Special Features

Algoa Bay in South Africa has been awarded the Whale Heritage Site accolade, making South Africa the only country in the world with two accredited sites.

Whale Heritage Sites are a global accreditation scheme developed by the World Cetacean Alliance and supported by World Animal Protection, that recognise a community´s commitment to respect and celebrate whales, dolphins and other cetaceans.

Algoa Bay joins four Whale Heritage Sites: Hervey Bay in Australia; Tenerife-La Gomera Marine area in Southwest Tenerife, Spain; Dana Point, California US, and the Bluff in Durban, South Africa.

With this accreditation, Algoa Bay will provide the travel industry with another way to identify and support sustainable sites and create a location for communities to celebrate marine culture, heritage and biodiversity.

Whale Heritage Site status also provides tourists with an easy way to select responsible whale and dolphin watching destinations; places where people can experience these magnificent animals in their natural habitat and in an authentic and respectful way.

“Nick Stewart, Global Head of Campaigns at World Animal Protection, said:

The accreditation of Algoa Bay as a new Whale Heritage Site is immensely important in the protection of wildlife in South Africa. It showcases a viable, sustainable alternative to cruel attractions like captive dolphin venues and other wildlife entertainment activities. The site will also help to spotlight tour operators who offer tourists a wonderful experience seeing whales and dolphins in the wild, where they belong, while protecting the welfare of marine wildlife.”

Lloyd Edwards, owner of Raggy Charters / The Baywatch Project, and

a member of the site´s Steering Committee, said: “Becoming a Whale Heritage Site will ensure that visitors to the Algoa Bay marine area are contributing to destinations that celebrate natural heritage, protect marine wildlife and build a connection between local residents and sea life. In addition to the opportunity to observe sea mammals in the ocean, to attend vibrant festivals and other events that celebrate the marine environment and provide education and inspiration for tourists and locals alike.”

Port Elizabeth, where Algoa Bay is located, is a hidden gem in South Africa for whale and dolphin watching, and other wildlife viewing. With seasonal visits from southern right whales, humpback whales and Indo-pacific humpback dolphins. They have the largest breeding colony of African penguins in the world. Other resident species include bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Bryde’s whales and Cape gannets.  

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection said; “This interactive map shows wildlife trade routes globally and the dangers it has if not stopped. The African continent is home to some of the world’s most majestic and iconic wildlife. Sadly, it is also home to some of the world’s most cruel, dangerous, and exploitative wildlife trading. Some of the activities are criminal, others are legally authorized, but all are cruel.

Action is needed to end the global wildlife trade; to safeguard animal welfare, biodiversity, and to protect our health. We are urging people not to buy, own, or breed a wild animal for entertainment, for traditional Medicine or as an exotic pet. A life in captivity is a world away from a life in the wild.”

Every single day, thousands of wild animals are poached or farmed and sold into the global multi-billion-dollar wild animal trade with very little regard for their welfare. They are deprived what their natural habitat would offer for free such as freedom, space, wild interaction, and diet. Wildlife trade is now so substantial that it represents one of the most prominent drivers of animal extinction risk globally.

The demand and exploitation of wild animals not only affects biodiversity, it also exposes us to disease and puts us all at risk. Past occurrences have clearly demonstrated how the exploitation of wild animals’ primary caused the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Ebola and MERS. Every day we learn more about the dangers of this trade, and how it is putting our own future at risk. We are at a biodiversity tipping point – we must act now before it is too late. Ending wildlife trade is the sure way to avert future catastrophes.

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities.

“Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health issues for people”, says Dr Louise de Waal (Director of Blood Lions). “These diseases are associated with at least 63 potentially harmful pathogens linked with both wild and captive lions, as identified in our peer-reviewed paper.”

Underestimating the impact of such pathogens and the associated zoonotic diseases could lead to future epidemics with reductions in life expectancy, increased child and maternal death and serious socio-economic consequences.

The Sick 5 are Human Ehrlichiosis, Human Babesiosis, African Sleeping Sickness, Toxocariasis and Trichinosis.

