The past few months, Big Life has been steadily recording the sobering tally of wildlife that has succumbed to drought, been poached for bushmeat, or perished for various other reasons relating to the lack of rain.

While the death toll has been steep, there are many more animals that Big Life has been able to save, and last week provided one such example.

Despite moving so gracefully, giraffes aren’t always as nimble on their feet as you might expect. With their eyes so much higher than their feet, they can sometimes miss low-lying objects like wire fences intended to contain livestock. We suspect this was the reason why this male giraffe was having difficulties walking.

Fortunately for him, he was spotted by community members near Mbirikani town, who alerted Big Life. A car was soon at the scene to monitor the giraffe, while a team of KWS and Sheldrick vets were called in from Amboseli to treat it. The giraffe was administered with antibiotics, had his ticks removed, and his wounds disinfected and doused with a healthy splash of iodine. He was back on his feet ten minutes later and his future now looks a lot brighter as a result.

We’re grateful to our partners for helping this lucky, lanky giraffe get back on his feet.

Video: Josh Clay

A typical Amboseli scene: a family of elephants led by a seasoned matriarch through a parched landscape in their eternal search for food and water.  The drought is really starting to bite, but this matriarch knows these ancient paths well.  She has traversed them for many years, and she knows what lies at the end of this one: an idyllic scene of a water source for her family to find respite, Kilimanjaro looming beyond.

But this is not an infinite nor untouched bush, but rather a landscape containing farms, power lines, roads, cars, and people. This is reality, and this matriarch’s journey is anything but idyllic in a rapidly transforming landscape.
 
The growth of the region’s human population and infrastructure means that space for wildlife is contracting. As the surrounding group ranches go through their land subdivision processes, these once open and contiguous areas are set to contract even further.

But all is not lost. Successful negotiations between Big Life and the owners of parcels in the Kimana Corridor mean that this crucial pinch point will persist for at least the next 50 years. Big Life is working with many other landowners to negotiate further corridors and rangeland for wildlife, ensuring this ecosystem’s iconic wildlife will continue to follow their ancient paths.  They just might have to pass a few tomato fields along the way.

And so this scene concludes with an elephant family safely crossing the road and entering Kimana Sanctuary, where crucial permanent water sources that help sustain this ecosystem’s wildlife are located.  While elephants had been using the crossing primarily at night, they’re feeling safe enough to cross with their families in broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of Big Life rangers, like Daniel Kutata, who filmed this scene.

What better way to spread holiday cheer than by giving gifts that help protect wildlife? Each unique gift idea below generates funding for Big Life and enables our community rangers to protect animals and save habitat throughout the entire year. With the holidays fast approaching, this is a great way to share your love of nature with your family and friends!

Big Life Merchandise

Big Life’s online store is stocked with sustainable giving options, and 100% of the proceeds benefit Big Life. We have something for everyone, including insulated tumblers, wine cups, and water bottles, organic baby onesies, as well as several made-in-Kenya options. Not sure what to give? Buy a gift certificate. You can also make a donation in honor or in memory of a loved one.

Nick Brandt Signed Books

Purchase a signed book with a personalized inscription from Big Life’s co-founder, Nick Brandt. At least 50% of the purchase price directly benefits Big Life Foundation. Please note that Nick is currently traveling and will start fulfilling personalized book orders starting November 21st. Just published, The Day May Break is a new series of photographs by Nick Brandt, taken in Zimbabwe and Kenya in late 2020. It is the first part of a global series portraying people and animals that have been negatively impacted by environmental degradation and destruction.

“A landmark body of work by one of photography’s great environmental champions. Showing how deeply our fates are intertwined, Brandt portrays people and animals together, causing us to reflect on the real-life consequences of climate change. Channeling his outrage into quiet determination, the result is a portrait of us all, at a critical moment in the Anthropocene."

- Phillip Prodger, Photography Historian, former Head of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Elephant Gin

From the first bottle sold, Elephant Gin has donated 15% of profits to elephant conservation and has raised over €1,000,000 to date for elephants in Africa. Big Life is honored to be one of Elephant Gin’s conservation partners. Visit their website to learn more and see where you can purchase an award-winning bottle for your holiday gathering. Cheers!

Temple St Clair

Temple St. Clair has a tradition of giving back by supporting initiatives focused on community, conservation, and the arts. This year, Temple is generously donating 20% of sales from the stunning 18K Vine Amulet pictured above. Temple serves as a member of Big Life’s Advisory Board and has been supporting Big Life’s conservation efforts in East Africa for several years. You can view the entire beautiful collection here.

Mazarin

Big Life’s newest partnership is with Mazarin, a sustainable fine jewelry house based in Paris. Mazarin contributes 10% of the sale price of each Memory Charm bracelet to Big Life, directly supporting our mobile ranger unit in the Chyulu Hills, Kenya.

Tourism Partners

One of the best ways to support conservation is to visit the areas that are being protected. A strong tourism economy helps to ensure protection over the long-term. And a safari to East Africa is a lifetime dream for many. Big Life has several tourism partners that support conservation in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem. Click here and scroll down to check out a list of Big Life’s tourism partners.

Part Time Rangers

For every Part Time Rangers can sold, a portion of proceeds goes towards animal conservation initiatives across the globe, including Big Life’s mission. Australia and New Zealand friends, be on the lookout for these colorful cans and save while you sip!

Thank you for considering these impactful gifts and for supporting Big Life’s important work. Together we can continue to create a world where conservation supports the people, and people support conservation.

Happy early holidays from everyone at Big Life!

Unsurprisingly, but no less tragically, the numbers are starting to multiply. Big Life rangers counted 15 animals in July that had succumbed to the drought and then 26 in August. In September, that number leapt to 60 and has only increased since. These numbers are far from all-encompassing, but it gives a sense of scale to see the wildlife mortality quadruple in just two months’ time. Most of these in our area of operation have been zebra and giraffe, among other plains animals like eland, wildebeest, and impala.

It is hard to watch wildlife suffer, especially given our success over the last decade helping their populations to recover so strongly since the last drought in 2009. But nature is resilient, and we are doing what we can to manage the impacts of this current drought, for both people and wildlife.

Our Q3 operations metrics are strong and reflect the tireless work of our rangers to step up when so many are suffering. From arresting bushmeat poachers to confiscating ivory and sandalwood, they are staying nimble and adapting as the situation worsens.

One number that stands out in Q3 is the surprising drop in crop raids by elephants from August to September. You would think the lack of food would send more animals into farms for tasty treats, but the reality is that humans are just as affected by the drought as wildlife. Until the rains return, crops will wither on the vine. There is nothing for elephants to raid.

We’re crossing all our fingers and toes for the rains to come soon. Even if they do, it will be a long road to recovery, and the impact of this drought will be felt well into next year, and beyond. But we have a lot to look forward to, including the Maasai Olympics in December, if all goes according to plan. Teams have formed and are actively competing in their regional events. If the rains come, the games will be a welcome celebration.

For now, we thank you all for sending your support, both emotionally and financially.

Benson Leyian & Craig Millar
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer – Big Life Foundation Kenya

SEE THE FULL 3rd QUARTERLY REPORT