Mkata: The Newsletter of Mikumi National Park,
No. 5, July 1999
EDITORIAL
Welcome to the fifth issue of Mkata - the newsletter of Mikumi National
Park. There is news of a workshop for Park Ecologists from all of Tanzania's
12 National Parks to be held in Mikumi National Park in August. There
is also a report of a 20th anniversary celebration talk given by ABRU
Director, Guy Norton and a supplement on accommodation in and around Mikumi
National Park.
There are also a lot of thank-yous in this issue including for donations
of books and binoculars for use by Park Guides and for extensive support
of the museum restoration project. All assistance is very much appreciated
and is helping Mkata to help Mikumi National Park.
My own special thanks must go again to Gill Sims for her splendid efforts
leading the museum restoration project and with helping with this newsletter.
That's all from me for now! I'll let you get on with reading all the
details of the exciting happenings for yourself. At the suggestion of
one of Mkata's readers, I have added my email address - so feel free to
contact me that way with any ideas thoughts and suggestions you might
have.
Dawn Hawkins
Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, England
Email: d.hawkins@anglia.ac.uk
PS: In the next issue of Mkata I will be able to give you Mkata's web
address - the site is due to be launched very soon!
PARK ECOLOGIST WORKSHOP
A workshop in Mikumi National Park for all Tanzanian National Park Ecologists
is being planned for the end of August 1999. It is envisaged that this
will be just the start of a series of events designed to enhance TANAPA's
Park Ecology Programme. A key element of the workshop will be to provide
additional training for Park Ecologists in field techniques. However,
the workshop will also provide a forum for Park Ecologists and Park Wardens-in-Charge
to consider how to maximize the effectiveness of work done by Park Ecologists
within the management structure TANAPA.
The workshop is being financially supported by the Wildlife Conservation
Society who are developing the project in association with ABRU and TANAPA.
Mr. Muro, the Park Warden-in-Charge of Mikumi National Park, is pleased
to be hosting the event. It will help to establish Mikumi National Park's
reputation as a centre for education and training.
UNKNOWN & NEGLECTED
Mikumi: the unknown & neglected National Park,
was the title of a talk given by Guy Norton, Director of ABRU, to the
Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST) last August. The event
marked Guy's 20 years of research and other work in Mikumi National Park.
The talk pointed out the alarming extent to which misconceptions are
currently held and even published about Mikumi National Park. It was made
very clear how potentially damaging this could be to the Park's future.
Conversely, the huge potential of the Park to contribute to conservation
and education both in Tanzania and at an international level was clearly
evidenced.
One of the most dramatic illustrations Guy used was the continuing appearance
of erroroneous maps of Mikumi National Park in a variety of publications
and official reports. Ironically (and quite frustratingly) an article
spawned by this talk in the magazine Tanzania Wildlife published the very
erroroneous map that the article was trying to dispel!!!!!
Summary transcripts of this talk can be obtained from the Editor of Mkata.
BOOKS & BINOCS
With the kind help of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
and Heffers Booksellers, Mkata has been able to supply Mikumi's team of
Park Guides with a few items to assist them in their work.
The generousity of the RSPB has enabled each Park Guide to be issued
with a set of binoculars. With the aid of binoculars the Park Guides are
more easily able to identify a greater range of birds and other small
fauna. This helps them both improve the educational experience of visitors
to Mikumi and to maintain accurate records.
Copies of Kingdon's Field Guide to African Mammals and Estes' Behavioural
Guide to African Mammals, donated by Heffers Bookseller in Cambridge,
are being keep at the Park Gate. It is hoped that they will form the start
of a small reference collection for use by Park Guides. The team are always
eager to expand their knowledge they can then share with others.
ABRU NEWS
In January, Leakey Foundation Scholar Viki Gutierrez-Diego finished her
year of data collection on cheek pouch use. Viki, a graduate student of
the University of Madrid, is working on her analyses and write-up in Cambridge
(England) in affiliation with Anglia Polytechnic University (Anglia Ruskin).
