Kenya: "Save Nairobi Park "

26 October 2009
Daily Nation

editorial

Nairobi — Perhaps, Nairobi is the only city with a natural national park within its vicinity. Visitors to the city do not have to travel for long to enjoy nature's beauty.

The sanctuary is alive with wildlife attractions -- the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffe, zebras, wildebeests, elands and more than 400 bird species. Besides, the park is replete with different plant species.

These, in turn, attract tourists, conferences, sports events and other forms of business that earn foreign revenue. Families are often seen visiting the animal orphanage, having memorable picnics or even enjoying a bush breakfast.

Yet on Monday, residents woke up to news of a scheme to grab the park.

Already 24 hectares have been surveyed, and the allocation of 60 plots is in full gear. In other words, the disappearance of the park has begun.

We must think of the clean air we breathe, the animals, plants and bird species at risk and the public revenue we stand to lose.

We must put an end to this greed and embrace the public good.

And while the park trustee -- the Kenya Wildlife Service -- says it was not aware of the encroachment, it needs to explain how such an activity can take place right under its nose, and assure us that no such thing will happen in future.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200910261780.html

------------

Learn more about big cats and Big Cat Rescue at http://wbigcatrescue.org