The first two are tick-borne diseases, where the bacteria and parasite respectively are transmitted from animals to people by ticks. Toxocariasis and Trichinosis parasites are transmitted more directly to humans, the former for example by handling faeces contaminated soil and the latter has a direct animal-human transmission.

African Sleeping Sickness (or Trypanosomiasis) is caused by a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly and is listed as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Over the last century, this disease has caused several epidemics in Africa.

“This scientific paper should push relevant actors to closely examine current policies and practices associated with commercial lion farming. In South Africa, more than 8,000 lions are bred and kept on commercial farms for tourism activities, captive hunting, the bone trade and live exports. These wildlife farms can be a hot bed for diseases, especially when poor hygiene, poor diet, and other stresses associated with captivity weaken the animal’s immune system. We are at risk of potential disease outbreak if we don’t act urgently,” says Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection.

The welfare issues were highlighted as commonly occurring on South Africa’s commercial lion farms in a recent NSPCA report.

Furthermore, contagious diseases can spread rapidly when large numbers, and sometimes even different species, of wild animals are kept in the same enclosures, as this increases the risk of transmission.

Despite the large number of lions bred in captivity in South Africa and the long list of diseases found to affect them, the researchers did not find any scientific studies investigating health and diseases on commercial lion farms here in South Africa. Without this vital information it is impossible to effectively prevent, monitor or manage potential health risks on these farms, particularly considering this industry is poorly regulated and animal welfare enforcement lies with the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) only.

“Our research identified substantial gaps in our knowledge base concerning the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa, which can have huge health implications for tourists interacting with lions, farm staff caring for the animals, taxidermists preparing the trophies, and slaughterhouse workers killing lions and preparing their skeletons”, says de Waal.

To avoid potential health risks and future pandemics, the Blood Lions “The Sick 5” campaign focuses on three major calls to action for members of the public and other entities:

1.      Asking the public to stop interacting with captive wildlife – an industry that has been condemned by global conservation authorities and leaders in the tourism sector.

2.      Urging the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) to set a zero CITES lion bone export quota.

3.      Calling for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to curb the global wildlife trade.

World Animal Protection has revealed that endangered African grey parrots and their body parts are being sold at ‘fetish’ voodoo markets in Togo, West Africa. They are sold to improve memory, or to protect against witchcraft, ignoring the potential threat for zoonotic disease spread from animals to humans. Full findings are provided in a new scientific paper published this week.

Shocking images show dead African grey parrots heads and feathers being sold for belief-based use, primarily voodoo, at West Africa’s largest traditional medicine or ‘fetish’ market. Known for their intelligence, the heads of these endangered birds are being sold to consumers with the belief they will improve memory or bring good luck. Their feathers are also being sold under the premise they will either help attract clients, bring love or help with divorce, and in some cases, their whole bodies are sold for protection against witchcraft.

It is estimated that up to 900 endangered African grey parrots have been traded at this market alone during the past 10 years, just one such market that are a common and widespread occurrence across West Africa. Voodoo is widely practiced in the region, and whilst much of the practices are harmless, there is a thriving domestic consumer demand for animal derivatives attached, which can have devastating impacts on wildlife.

This type of wildlife exploitation can further threaten the conservation of this endangered species, which has already seen wild population declines of up to 90% in some African countries. It can also cause immense suffering to the parrots involved during capture, transport, sale, and slaughter. Some of the cruel techniques used to capture African grey parrots for the exotic pet trade, which is likely to crossover with belief based use, have been documented through video footage previously released by World Animal Protection.

Experts are warning, that even though there are reasons to be optimistic with COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out, it’s important to consider that markets selling wildlife such as these around the world, pose risks of future disease outbreaks. Currently, avian influenza or bird flu is sweeping across India, which has caused severe economic ramifications with thousands of poultry birds being culled, and the situation is being closely monitored for its impact on human health which is a real concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection Africa, said:
“The dead parrots at this market would have experienced unthinkable cruelty, they are suffering and placing our health at risk. These highly intelligent, sociable birds that fly many miles each day and can sometimes live so long that they outlive their owners, are cruelly trapped, brutally handled, and slaughtered for their derivatives for unproven traditional medicines.

