In July, I borrowed a mobile film unit to show films to the local communities. I have done this in the past and it was something I have always enjoyed doing. The plan was to show a predators film called “Perfect Mothers, Perfect Predators” to 5 various locations within West Gate.

I started at Kiltamany village on the 10th of July. I first held a baraza (local meeting) with the village elders in the afternoon. We all sat in the Kiltamany lugga and discussed my project. I answered any questions the elders had and this took about an hour or so. In the evening, we tested the film equipment and everything appeared to be working well. We then set up our first bush cinema in the “maendeleo” manyatta, where there was some form of an enclosure. I was concerned about dust and wind on the projector and it was important to find a semi-enclosed place. We tied a white cloth onto some posts which would be the screen.

As soon as I started the generator, people from all over started trickling in. I played the film and it was a huge success. There were close to 200 people who came to watch the film; women, elders, warriors and children too. They loved the scenes of the cheetah running and laughed during the hyena scenes. At the end of the film, I answered a few questions and we then packed up the equipment, and spent the night in the village.

Crowd gathered at Kiltamany

A few days later, I had another baraza with the people of the Sasaab manyatta. This went very well and they were very excited about the project. That night I showed the same predator film to the Sasaab people. This time we tied the white cloth onto Gypsy and sheltered the projector against a small house in the village. Close to 100 people came to watch the film and apart from a few goats causing chaos after they heard lions roaring on the film, it was a huge success.

Leopard scene projected on Gypsy

Sasaab community watching a cheetah scene on Gypsy

Unfortunately I had to return the film unit before I was able to show more films at the 3 remaining locations; Naisunyai, Ngutuk Ongiron and West Gate. However I hope to borrow it again soon to continue showing the films. I hope to eventually buy my own unit one day if I can get some funds. Funds would be required for a projector, DVD player, speakers and a small generator to power the film unit.

The bush cinema and the showing of films is so important and it is a great way to spread important conservation messages to the local communities. Many of them have never seen these animals properly nor a video before. I remember showing a film to a very remote community in Samburu District many years ago. They had never seen any form of moving imagery before and when there was a scene of a cheetah running at full speed, everyone suddenly ran away, leaving my colleague and I surprised and shocked at that had happened but we soon realized that they were running away from the cheetah itself! I could spend days traveling around showing wildlife films and I hope to be able to do so one day! Imagine if I could show everyone Planet Earth?!

Share This

Phase 4 of the Ewaso Lion Tree Project. Last week I traveled to Attan Primary School, which is South of Buffalo Springs National Reserve. This was the 4th school in the area where trees would be planted. 10 teams were formed with 4 students each. Each team of 4 is responsible for planting, protecting and watering their tree. I provided each student with notebooks and rulers to measure their trees weekly and to write any notes about their tree.

The students began digging their holes. There are goats everywhere in Attan! And whilst digging was going on, the goats even ended up in some of the holes as you can see in the photo below.

Eventually the holes were dug, fertilizer collected from the nearby manyattas (homesteads) and planting began. We had a problem with rocks in some areas and we had to relocate the sites. However, eventually all 10 trees were planted, watered and protected with chicken wire.

To date 51 trees have been planted in the area (4 schools and manyattas). I am really enjoying this project and it has been such fun working with the students on this. After each tree-planting, Raphael gives the students a talk on the importance of trees and why they are crucial to a healthy environment. I visit the schools weekly to see the progress and to check that trees are being watered. So far, out of 51 trees, only 4 have failed. 3 were eaten by goats (who crawled under the chicken wire!) and one was chopped off by a student who was trying to sabotage another student’s growing tree! However, all that has been sorted now and with the support of the school committees, the head-teachers and communities, the trees are doing well.

Please do have a look at the project website field diary for entries on the tree planting in 3 other schools (between January and March 2008). Click here: http://www.ewasolions.org/diary.php

Share This