Title: Building research partnerships and capacity in the field of
ecotoxicology in Kenya and South Africa: assessment of environmental
contaminants in species of high national priority
Principle Investigator
Prof. James M. Mbaria, Department of Public Health, Pharmacology
& Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture &
Veterinary Sciences University of Nairobi
Members of the research team and affiliation
No Name
Country
institution Role
1
Prof. J. Mbaria
Kenya
UON
Kenyan PI/ Toxicologist
2
Dr. E. Kariuki
Kenya
KWS
Wildlife Vet/ Capture and sampling
3
Dr. G. Muchemi
Kenya
UON
Epidemiologist/Study design and data mgt
4
Dr. F. Gakuya
Kenya
KWS
Wildlife Vet/logistics
5
Prof. A. Kotze
South Africa
NZG
SA -PI/ Genetist
6
Prof. R. Jansen
South Africa
TUT
Ornithologist
7
Prof. V. Naidoo
South Africa
UP
Toxicologist
8
Dr. Ian. Espie
South Africa
NZG
Wildlife vet/ Logistics
9
K. Lambuschagne
South Africa
NZG
Sample handling and analysis
10
M. Meyer
South Africa
NZG
Vet Nurse/ sampling
Other partnerships created
 National Museums of Kenya
 Hotels and lodges( Crater lake, Elementaita)
 Endangered Wildlife Trust
 Johannesburg Zoo
 Parys Crane Breeding Facility, Free State, SA
 Hlatikulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary
 Karkloof Conservation Centre
Project overview
• Wildlife is a heritage of national priority for South Africa and
Kenya.
• Environmental contaminants are a recognized threat to
wildlife.
• Ecotoxicological studies in South Africa and Kenya are
infrequent, though sources of contaminants exist in both
countries.
• Wildlife, including birds, serve as indicators of
environmental health.
This is an exploratory study on environmental
contaminants that could lead to extinction of the Lesser
flamingos and Wattled crane
Status under IUCN(International Union for Conservation of
Nature) and CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species)
Species
Scientific Name
Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
Country
IUCN- Red
list status
CITES
designation
Economic
importance
Kenya
Near
N/A
High
Threatened
Great Pelican
Pelecanus oncorotalus
Kenya
Least Concern N/A
Moderate
Wattled crane
Burgeranus carunculatus
South Africa
Critically
High
endangered
Appendix 2
Objectives
 Identify the chemical
pollutants; determine the epidemiology of the
pollution, source, means of spread, and affected tissues; determine the
ecotoxicological effects of the pollution of the above, characterize and
quantify the pollutants.
 Build research partnerships and capacity in the field of ecotoxicology
among scientists in Kenya and South Africa with the larger goal of
developing a monitoring program of environmental contaminants to
understand the effects of pollutants on wildlife and humans and raise
awareness of contaminate-related issues for wildlife and humans.
 Assess environmental contaminants in avian species of high national
priority and socio-economic importance to identify threats to wildlife. A
broad spectrum analysis of heavy metals, pesticides, and PCBs will be
measured in eggs and tissues of the selected focal species: Lesser
Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) and Great White Pelican (Pelecanus
onocrotalus) in Kenya and Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) in
South Africa.
Expected Outputs
 Publish and distribute results to interested parties to better inform





conservation initiatives.
Contribute data for research related to completion of degrees of participating
students
Formation of a cooperative research relationship between international
partners to address local conservation needs.
Generate protocols for collecting, storing, and analyzing samples from focal
species in Kenya and South Africa for future ecotoxicological studies.
Information will address gaps in knowledge identified from surveys.
Build a knowledge base to be used towards continued study and strengthened
conservation efforts of African wildlife species of high conservation concern.
Foster local and regional understanding of the impact of environmental
contaminants of all inhabitants of the local ecosystem, including humans
Project field activities South Africa
 Above: Kenya and SA
research team being being
introduced to pellet feeds fed
on cranes at Parys Breeding
centre.
 Below: Kenyan PI discussing
the project with Mananger ,
Parys breeding centre, SA.
This was followed by
collection of feathers and
faecal samples.
Project field activities in South Africa
 Above: Kenyan and SA
research team being
introduced to cranes habitat
at Hlatikulu crane and
wetland sanctuary as well as
being guided to see cranes in
the wild.
 Below: Kenyan PI discussing
the project with a scientist
from Endangered wildlife
trust at Karkloof
Conservation Center, SA. The
scientist was incorporated as
a key partner in the project.
Project activities in Kenya
 Above: Kenyan and SA
research team being in group
photo after the courtesy call
to the Principal at College of
Agriculture and Veterinary
sciences UoN.
 Below: SA PI being shown
the Gas Liquid
chromatographic equipment
(GLC) by a technologist( Mr.
J. Nderitu) at UoN. The GLC
is being used for analysis of
chemical pollutants(
contaminants)
Project activities in Kenya
 Above: Photograph of
Flamingos at Lake Oloiden
taken during a research trip
to the Kenyan Rift Valley
lakes. A trap was used to
captures some life birds for
sampling
 Below: Dead flamingos at
Lake Oloiden (The visit to
the lake coincided with a die
off of flamingos). Postmortem examinations were
carried out on the carcasses
and samples taken
Project activity- Kenya
 Above: The research team
carrying out post-mortem
examinations and collecting
biological samples (blood,
liver, brain, muscles, bones)
for laboratory analysis
 Below: One of live
flamingos captured for
sampling. The bird was later
released back to its habitat.
Some birds were sacrificed
for the study
Project activities in Kenya
 Above: A Kenyan member
of the research team (Dr. G.
Muchemi) and a student
collecting environmental
samples (water and
sediments) in one of the
selected sites in the study area
 Below: The research team
pose for a group photo after
collecting sample from lake
Elementaita in Rift Valley,
Kenya