Wildlife activists want construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) snaking through the Nairobi National Park halted and rerouted, saying it will disrupt wildlife habitat. Under the auspices of “Friends of National Parks” Coalition, they want the government to realign project as it was affecting natural animal behaviour with some serious repercussions.
Activists had earlier blamed the straying of lions from the park to construction activities within the park. Two lions were killed in what lobbyists said was their quest to curve ‘quieter’ hunting grounds.
In a communiqué to newsrooms yesterday, Kahindi Lekalhaile, who spoke in behalf of the coalition, said the government is gambling with world’s only park in the capital city.
“Ongoing developments are clear indicators of careless development, insensitive to a special natural heritage of global repute,” he said.
Lekalhaile said the park is a critical breeding sanctuary for the near-extinct black rhino and white rhino populations. “The sanctuary is the most important supplier of individuals for restocking other parks and sanctuaries in Kenya and parts of East Africa,” he added.
Nairobi National Park is the most visited wildlife protected area in Kenya and the fourth largest income earner amongst all wildlife national parks and reserves in the country. More than 150,000 tourists visit annually and generate about Sh60 million per year. Most of the income is derived from park entry fees.
There are no lodges or hotels within the park. The initial plan for the SGR did not interfere with major wildlife habitats, However, mid last year, Kenya Railways received the green light to have the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) run through the Nairobi National Park, despite opposition from conservationists.
This was meant to avoid a huge compensation bill for industries and residential estates in Mlolongo and Athi River that were in SGR’s original path. An agreement was said to have been reached after Kenya Railways agreed to increase the number of bridges under which animals can move from one to three.
The post Re-route SGR from park, activists urge appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.