Recent news

By Hanna Rosti25.12.2020

28.8.2022 Lumo

During the past years, especially during covid pandemic, poaching has increased dramatically in Lumo. In the absence of tourists, poachers can kill animals easier without being noticed. There is black market for meat that is sold as delicacy for buyers originated from China.

*Giraffe meat in the bag. Giraffe is specially wanted. Giraffes were chased with motor bikes until they collapsed. Poachers were caught.*

17.4.2022 Scientific Reports

Habitat preferences, estimated abundance and behavior of tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax sp.) in fragmented montane forests of Taita Hills, Kenya

Tree hyraxes by night, filmed in Taita Hills, video 5.12.2021

17.11.2021

Large article cover + four pages in largest newspaper in Finland Helsingin Sanomat. This article was written by Petja Pelli and photographs by Mika Ranta. They managed to see dwarf galagos and tree hyraxes on the same night. On the cover was Benson with Fenix TK25 RED flashlight. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008380903.html

September 2021 fieldwork

September 2021 I spent in Taita Hills and also in Diani beach. We surveyed forests of Ngangao, Mbololo, Vuria and Yale for tree hyraxes and galagos. I also visited Diani beach forests to see Kenya coast dwarf galagos (Paragalago cocos) that inhabit coastal indigenous forests.

Kenya coast dwarf galago (*Paragalago cocos*) from Diani Beach, Mombasa in September 2021. Photo Hanna Rosti

2.4.2021

Video Benson Lombo took one night of African wood owl

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14.3.2021

Article about Rüppell’s Vulture and White-Backed Vulture. I was lucky to run into hundreds of vultures feeding on cow that had been killed by lions. This article tells how these species can be identified and why they are Critically Endangered (CR).

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3.3.2021

Youtube video, where you can test if you recognize nocturnal mammals of Taita Hills

There are seven species in the four minute video. Answers are in the end.

19.1.2021

Mwalua Wildlife Trust offers volunteer opportunities in Lumo, Taita Sanctuary and Tsavo area. Learn more how Mwalua Wildlife Trust was founded, how they work, including distributing water to the animals during dry season and now offering volunteer opportunities.

19.2.2021

Tsavo West by Peter A Mwasi and Hanna Rosti. This video is made for anyone visiting Tsavo West or to be used in schools. Video shows main attractions of Tsavo West Chaima crater and Mzima springs, and most common animals to be seen in Tsavo West.

28.1.2021

Video about tree hyraxes and other nocturnal animals of Taita Hills. These animals are literally in the verge of extinction, as they only have three square kilometres of their habitat left. Conservation of these species and their forest would also mitigate climate change, improve water security and protect thousands of species in the mountains and in the surrounding savannas.

5.1.2021

New fieldwork period has began. I will be working in Taita until 12.2.2021. This time we are observing animals with thermal imaging camera. It allows us to see animals without disturbing them.

*This is very rarely seen suni antilope female (Rosti 2021).*

22.12.2020

Taita tree hyrax is making international news.

14 News stories about singing Taita tree hyrax is out Altmetrics

21.12.2021

Wildsolutions published page for our article, this article also has recorded calls, including some extra calls. Wildsolutions is Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program managed by primatologists and conservationists Yvonne de Yong and Thomas Butynski. Site stores recordings of vocal profiles of many nocturnal primates and tree hyraxes. This information is very valuable natural history data about populations that are under great danger because of loss of habitat and other human related reasons.

http://www.wildsolutions.nl/taita/

13.12.2020 Our article is out!

Rosti, H.; Pihlström, H.; Bearder, S.; Pellikka, P.; Rikkinen, J. Vocalization Analyses of Nocturnal Arboreal Mammals of the Taita Hills, Kenya. Diversity 2020, 12, 473.

3.12.2020

Kone Foundation granted Hanna Rosti 68 000 euros for research during years 2021 and 2022. We are very grateful for this trust. Grant was given for dwarf galago and tree hyrax research and conservation.