Anglia Ruskingraduate student April Ereckson, has also just returned from the
field. Back in Cambridge, April is being supported by a bursary from the
Universtity's Environmental Science Research Centre to write up the initial
phase of her research.
The support of British Airways has been crucial to the successful completion
of the field phases of both April and Viki projects. Indeed BA's help
has enabled the continued work of ABRU in general including the production
of Mkata.
FUND RAISING FOR MUSEUM CONTINUES...
Mkata is pleased to announce that the fund raising efforts for the restoration
of Mikumi's Museum have thus far been quite successful! We would like
to thank the many people who have kindly contributed to the Museum Restoration
Project and welcome many of you as new members of Mkata, Friends of Mikumi
National Park!
One of the most exciting and entertaining fund raising activities for
the museum took place recently in Dar es Salaam on October 30th. "Mikumi
Night at the Slipway," a benefit concert featuring three fantastic
musical bands, a terrific raffle with over 25 prizes and the auctioning
of three grand prizes provided fun for all. The night's musical entertainment
included Muscia Afya with their gypsy sound, the Dar es Salaam Jazz Sextet
and the ever popular Tanzanian band, Tatu Nane, whose performance was
provided courtesy of Kibo Breweries and Tusker. Local IST teacher, Jon
Brian, lent his flair as the night's Master of Ceremonies as well as auctioneer
for the three grand prizes of an air ticket to South Africa (provided
by South African Airways), a safari for two to Mikumi (provided by Savannah
Tours and the Mikumi Wildlife Camp) and a beautiful gold and tanzanite
necklace (provided by Tanzanite Jewelers). The evening turned out to be
a great success with many kind donations and contributions both from local
businesses as well as the many (approximately 500) people that came to
the concert. With the sale of 800 raffle tickets, the auction and the
many donations, Mkata is pleased to report that the benefit concert, raffle
and auction netted over 1.7 million shillings!
Mkata would also like to thank the fifth grade class of Mrs. Barretto
from the International School of Tanzania for their most generous donation
of 149,000 shillings which they recently raised by their bake sale!
With the fund raising campaign going so well, enough funds have now been
raised to begin the initial work of reconstruction of the display cabinets
and museum interior. However, the fund raising is not yet complete and
will continue in order to reach the final goal needed to complete all
phases of the project. In the meantime, Mkata would like to say, well
done and asante sana to all you Museum supporters!
Mkata - Friends of Mikumi National Park - would like to thank the following
people and businesses for their kind support of the Museum Restoration
Project!
South African Airways - Tusker Lager and Kibo Breweries - Savannah Tours
- The Slipway - Mikumi Wildlife Camp - Computer Centre - Sea Cliff Hotel
- Azuma Japanese Restaurant - A Novel Idea - Sea Breeze Dive Center -
The Terrace Restaurant - Gallery Acacia - Hotel Agip - Casanova Italian
Restaurant - Domus Woodworks - The Fitness Zone - One Way - The Alcove
- Casamia Boutique - Seascape Decorative Giftware - Tanzanite Jewelers
- Smokies Tavern - The Pub at the Slipway - Slipway Dhow Cruises - Rosanna's
Hair Salon - Central Printing Works - Silver Sands Hotel - Musica Afya
- Dar es Salaam Jazz Sextet - Tatu Nane - Susie Setel - Jon Brian - John
Kagaruki - Dr. Belia Klassen - Dr. Ype Smit - Marcel van Doorn - Angela
Layman - Kerry McCarthy - Gideon Adams - Anneke Delen - Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Snodgrass - Dale Leatherman - Jo Struby - Elizabeth Halliburton - Mr.
and Mrs. Sam Kinnamon - Frances F. Cooper - Andrea Brown - Margie Perry
- Mr. and Mrs. Jim Schreck - Diane Mazvoli - Jennifer Bowman - Carolyn
Ehardt - Betty and Betsy Carmichael - Terri G.Wheeler
Asante Sana
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