The Chaircat’s Blog

Last night an attempted murder took place on the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.

A gang came in shortly after midnight and fired some shots.

The Conservancy’s security force acted swiftly. Within minutes Peter Fundi the Orphanage’s superintendent (who sleeps in the Orphanage “just in case”) was first on the scene. After securing the immediate surroundings and making sure none of our men were hurt, his next move was to check on our pair of Rhinoceros.

The Rhino Big Mama has been shot and slightly wounded

Rhino as you probably know are an endangered species. They are hunted for their horn which brings thousands of $$$$$ when exported to the East where they may become dagger handles or ground into “medicine” said to have aphrodisiac powers.

This is precisely why we have trained our pair, although they are wild and free ranging by day, at night they are rewarded with sugarcane when they return to their “safe-house.” This is a corral opposite the Orphanage and close to our security force. Fundi had last checked on them before retiring late that night and all was well.

The Rhino had vanished. So had whoever fired the shots.

Meanwhile, Bunge, the Wildlife Manager and David McConnell who heads our Wildlife Education Center had joined Fundi and the men in a search across the Ranch. They had to be careful as they knew they could now be the assassins targets. Several hours went by. Finally the brave men managed to locate the two precious animals, even in the darkness of the African bush. They had traveled some distance, but to everyone’s relief, they appeared to be safe and sound. Although confused and refusing to go back to the scene of the attack, at least they were alive.

Our men were joined by armed scouts from the Kenya Wildlife Service. One group stayed in the bush guarding the bewildered animals for the remainder of the night.

Help from a neighboring farm had by now arrived. They brought with them their team of trained bloodhounds and handlers.

The dogs were given the scent of the still fresh footprints of the gang near the Rhino corral. Led by Bunge the team followed the eager dogs. They ran towards the forest and then uphill on the heavily forested mountain slopes. The dogs did not tire until they had found a group of people huddled up at a place called Ontuleli several hours later.

Police were called in and took away the suspects who carried a rifle, a G3.

Meanwhile David McConnell, the head of our Wildlife Education Center went to check on the Rhino at first light. Although they appeared to be okay, in the early morning light he was able to see that one, the female, hat a gunshot wound in her shoulder. She did not appear to be in any pain.

Don Hunt, traveling overseas for medical treatment was swiftly contacted and has been on the phone ever since. Under his direction security has been further tightened.

Eventually the animals calmed and could be persuaded to return to their corral, following the keepers whom they know and trust. Tomorrow the female Rhino will be immobilized and removal of the bullet will be attempted by the vets.

That’s all we know for now folks. The Kenya Police will establish if the bullets matches the suspects rifle. Meanwhile they are doing their own investigations to establish who may be behind all this. Let us hope that this time the culprits will end up behind bars and further tragedies can be averted.

Don and I would like to thank all involved for their dedication and swift and brave response. Without their help these Rhino might have become yet another poaching statistic.

Watch this space for more news when we have some.

All the world is fascinated with the competitive American elections.

Sen. Obama has nothing to fear from African tigers

For the very first time an African American is the nominee for the democratic party: Senator Barack Obama. Kenya is a-buzz with speculation, discussion and bets. After all, Obama’s Dad was a genuine Kenyan, in fact, his Grandma still lives in a village in Western Kenya.

Many of us here follow every bit of news we can get, so we came across an article written by one Nancy Benac, (Associate Press Writer) that is making its appearance in newspapers this week. In it she compares the decorative aspect of the offices of the two nominated candidates. We are informed Obama’s office has “a fresh clean look to it,” “carefully choreographed” with “not many knick-knacks.” The accompanying photograph shows a side table with a good old fashioned “Rungu” on it.

Ms. Benac, the Associated Press Writer identifies it as a “tiger-beating stick from his grandmothers village in Kenya.” Why would they have a “tiger beating stick” in a village in western Kenya? Hardly!

It reminds me of a public notice I saw in a government office in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1965, that announced that the hunting and killing of tigers was strictly forbidden under the laws of Somalia. It proved to be the only law that was never violated there.
Why? There are no tigers in Somalia to hunt, not any more than there are tigers in Kenya.

