Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Date Published:
Sunday, February 11, 2024 - 11:00

A female lion cub rescued from Amboseli National Park nearly five months ago and currently domiciled at the KWS Nairobi Animal Orphanage was adopted by Prince Hussain Aga Khan, when he made a courtesy call to the premises on Saturday, 10th February, 2024.

Prince Hussain, a renowned conservationist whose photography was exhibited at the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi (2018), expressed his admiration for the dedication with which KWS protects all wildlife under its care. He spent a considerable amount of time at the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, taking photographs of the cub (named Mukami, after the vet who treated her) and other wildlife domiciled there, as well as mingling with the Animal Keepers under whose care the wildlife at the captive and rescue facilities fall. He also toured the Nairobi Safari Walk and lauded the Service for its efforts to ensure that rescued wildlife remain fit and healthy.

The prince made a donation to support the KWS Animal Adoption Programme, and pledged continued partnership for conservation efforts.

KWS acting Director - Partnership and Enterprise Captain Michael Nicholson thanked Prince Hussain for his generosity and especially for his empathy towards wildlife and their survival amid the myriad challenges which threaten their survival. Captain Nicholson acknowledged prince Hussain’s invaluable participation in shaping the future of Kenya’s wildlife, a national and international heritage. He reiterated that the Service remains committed to wildlife conservation and community participation in conservation.

The lion cub Mukami and her sibling were rescued and brought to the Nairobi Animal Orphanage in late 2023. Mukami’s sibling had suffered horrific injuries from a vulture attack in Amboseli, and regrettably succumbed to those injuries. The veterinary team at the Animal Orphanage nursed Mukami back to health, and it was touch and go for a while due to her being so young and also having an infection on her head. The team’s tireless efforts were successful and today she is a playful, happy four-month-old cub.