The Hanshak Nyongoro Conservancy is a community-managed conservation area located in Lamu County, within the Coast Region of Kenya. It falls under the guidance of the North Coast Conservation (NCC), which is an affiliate of the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT).
Here’s what we know about the Hanshak Nyongoro Conservancy:
Location:
- Lamu County, Coast Region of Kenya.
- Part of the North Coast Conservation (NCC) umbrella.
- Other conservancies in the NCC include Ndera, Ishaqbini, Lower Tana Delta, Awer, and Pate Island.
- Specifically located near the Tana Delta, in the Chalaluma area of Witu ward.
Size:
- The conservancy covers a total area of 158,000 acres.
Governance:
- It is governed by indigenous peoples and managed by the community.
Wildlife:
The Hanshak Nyongoro Conservancy is home to a variety of wildlife, including:
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Buffalos
- Lions
- Zebras
- Giraffes
- Topi
- Wild dogs
- Ostrich
- Waterbucks
- Elephants
- Elands
- Lesser and Greater Kudus
- Leopards
- Hyenas 1
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- Tana River Red Colobus monkeys
- Cheetahs
- A diversity of bird species, especially around the flood plains in Dide-Waride during the dry season and Lake Moa and Ngulule.
Key Features and Activities:
- The conservancy contains Lake Moa, which is known for its birdlife.
- It is located within the Ramsar site of the Tana Delta, indicating its ecological importance.
- The community practices semi-nomadic pastoralism, with grazing areas shifting between the north (Pandanguo) in the wet season and the flood plains in the south (Dide-Waride) during the dry season.
- Efforts are being made to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, such as the erection of a solar-powered electric fence around communal farms to protect against hippos and buffaloes.
- There are initiatives to improve water supplies through the development of water catchment dams and rainwater harvesting systems.
- Planned grazing schemes are being implemented to eliminate overgrazing and improve the health of livestock and wildlife.
Hanshak Nyongoro Conservancy represents a community-led effort to conserve wildlife and natural resources while supporting the livelihoods of the local people in the coastal region of Kenya.
