The Unsung Heroes!- Article by Gareth Jones
The Unsung Heroes Of Wildlife
As I arrived at the east gate of the Nairobi National Park, I glanced at the wall, and there in bold print was a sign with a clear message from the past in the words of the 1 st President of Kenya – Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. The sign reads “THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THIS COUNTRY – IT’S WILDLIFE WHICH OFFERS SUCH AN ATTRACTION, TO VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN WHICH THESE ANIMALS LIVE, THE MIGHTY FORESTS WHICH GUARD THE WATER CATCHMENT AREAS SO VITAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF MAN AND BEAST – ARE A PRICELESS HERITAGE FOR THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA FULLY REALISING THE VALUE OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES PLEDGES ITSELF TO CONSERVE THEM FOR POSTERITY WITH ALL MEANS AT ITS DISPOSAL. MZEE JOMO KENYATTA – THE 1 st PRESIDENT .”
Over many years I had driven past that same sign on countless occasions, and like many public signs in daily plain sight, many people simply seem to not observe the intended message. In my opinion, the same sign regarding Mzee Jomo’s statement should be also placed in many national parks, including the main gate of the Nairobi National Park as a constant reminder of the pledge to protect a priceless heritage. God has put many wonderful treasures on this earth, and the Nairobi park is a priceless treasure that needs to be kept for future generations.
Colonel Mervyn Hugh Cowie was born in Nairobi in 1909, living in a hut on a farm at Kiambu, northwest of Nairobi. Before moving to Kenya his father was chief magistrate of Johannesburg in South Africa. An incident happened to teach him that man and beast can live in harmony. One day, while passing a lioness in the Nairobi National Park, he came off his motorbike. The bike pinned him to the ground as the lioness lay watching him and he was unable to move, with blood oozing from a cut in his leg.
The curious lioness walked towards him pinned under a lump of metal and stopped just a few feet away. The lioness sat down as they stared at each other for some minutes while young Mervyn prayed that the smell of petrol was greater than the smell of his own blood.
Eventually, the lioness got up and walked off. Cowie was to later say that the incident made him grow up very quickly. He realised that man and beast need not spend their time killing each other. “But first, man must learn to suppress his desire to kill, and beast must be afforded a place to live.” He then tirelessly began to pursue the Colonial Government to set aside National Parks in Kenya, starting with the Nairobi National Park.
Towards the end of 1945, the government established the first plans for national parks and appointed trustees. Mervyn Cowie was appointed executive director. On the 16th December 1946, the Nairobi National Park was gazetted and later the Tsavo National Park, Aberdare and Mount Kenya Parks, Amboseli and many others, including the Serengeti in Tanzania. History reveals that he masterminded the protection and conservation of Kenya’s wildlife and wilderness areas.
The 31 st July 2021 was World Rangers Day, a time to reflect and remember the protecting duties of rangers. However, lesser-known and rarely appreciated are the many faithful wildlife warriors. Irrespective of whether they are part of national organizations like the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) or recruited by private game reserves, these toughened people play a vital role in ensuring the wildlife is protected. Many of them are field rangers, others are part of a vital vehicle and aircraft patrols and others are in support groups like logistics and communication, and strategic management. A number of smaller caring organisations work selflessly in unison with the larger conservation entity. Caring organisations like the Friends of Nairobi National Park and the many wildlife organisations that are part of the Conservation Alliance of Kenya (CAK) continue to play a meaningful role in identifying issues and working with the Kenya Wildlife Service on finding long term solutions. Then there are those whose purpose in the education of young minds in schools and universities regarding nature and the environment is vital, and yet many of those wonderful educators are not always recognized for the caring seeds they sow and nurture in developing minds.
We may never know all the names of those special people who really care about the wild creatures. However, I honestly believe God, the creator of all life, does acknowledge and ultimately reward the efforts of those who worked selflessly. Sadly a number of wildlife warriors, mostly field rangers have paid the ultimate price in Kenya, when fighting against poachers to protect wildlife over a number of years. The battle to protect the creatures who cannot speak continues. It is very important that young people continue to get involved in wildlife conservation efforts in Kenya. The current reality within Kenya involves increased challenges in find solutions to minimize human/wildlife conflict especially as the human population increases and the land becomes less and less available. Who will the unsung heroes of the future be? Who will be remembered for their efforts to link the Nairobi National Park to the Athi Kapiti plains? Who will be remembered for their tireless efforts to find solutions to minimize water and air pollution? In the year 2046 when the Nairobi National Park is 100 years old, will those who live then be lamenting on the losses of the past regarding what should have been done? or rather be celebrating the worthy legacy by remembering the actions of the many wildlife warriors who made selfless efforts over many previous years? I hope and pray that modern conservation efforts will continue to keep Kenya’s God-given natural heritage intact for future generations, and that true guardians of nature with continue to rise up and stand for what is right.
