Tag: kenya

Tourists fail to spot lion in ‘funny moment’ caught on video

The tourists seemed aware that a lion was close, but they had no idea how close.

A Kenya-based photographer on Thursday captured a “funny moment” involving two tourists hoping to spot a lion, seemingly unaware that a lion was standing immediately behind their truck.

Pareet Shah’s footage (posted below), captured in Maasai Mari National Reserve, shows the lion hidden from the men as they stood inside the vehicle and scanned the landscape.

Shah told FTW Outdoors that he did not know the tourists and explained:

“The sub-adult male lion from the Topi Pride came out from behind the bush and the tourists were scampering in their car looking for lions, not to realize there was one just behind their car! It was a funny moment.”

The vehicle belongs to Matoke Tours Africa and one of Shah’s followers commented, jokingly: “Welcome to Matoke Tours! We guarantee you will get very close with lions but you will not be able to see it!”

Matoke Tours was good-natured, sharing the clip via Instagram and writing: “Ehm… where did the lion go? Our travelers probably never imagined we would take them this close! Amazing shot by [Pareet Shah].”

Maasai Mara National Reserve is in southwestern Kenya. The Topi Pride is dominant in the Topi Plains region.

Watch: Lions swim across flooded river as though it’s no big deal

Richard Generally, a tour guide and photographer, captured the remarkable scene on the Rongai River in Kenya.

A safari guide based in Kenya has shared footage showing two male lions crossing a flooded river and emerging on the opposite bank as though it was just a casual swim. (Footage posted below.)

“Three Sankai boys crossing the flooded Rongai River this morning,” Richard Generally, referring to the Sankai Pride, described Tuesday via Instagram.

Lion Lovers shared the footage hours later and cautioned, “Be quick guys, watch out for crocodiles.”

The footage begins with three lions pondering the crossing and two of the three entering the water and being carried swiftly downstream. The two are then shown on the opposite shore, looking back across the river.

Generally assured in the Instagram comments section that the third lion also made it safely across.

The footage was captured in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya.

–Image and video courtesy of Richard Generally

Orphaned elephants’ adorable ‘milk heist’ caught on camera

Footage has surfaced showing orphaned elephants checking milk bottles for extra sips after the containers had been stored by keepers.

Orphaned elephants are seemingly unanimous in their belief that feeding time is not over simply because their keepers have taken away their milk bottles.

The accompanying footage, shared by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, shows several clever young elephants gathered around a wheelbarrow and testing used containers for last sips.

The Kenya-based conservation group stated via social media:

“The year may change, but the brazen milk heists remain the same. This video was taken back in 2021, when Mukkoka, Nabulu, Maktao & Naboishu seized their window of opportunity, descending upon the milk wheelbarrow, assiduously checking all the empties for leftovers.”

The elephants are using their trunks to place bottles in their mouths the way keepers do at feeding time.

At least one keeper, undoubtedly amused by the animals’ resourcefulness, is shown watching over the elephants.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, based in Nairobi, rescues and rehabilitates elephants that become orphaned by poachers with the goal of “reintegrating them into a protected wilderness.”

Rare footage shows massive python navigating Kenya stream

A photographer on safari in Kenya has captured rare footage showing an enormous python navigating a shallow stream.

A photographer on safari in Kenya has captured rare footage showing an enormous python navigating a shallow stream.

The footage was captured in the Mara Triangle by Ollie Outram, an associate snake handler for East African Reptiles.

The research group stated via Instagram: “Pythons are very comfortable in water and usually use wildlife trails leading down to water to ambush their prey. They are very good swimmers and can spend quite sometime underwater.”

East African Reptiles explained that Southern African rock pythons can measure about 20 feet and the snake in the footage appears to be fully grown.

The group added: “They are a harmless constrictor, but a bite from a large python can cause significant damage and will need treatment from a doctor.”

Orphaned elephant ’embraces inner helicopter’ in adorable video

A 2-year-old elephant rescued as an orphan in Kenya is overcoming her shyness and was recently seen twirling her trunk as though ready to fly.

A 2-year-old elephant rescued as an orphan in Kenya is overcoming her shyness and on Friday was seen twirling her trunk as though ready to fly.

“Out in the forest this morning, Amali decided to embrace her inner helicopter!” The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust described in a video tweet. “Rescued just 6 months ago – a victim of drought – Amali was shy for a long time, but recently she’s really coming out of her shell.”

Amali resides at the Omani Springs Reintegration Unit in the Kibwezi Forest. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust uses this part of the forest to help orphaned elephants “move beyond the tragedies of their past and live as nature intended.”

Amali was rescued in the Tsavo Ecosystem last October and appears to be making tremendous progress.

Saints’ Paulson Adebo visits Kenya for NFL Africa Camp 2023

The NFL has a global reach, as illustrated by Saints corner Paulson Adebo visiting Kenya to participate in NFL Africa Camp 2023:

It’s important to remember that the NFL is a global enterprise. Paulson Adebo and his New Orleans Saints teammates made the trip to London last year for a game with the Minnesota Vikings, and there’s a (slim) chance they’ll be flying to Europe again in the fall for a matchup with the New England Patriots in Germany.

But that’s a concern for another day. For Adebo, part of his offseason was spent traveling to Kenya for the NFL Africa Camp 2023 events. He’s one of several NFL players with African ties to volunteer their services, along with Emmanuel Ogbah, Ikem Ekwonu, Brian Asamoah, and Arnold Ebiketie.

Adebo was born in Farmington, Mich. to first-generation immigrants from Benin, a West African nation of about 13 million people. So this was something of a homecoming for him. It’s cool to see Adebo experiencing this and doing his part to help the sport grow overseas and be a good ambassador for New Orleans.