“What’s worse, is that untreated bird carcasses such as these, pose a serious health risk, as birds can carry numerous diseases. We must remember the lessons of the past and consider that COVID-19, SARS, Ebola, bird flu, swine flu, and many other zoonotic diseases all originated from animal exploitation, so this is a risky business.”

Last year, over a million people joined us and signed our petition calling on the G20 to end the global wildlife trade, forever. Now, World Animal Protection is continuing to put pressure on governments of all nations to make a collective commitment to end the inter-country trade in wild animals and wild animal products, and to ask for global institutions and bodies to put in place mechanisms to develop, facilitate and implement this ban. 

A businesswoman at Ngurubani, Kirinyaga county lost Sh200, 000 she intended to use in replenishing the stock of her rice business.

Jane Miano was heading to Makutano to buy bags of rice but that was not to be. She lost the money to fraudsters who tricked her.

She was waiting for matatu when a private car with three occupants approach her. Two of them were women.

They offered her a lift which she quickly accepted thinking they were godsent to save her the strains of matatu ride.

She said the two women engaged her in a hearty talk and in no time they became friends and she trusted them.

Before reaching Makutano they stopped at a shopping centre where they gave her Sh100 to buy water from a supermarket. She left her purse with the money in the car.

When she stepped out of the supermarket the fraudsters had fled with her money and other belongings.

She said she thought they were good people when they offered her a lift.

She reported the matter at Wang’uru police station. According to residents and police cases of fraudsters in Kirinyaga have been on the rise.

The officer who was in charge of Kamiti Medium Prison is now serving in the same capacity at Kerugoya GK Prison following a transfer caused by her disregard of rules set to help fight COVID-19 at Kamiti.

The Assistant Commissioner of Prisons (ACP) Jeniffer Muiga was in April involved in an altercation with her juniors manning the gate after she was instructed to sanitise and follow the COVID-19 directives.

She was driving to the prison late at night. She refused to heed the directives but her juniors stood their ground forcing her to comply but she threatened them with a disciplinary action.

That time Jeniffer was acting as the overall boss of Kamiti because the officer in charge ACP Charles Mutembei was away on a break.

When word went out about her plot other junior wardens vowed to stand with their colleagues and threatened to down their tools.

Stories were published about the incident forcing her to cow down but the Prisons Department embarrassed the altercation transferred her in what looks like a demotion.

“She was headed for the top job in Kamiti but she messed up. Her actions amounted to disrespecting the department and government. She was shocked by the transfer” a senior warden revealed.

She has been replaced by Senior Superintendent of Prisons (SSP) John Koech.

SSP Gerald Ongume who was the deputy officer in charge of Kamiti Maximum Prison was transferred to Nairobi Medium Prison and appointed the officer in-charge.

Ongume’s position at Kamiti Maximum Prison was given to SSP Joseph Longoriangyang who was transferred from Nanyuki Prison where he was the officer in-charge.

An Italian man identified as Maurisio Montcalli has been arrested and arraigned in Kiambu county after a video of him assaulting woman went viral last weekend.

The incident happened at Edenville estate along Kiambu. The victim was a white woman said be his neighbor.

It was unclear what provoked the heated exchange of words before Montcalli slapped her in presence of a security guard and neighbors.

The elderly man was arrested and arraigned in court in Kiambu where the magistrate ordered he be taken to hospital for treatment before proceeding with the case.

It was claimed he sustained injuries after other residents attacked him.

In the clip he is heard shouting; “You understand…You understand…I know you’re brilliant…where is my daughter…I know my daughter..”.

Mugithi singer Lawrence Gathee Mwangi popularly known as Gathee wa Njeri is among the vernacular artists who have pursued education to high levels.

Unlike the yesteryear musicians who acquired just basic education before immersing themselves into music, today’s artists are professionals in other fields.

The first-rising artist behind the Wamunyota (thirsty one) hit song is an A student who is currently pursuing Masters in Business at Kenyatta University.

