Interviewee

James Robertson

Chairman Ker & Downey Safaris; Former Chairman of Mara Conservancy Board; NWNL Advisor

Interviewers

Alison M. Jones

NWNL Director and Photographer

In Nairobi, Kenya on March 15, 2013

Introductory Note

In full disclosure, since 1985 James Robertson has been my mentor in all things Kenyan– regarding wildlife, conservation, waterways, birds, and respect for ecosystems and nature in general. Without James’s influence, NWNL might never have evolved. He continues to inspire me – and all around him – to think outside the box to conjure new solutions to manage what Nature has given us. Today we need the best possible approaches to working together to manage, protect and save what we have in our watersheds.

James Robertson at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, in the Northern Rangelands Trust

Outline

A NEED for COORDINATED CONSERVATION
FIGHTING POACHING and COVER-UPS
WILDLIFE IN WATERSHEDS

Key Quote  If southeastern Kenya [The Chyulu’s, Amboseli NP and Tsavo NP] works with the Maasai Mara, and if the Maasai Mara works with the northern Kenya (Northern Rangelands Trust), there would be a stronger national body. The first step towards coordination of Kenya’s protected ecosystems is to promote such coordination of Kenya’s 3 major southern areas.

All images © Alison M. Jones, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

A NEED for COORDINATED CONSERVATION

NWNL  James, you and I have long discussed ecosystems and conservation issues, both past and current. But now, many around the world are concerned over poaching issues in Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks. As I mull possible solutions to better protect Kenya’s parks and reserves, I recall our chat on the possibility of two entities in southern Kenya that together could wield great power in protecting Kenya’s wildlife. Your grand vision included a “Greater Mara Savanna Trust,” plus a “Southern Savanna Trust” including the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystems and the Chyulus. This concept was inspired by and stemmed from the success of Kenya’s “Northern Rangelands Trust.” Could a “Mara Savanna Trust,” a “Southern Tsavo-Amboseli-Chyulus Trust” and the ”Northern Rangelands Trust” ever work together with a common Executive Board addressing a broad scope of Kenya’s conservation issues? They face so many of the same issues. Has there been any progress on that concept?  

Small matriarchal group of elephants in Amboseli NP, with their “toto’s” (babies)


JAMES ROBERTSON  Well, I don’t think it will work in that format. The most critical concern being faced is the control of wildlife. Those living on the land, as well as conservation groups outside of National Parks, want a “say” over their wildlife: what they do with it and how they preserve and use it. However, Kenya Land Conservation Association is now bringing in every small, private or community operation outside of government-held trust lands to encourage a stronger focus on conservation.. Those smaller entities hold probably 70% of the wildlife on the land. The formation of Kenya Land Conservation Association is happening as we speak, since the Board has just been voted in. They will probably be a full-blown entity by the end of February. Then you’ll see an incredible change and encouragement in private land-user and stakeholder togetherness. 

If southeastern Kenya [The Chyulu’s, Amboseli NP and Tsavo NP] works with the Maasai Mara, and if the Maasai Mara works with the northern Kenya (Northern Rangelands Trust), there would be a stronger national body. The first step towards coordination of Kenya’s protected ecosystems is to promote such coordination of Kenya’s 3 major southern areas. This “southern alliance” would include: The Amboseli-Tsavo-Chyulu Ecosystem; A Greater Mara Ecosystem Trust; and land between and surrounding those two parks. 

At this moment, the north is represented by the Northern Rangelands Trust, the Milgis Trust, and other local trusts. The biggest entity there is the Northern Rangelands Trust [hereafter, NRT]. 

Elephants bathing in Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya’s Ewaso Nyiro River


I believe that the Mara has moved well ahead of the NRT which is focused mostly on conservation on private land. In the past, the Mara was looked down upon because it had no entity and no formal formation of a trust body. Yet, the many deals there, now set up with tourism partners, are far and away better and have greater longevity than the ones in the north. So, I’m excited. I think we’ll see a “Mara Savannah Trust” leapfrog over the NRT. 

It’s up to NRT to catch up. In the past, the NRT wouldn’t come to the table. But now, the NRT wants to get together with other stakeholders. They are saying, “Oh, what you have done is incredible. Why didn’t we think of that?”  They could bring it all together –  and make something happen. This Kenya Land Conservation Association could bring it together and create a forum for private conservation.

