Animal Welfare Monthly Highlights: February 2025

Welcoming Josiah Ojwang as the Executive Director at Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW)

The Board of Directors, after a rigorous selection process, is pleased to announce the appointment of Josiah Ojwang as the Executive Director of Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW).

A career educationist and programme manager, Josiah brings a wealth of expertise and experience acquired over 22 years of service in the public service, humanitarian and development sector and animal welfare space. He is a specialist in programme and project planning and management, strategy building, education and training and NGO management among other core competencies. He has a rich grasp of animal welfare issues in Africa, having spent 14 years.

Working in the field of animal welfare at various levels and has served for the last six years at ANAW, where he first joined as a consultant and has risen through the ranks to the current appointment as Executive Director.

The Board is confident that his deep understanding of humanitarian and animal welfare programming and clear grasp of ANAW's mission sets him apart as the ideal person to propel ANAW's operations, and we are confident that his leadership will strengthen our impact and drive our work to scale new heights.

As we welcome Josiah into his new role, we also extend our deepest appreciation to our outgoing Executive Director, Josphat Ngonyo, for his invaluable leadership and dedication. In the past 18 years, under his leadership, his contributions have been instrumental in shaping ANAW's journey and driving meaningful change for animals and communities. We are grateful for his service and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

With Josiah at the helm, we look forward to building on our successes, forging new partnerships, and continuing our mission to advance animal welfare and promote better livelihoods for people across Africa. We invite all our partners and supporters to join us in congratulating Josiah and reaffirming our shared commitment to this cause. We thank you for your support as we continue to advance animal welfare and the well-being of our communities and planet.

Thank You and Best Regards,
Prof. James Nkansah Obrempong,
Board Chair, Africa Network for Animal Welfare

Triumph in Animal Welfare as Two Hotels Commit to Source Cage-Free Eggs in Kenya

The clucking of chicken across Africa should usher in celebrations as organizations work hard to end the abuse of chicken.

ANAW through the joint corporate campaign with the Open Wing Alliance, an undertaking that is geared towards seeking animal welfare and cage free policies from retailers and hoteliers that consume egg and chicken products, successfully attained two key commitments, in the month of February.

The companies, GreenHub Hotel in Machakos County and Hotel Troy in Nairobi County, took a significant step towards promoting higher animal welfare standards by committing to sourcing cage-free eggs from cage-free farmers. The farmers have adopted responsible and humane production practices that ensure better living conditions for chickens, reinforcing the growing shift towards ethical sourcing in Kenya’s hospitality sector.

Beyond responsible sourcing, both hotels also committed to being an active advocate for improved poultry welfare through providing a platform for further consultation with key stakeholders in the chicken production value chain.

Anti-Bushmeat Efforts Continue in Nakuru County

Identified as one of the major hotspots for a thriving bush meat trade in Kenya, ANAW’s rescue team continues to exacerbate efforts to protect Nakuru’s animals.

ANAW in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) carried out a 5-day de-snaring exercise covering Marula farm, Malewa Bay ranch, Wileli conservancy, Korongo ranch, Kigio Conservancy and Kenya Nut (Ole Morogi) farm in Nakuru County in the month of February 2025. The exercise was carried out between February 24 - 28, 2025 with kind support from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). A total of 44 snares were lifted during the patrols.

Empowerment through Conservation Education

A highly engaging conservation education session was held at Moi Ndambi Secondary School by ANAW and KWS through the support of African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW). The session focused on poaching threats, habitat destruction, and the role of wildlife in ecosystem balance. More than 500 students actively engaged in discussions, and educational materials were distributed.

The outreach aimed to nurture positive conservation attitude towards pupils in secondary schools.

The Joint Team Take on Emergency Wildlife Rescues

In collaboration with KWS Veterinary Unit, the ANAW rescue team responded to an alert indicating that a buffalo was caught in a ground snare in Marula Ranch in Nakuru county on February 3, 2025. The case involved an African Cape buffalo that was found ensnared in a ground snare, tethered by its right forelimb overnight in Marula Ranch. Physical examination revealed that the buffalo was heavily pregnant and under significant stress. The snare was carefully removed, and fortunately, the animal sustained no injuries. However, due to prolonged immobilization, it experienced muscle cramps and took considerable time to regain its footing before slowly walking away.