There are no tigers, never were, on the African continent Ms. Benac. Tigers belong to that other mass of land to the east, remember?

As for the rungu in the good Senator’s office: It’s a traditional African weapon, a throwing club traditionally cut from hardwood bushes or roots that have especially strong knots. It is probably mostly seen used by the warriors of the colorful Maasai tribe of Kenya and Tanzania. No self respecting traditional pastoralist would be caught out in the bush without one, it has so many uses in self defense (bar tiger beating) and hunting, even lion hunting although the Maasai possess more suitable and lethal home made weapons for this pursuit. Young boys training to be warriors have rungu throwing competitions until they become so proficient that they can hit small object such as a small mammal or bird at great distance.

But there is another equally important function for the rungu. It is a ceremonial status symbol giving the bearer the aura of great importance. (Past President Moi of Kenya carried one made of ivory and gold wherever he went). The rungu is often given in honor to a speaker of great importance as a sign of respect. Which is probably why Senator Obama received one in his Grandma’s home village when he visited there some time ago. Kenyans are proud that it has a place of honor in his office. If the rungu does make it to the White House… we hope NOT as a “tiger beating tool”!!

Today we woke to the grisly news that an American Tourist had been stabbed to death on the streets of Beijing. He was there for the Olympics, strolling down the street with friends. Had it happened elsewhere in the world the news would surely not have traveled so fast.

William Holden with Don Hunt”

Another day, another time: Peking in the late 1960’s. Our friend Bill Holden had been waiting anxiously to obtain a visa to see China for years. At this early stage only his fame and his impeccable reputation for honest reporting had persuaded the Chinese authorities to grant a visit. He and his traveling companion were to be accompanied by one of their official guides throughout his visit. Furthermore the route that wanted to take was denied. He was ordered to visit only certain sites as seen fit by the then government there.

Still, Bill thought it would be a start, to break the ice. Surely, he thought, once there he could charm his way into their hearts and he would at least get a glimpse at the real China. But it was not to be.

The guide was cautious to answer questions and the virtual curtain imposed could not be parted to reveal what he knew must lie beyond. On his last day in Peking, one last walk, one last attempt at breaking the barrier, suddenly a man appeared in front of them and with lightening speed stabbed Bill in the chest. The guide jumped to shield Bill’s companion. As Bill felt the sudden blood warm his chest coloring his shirt crimson the would be assassin was caught by guards appearing from nowhere and led away swiftly. All of it happed so fast that Bill’s companion was hardly aware what had happened.

There was no panic. Bill noticed the few Chinese on the street rapidly disappearing as if a silent command had directed them to do so. Then he himself was whisked away to hospital.

The diagnosis confirmed what he already felt: No vital organ had been hit. What he did not know was the extend of his luck as the blade had missed its target by millimeters.

Police and officialdom arrived to question and brief the traveler about this unfortunate incident. The Chinese did not give away what bothered them most, the life almost lost or public embarrassment and its consequences. Bill refused to press charges. He was not given any idea who the culprit was or what may have motivated him. In fact nothing more was ever heard of the man.

As for Bill, wound bandaged he returned to Hong Kong the next morning as scheduled.

As the purposely inflicted injury healed Bill never saw himself as a victim nor did he bear any kind of grudge. The one thing that bothered him for the rest of his life was that he was never able to find out what the possible motivation could have been behind deviltry.

When news leaked out he was questioned by the U.S. State department for details.

He begged them not to make a mountain of what he considered a molehill as he felt any charge would stand in the way of a freer China that he believed was surely to come.

Soon after Bill joined us in Kenya where we were busy planning the future of the newly established Mount Kenya Game Ranch. Making his way through the Far East he rescued two Gibbons that had been confiscated from poachers. He felt they reminded him of the most beautiful poetic pair in the world and promptly named them “Margo and Rudi” after the world famous ballet dancers Margot Fontaine and Rudolf Nuriyev.

Margo and Rudi lived with Bill for a while and then he turned them over to my care and they were amongst the first inhabitants at the Orphanage. But that’s another story.

(Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the recent stabbing victim in Beijing)