Kora
History

Kora is inextricably linked to George Adamson who devoted most of his later life to its protection. In this, he was joined by his brother Terence Adamson and from 1971-1988 by Tony Fitzjohn.

Together they focused on rehabilitating lions and leopards to the wild, whilst working on the management and development of Kora, then a national game reserve. This included the organisational aspects of the project, the establishment of boundaries, roads and tracks, flying patrols, riverine forest protection, installation of communications, installation of workshops, vehicle maintenance and security.

In 1989, Tony Fitzjohn and his supporting Trusts moved the main focus of their work to Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania which, following an intensive programme of environmental and infrastructural rehabilitation, was upgraded to national park status in 2008.

In 1995, Tony was asked by the Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Kenya to survey Kora National Park and the surrounding areas in order to produce an operational plan to reverse environmental degradation and fully protect the area for the future. Reports were prepared following this survey. At that time Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) was rehabilitating both Meru and Kora National Parks, a general management plan for Kora was being drawn up, a KWS HQ was built and a bridge across the Tana River now linked the two parks. There were a number of significant set-backs but from this time onwards the Trust worked in close cooperation with KWS and undertook many key consolidation talks to provide some support for the long-term rehabilitation plan for Kora National Park, although the main thrust of the work of the Trusts for 30 years was in Mkomazi, Tanzania.

Meetings were held with KWS over many years on the Kora initiative and the long-term restitution and restoration of the park. Important meetings took place with the Director Generals and senior management of KWS and with the former Chairman of the KWS Board of Trustees, Dr Richard Leakey. Bob Marshall-Andrews KC, former Chairman of GAWPT, initiated and chaired meetings in Nairobi to discuss the future of Kora and were attended by the County Governors and their teams, KWS, Ministry officials, TAS, fence contractors and the former Vice President of Kenya, HE. Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, EGH, who attended as a GAWPT trustee.

Work in Kora during that time included the rebuilding of George Adamson’s camp; establishment of a small workshop; installation of electrical, solar, communication and water systems; deployment of heavy plant machinery and vehicles to develop infrastructure and support KWS and their personnel; construction of roads and tracks; aircraft patrols; support for KWS in the field; and community outreach work which focused on medical and water projects, as well as education projects with Trusts for African Schools (TAS). A framework management plan and list of priorities was developed with Dr Ian Games and these were handed to KWS and the planning unit. An environmental impact assessment was undertaken with KWS for proposed fencing for the park and NEMA approval for this was sought and obtained. All the roads and tracks in Kora were GPS’d and a map was produced and handed to KWS.

Kora
History

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Kora
History