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TV report on elephants reminiscent of famous Yellowstone broadcast

Footage showing a TV reporter trying to maintain his composure as a young elephant teased him with its trunk is reminiscent of a famous Yellowstone broadcast involving bison.

Footage showing a TV reporter trying to maintain his composure as a young elephant teased him with its trunk has gone viral, largely because of the man’s reaction when the elephant tickled his nose.

The scene was somewhat reminiscent of a 2020 incident in which a U.S.-based reporter gained notoriety for his “I ain’t messing with you” response during an encounter with bison in Yellowstone National Park.

Alvin Kaunda, an intern for Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, is shown in the top video succumbing to the nosy elephant and bursting into laughter after enough had become enough.

“I wanted a very nice background with the elephants,” Kaunda, who was raising awareness about the plight of orphaned elephants, told Ghetto Radio Nairobi. “I’d kept my distance, but I was so focused and didn’t even realize they were getting close. I felt the ticklish trunk but just tried to keep my cool. It wasn’t normal, but I liked the experience.”

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The footage reveals the inquisitive, playful nature of elephants in a friendly environment.

The Yellowstone incident, involving then-NBC Montana reporter Deion Broxton, involved free-roaming, unpredictable bison. (See footage below.)

Broxton’s wary response is largely what propelled the video to a viewership of more than 15 million.

He was about to begin his broadcast when he spotted bison approaching from his right. Bison can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds; Broxton wanted no part of their close company.

Still on camera,  he says, “Oh my god, oh my god.” Then, “I ain’t messing with you, oh… no” as he walks out of frame toward the safety of his vehicle.

His tweet was a fun distraction from news related to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also appreciated by Yellowstone National Park, which advised in the comments: “If you use the same common sense in national parks that [Deion] does in this clip you’re gonna have a good time.”

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Source: Philadelphia Union nearing move for Kenyan midfielder Odada

The Union are nearing a new addition at defensive midfield

The Philadelphia Union are nearing a move for Red Star Belgrade midfielder Richard Odada ahead of the MLS stretch run.

The 21-year-old Kenyan international is a deep-lying midfielder. Since making his debut with Red Star Belgrade in 2019, he has made appearances on loan in Serbia’s top two flights.

Odada is currently on loan with Graficar Belgrad of the Serbian second division.

A source tells Pro Soccer Wire that a transfer between Red Star and the Union could potentially be completed within the next week, pending the receipt of his P-1 visa. The move could see Odada land with the Eastern Conference club ahead of their stretch run and their chase for silverware.

The Philadelphia Union declined to comment on this report.

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With 22 games played, the Union are atop the Eastern Conference with 42 points. They are second in the league, three points adrift from the top spot held by LAFC.

There is a need for midfield depth on the Union roster, in particular in the central part of the park. Odada’s ability to cover ground and be a physical presence should see him into the squad’s rotation.

Odada has made four appearances for Kenya’s national team.

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Watch: Baby elephant’s charge cuter than it is ferocious

An adult bull elephant’s charge can strike terror into the targets of such behavior. But that of a baby elephant?

An adult bull elephant’s charge can strike terror into the targets of such behavior.

But when a baby elephant charges, it’s perhaps more amusing than it is harrowing.

The accompanying footage, captured recently at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve, shows a spirited elephant calf rushing a vehicle full of tourists. (The charge occurs at 20 seconds.)

“This little bull captured my heart,” Elephant Stories with Fiona, which shared the footage, wrote on Facebook. “He decided it was time to charge…. It’s hard to imagine this little elephant growing up to be 6 tons.”

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Viewers will note that while the elephant stops well short of the passing vehicle, its occupants are concerned enough to place their arms inside the open windows.

“He is just one of the reasons we all need to be involved and care for the preservation and support conservation efforts to help these incredible animals,” Elephant Stories with Fiona continued. “African or Asian, elephants are a keystone species and this planet needs them.”

The Samburu National Reserve is located alongside the Ewaso Ng’iro river, across from Buffalo Springs National Reserve.

–Image courtesy of Elephant Stories with Fiona

 

European Tour cancels Magical Kenya Open amid coronavirus outbreak

The European Tour’s Magical Kenya Open scheduled for March 12-15 has been canceled due to the threat of coronavirus.

The European Tour announced Friday the Magical Kenya Open will not be played March 12-15 as scheduled in Nairobi, Kenya, due to the threat of coronavirus.

European Tour CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement there will be an attempt to reschedule the Karen Country Club event later this season, but there are currently no definite plans.

The Magical Kenya Open is not the first event the European Tour event has canceled this season due to coronavirus.

In mid-February, the European Tour announced the Maybank Championship, scheduled to for April 16-19 at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Volvo China Open, scheduled for April 23-26 at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen, would be postponed.

The coronavirus has affected golf leagues across the globe. The LPGA canceled three-straight events on its Asia swing. Numerous other amateur events have been canceled and postponed.

The Government of Kenya advised Friday the postponement of all international meetings and conferences within the country while the coronavirus rages across the globe. The Kenyan government said the “suspension” which will be reviewed next month.

“We understand and totally respect the decision made by the Government of Kenya in these difficult times… I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Kenyan Government for their unwavering support, alongside Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman Peter Kanyago and Tournament Director Patrick Obath for their strenuous efforts and commitment,” Pelley said in a statement. “We look forward to returning to Kenya in due course.”

The European Tour is in Doha, Qatar, this week for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Education City Golf Club. The schedule will resume March 19-22 at the Hero Indian Open at DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, India.

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