 we
have insulated over a kilometre of power lines as well as
regularly maintaining our 28 existing Colobridges and
much more. This work is ongoing. We have also
continued to host volunteers from Kenya and all over the
world, recently taking on students from Lund University
in Sweden. This has been a very interesting time for us
as they are undertaking a study on Colobus feeding
behaviour; answering many questions we have long
wanted to answer. I hope this is the start of something