This successful intervention not only saved the buffalo but also protected its unborn calf from falling victim to poaching - a significant achievement in wildlife conservation efforts.

Earlier on, the team had been called to attend to a zebra that had been spotted dragging a ladder at Naivasha Sopa Lodge that was causing discomfort and posed a risk of injuries. Fortunately, when the team arrived, the zebra had managed to free itself after a struggle.

Taking Count at the Machakos Wildlife Count

ANAW took part in the first wildlife count of the year for the Athi-Kapiti ecosystem, focusing on Machakos County’s ranches and conservancies under the Athi-Kapiti Wildlife Conservancies Association (AKWCA). The exercise brought together approximately 150 participants, including landowners, scouts, volunteers, and conservation partners. Over ten conservation organizations participated, including ANAW, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), and Nature Kenya, among others.

The event provided ANAW with a valuable platform to engage with stakeholders and landowners, fostering collaboration on conservation initiatives. Additionally, the ANAW team utilized Earth Ranger technology for real-time monitoring, enhancing data collection for advocacy and informed decision-making. The exercise highlighted the critical need for collective action to curb bushmeat poaching, safeguard wildlife habitat and strengthen wildlife conservation efforts.

A notable observation during the count was the sighting of several wildebeests in Maanzoni -a promising indication of the species’ recovery following the prolonged drought of 2023. This resurgence underscores the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in restoring and maintaining healthy wildlife populations.

Turtle Conservation Activities Continue as Mortality Cases Reported in Msambweni

Funzi and Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation groups continued with their routine beach patrols to secure the beaches and make observations on turtles and other human activities in the month of February. There were no new nests laid but the team continued to safeguard the existing nest.

In addition, the Msambweni team proposed to record areas where waste had accumulated over the month to inform planning for the continuous beach clean-up exercises.

Two mortality cases were recorded by Msambweni MTCG this month. The first case involved a dead green turtle that was brought up by ocean tides at Msambweni Beach House that had an injured left flipper, and the other case was one that bore an injured neck.

The Msambweni group also had an engagement with Olive Ridley Project who trained them on data reporting and development of proper work plans.

Africa Conservation Education Fund (ACEF) Undertakes Vocational Training for Vulnerable Youth

Between January 30 and February 7, ANAW engaged communities and the youth in Taita Taveta County, focusing on Voi, Maungu, Kasigau and Shirango areas with the support of the assistant chief of Shirango area, Mr. John Wario Dhara. The activities involved community outreach, a door-to-door baseline survey on vocational training scholarship and natural resource exploitation among the youth as well as identification of potential young people for the project.

Vocational training is essential for empowering individuals, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of the youth lack access to post primary education and job opportunities, making them susceptible to illegal exploitation of natural resources. This training provides a sustainable alternative and fosters a sense of responsibility towards natural resource conservation. The project hoped to address this economic vulnerability by providing skills and training that would empower youth to seek legitimate employment, enhancing their livelihoods and reducing dependence on illegal activities through provision of scholarships for short courses between one to 12 months.

Ten Cases Addressed at the Animal Welfare Clinic in Diani

In February, a total of 10 animal welfare cases were reported. Out of these two were Baboons, one Grey Heron, five Colobus monkeys, one Sykes monkey and one Vervet monkey.

Mentionable results include one Colobus and Grey Heron were treated and released. one infant vervet monkey entered long term rehabilitation.

56 School Visits Resumed as Materials are Delivered for the Animal Welfare Clubs

In February, visits to 56 schools were conducted to deliver learning materials that included learners’ activity books, teachers guide and stationery. Each learner received an activity book, pencils, a rubber and a sharpener. Over 2800 students and 83 teachers were engaged. Additionally, seven new schools have been incorporated into the program.

Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) implements the Promoting Animal Welfare in Schools program (PAWS) through the Animal Welfare Clubs (AWC). The program includes design, production and distribution of teaching and learning materials, school visits, teachers’ training and workshops as well as embracing the use of creativity. Currently, the project is being implemented in seven counties.

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