He is one of the young, talented, celebrated and highly educated Kikuyu musicians.

“I passed with a record grade that had not been achieved before in my village and it is yet to be broken” Gathee said in a youtube interview.

Gathee went to Kimathi Secondary School, a mixed day school in Gaturi, Murang’a County and he scored grade A in KCSE.

He joined KU for a Bachelors degree in Agribusiness Management and Trade that he attained a Second upper.

When results were announced his former school hired him as a biology and mathematics teacher.

The last born in family of five developed interest in music while he was in high school. While at form two he started playing guitar. A friend and his late father taught him how to play the guitar.

In 2012 he recorded his first song Wamunyota as he worked as a teacher.

When he came to Nairobi and started entertaining revelers in pubs around Githurai he was able to pay his university fees and his music career shaped rapidly.

He says; “Though I am pursuing education to higher levels, music is paying me well than would be earning from some employment”.

Fellow young mugithi artists with degrees include Kioi Junior who is an Engineer from University of Nairobi (UoN) and Eddie Gathenge who is pursuing degree in Gynecology

Celebrated journalist Jeff Koinange has met many who-is-who in his career and one of those celebrated moments is when he took his son to meet late South Africa President Nelson Mandela.

While he worked as Reuters Television reporter based in South Africa, he interacted with Mandela in a number of press briefings and events that they became acquittances.

Mandela kept asking Jeff to introduce his family to him and when his son Jamal Mbiyu was born in 2007, he honoured Mandela’s request.

In early 2008 Jeff took his son Mbiyu and his wife Shaila to meet Mandela, a meeting that the Citizen TV news anchor terms priceless.

That time Mbiyu was just eight months old and it was also the time Jeff was relocating to Kenya.

“In early 2008 Mbiyu was eight months old. I was relocating to Kenya so I decided to get in touch with Mandela and introduce my son to him” Jeff recounted.

When Mandela held Mbiyu in his hands, he exclaimed; “Oooh this is son of a chief”.

He says Mandela and Mbiyu gelled well that they took longer in Mandela’s office, about double the time they had been allocated.

Mbiyu smiled, hugged and touched Mandela’s face and head and was relaxed in his arms.

The late President met with Jeff in 1997 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso during the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit.

He recognised the name Koinange saying he was heard about it a lot in Kenya’s struggle for independence.

A girl diagnosed with brain stem glioma (brain cancer) has appealed for assistance from President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenyans of goodwill.

Naomi Wangui, 6 needs Sh2.5 million for radiosurgery treatment in India.

 “I want my President Uhuru Kenyatta to come to my rescue. I want to get well, stop collapsing and feeling dizzy. I want to get well and start going to school like my friends” Naomi said when we visited their home at Maziwa Estate, Kahawa West.

The hopeful, jovial and brilliant girl also thanked Kenyans who have managed to contribute Sh500, 000 for her radiosurgery saying;

“Thanks you for your contributions. Do not tire to give little by little until we raise the full amount needed” she appealed after leading in prayers.

Her mother Mary Wangui says she developed problems in 2018 and early this year she was diagnosed with the brain cancer.

She is currently on a daily medication to lessen fluid in her head. It costs Sh50, 000 monthly for the medicine she takes every morning and some therapy to relax her nervous system.

Kenyatta National Hospital Neurosurgeon Dr R.P Lubanga recommended an urgent radiosurgery treatment in India.

After a CT scan Naomi presented with progressive ataxia, a degenerative disease of the nervous system.

Her ailment has largely affected her family and especially Wangui who is unable to go to work for she has to keep an eye on her daughter.

“An adult must be around her all the time because she can collapse any minute. The drugs she is taking has affected her speech, walking balance and she in most times feeling dizzy” says a teary mother.

“Media has greatly helped us reach the well-wishers. We are happy and appealing for more help to save Naomi’s life” she pleaded.

Help can be channeled through 0729201343 (Mary Wangui) or Paybill 8013929 (Peter Kamau Mburu, Naomi’s uncle)