In 1999, flying in helicopter of conservationist and filmmaker Alan Root, this was the only animal seen in what is now the Mara Conservancy - due to no management and rampant poaching, Today the Mara Conservancy’s management is a prime model of community-based conservation and is full of wildlife and the wildebeest migrations

FIGHTING POACHING and COVER-UPS

NWNL  Will the type of coordination we’ve just discussed help address ivory poaching and large losses of elephants? I’m thinking particularly of what has been happening in the Amboseli-Tsavo region – although we see it happening all across Kenya. Today, I read 384 elephants were poached in Kenya last year [2012]. The report also states 80% of that number were outside national parks.

JAMES ROBERTSON  Really? Only 384 elephants poached last year? 

If you want the truth, you need to know that figure is in the thousands. The correct number is probably around 2,000. Iain Douglas-Hamilton could give you an accurate figure. [Ed note: Iain Douglas-Hamilton is acclaimed as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the African elephant and is the founder of Save the Elephants.]

The problem is Kenya Wildlife Service does not ever want to release any poaching figures for National Parks, because that makes them look bad. They want those figures to look good for them, and to let private land conservation areas look bad. You’ll find very little publicity on poaching within National Park. It doesn’t come out at all.

NWNL  I got the number 384 today from an East African Wildlife Society newsletter. They said their numbers came from Kenya Wildlife Service [hereafter, KWS].

JAMES ROBERTSON  KWS? That’s all you need to know.

NWNL  Hmmm… Would you agree with their saying that 80% of all elephants poached were outside of protected areas?

JAMES ROBERTSON  No. That is, absolutely, not true. It makes me furious to hear some of these figures that they bring out. 

The poaching within Tsavo National Park is dire – and always has been. Talk to Daphne Sheldrick about that. She, like I, will probably say that maybe 384 elephants in Tsavo National Park were poached; but many more than that were poached across Kenya. Talk to Iain Douglas Hamilton, whom I just mentioned, manages Save the Elephants which importantly is a private entity. He’ll give you a much more accurate number that will be very different to the number KWS produces.  

Many people within KWS are extremely good, want to make things work and do an amazing job.

Happily, I see they’re beginning to voice their concerns. 

Daphne Sheldrick with an orphaned elephant in Tsavo NP, rescued by the Sheldrick Trust

WILDLIFE IN WATERSHEDS

NWNL  Given our No Water No life interest in the relationship of wildlife and watershed ecosystem health, I worry about loss of elephants – and other vulnerable wildlife. Wildlife is being targeted for varying reasons – from money to be gained from selling ivory to local needs for the sustenance wildlife meat can provide. From what I hear, it seems the Mara River Basin is losing wildlife right and left, and that includes elephants, rhinos and lions.

JAMES ROBERTSON  Yes, there were two rhinos there that were shot last night. It’s become almost a daily occurrence. It’s a weekly occurrence, for sure.

NWNL  How terrible! That prompts many questions:  How do you assess the importance of wildlife to the Mara River Basin? Since NWNL focuses on the importance of wildlife to both African and N American watersheds – from Amboseli’s Mt Kilimanjaro springs to the Mississippi River Basin – what are the consequences of wildlife losses to the health of our watersheds? Or the other way around, what value does wildlife give to Kenya’s watersheds – beyond tourism dollars (and shillings)?

A one-tusked elephant in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, quite safe from poachers due to carrying only ½ of the normal amount of ivory


JAMES ROBERTSON  Who knows? I don’t know. In some cases, a decrease in wildlife might even be beneficial. And the presence of tourism. due to Kenya’s exceptional wildlife, can certainly be detrimental.

NWNL  I suppose there are pros and cons to everything! Thank you, James, for this chat – and for all the wisdom you’ve shared with me over many years regarding Kenya’s wildlife, from Amboseli-Tsavo to the Mara, and many other ecosystems. Maintaining healthy balances of nature certainly seems to include insuring sufficient freshwater supplies and stable wildlife populations. The elephant population unfortunately seems to be a large version of “the canary in the coal mine.”

James Robertson, a brilliant naturalist, safari guide, conservationist and lover of animals

Posted by NWNL on June 12, 2024.
Transcription edited and condensed for clarity by Alison M. Jones.

All images © Alison M. Jones, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.