Nairobi National Park
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Nairobi National Park
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 National park with Nairobi skyline |
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| location |
Nairobi , Kenya
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| surface | 117.21 km² | |
| WDPA ID | 761 | |
| Geographical location | 1 ° 22 ' S , 36 ° 52' E | |
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| Sea level | from 1533 m to 1760 m | |
| Setup date | 1946 | |
| administration | Kenya Wildlife Service | |
The Nairobi National Park is Kenya's first national park and was opened 1946th The national park is home to around 80 species of mammals and over 500 species of birds. It is one of the most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries in Kenya.
The park is only 7 km from the city center of Nairobi , the capital of Kenya. The city skyline can be seen from the park. Only a fence separates the animals from the city. This proximity causes conflict with the local population, mainly because it endangers the migration routes of ungulate herds.
In 1989, then President Daniel Arap Moi publicly burned ivory valued at US $ 760,000 in Nairobi National Park to make a stand against poaching . A memorial still commemorates this event today.
geography
The Nairobi National Park is 117 km². This makes this park very small compared to other African national parks. The height above sea level is between 1533 and 1760 m. The climate is dry. The park is the only protected area of the Athi-Kapiti ecosystem . It is home to a wide range of species. The park is demarcated by an electric fence to the north, east and west . In the south, the Mbagathi River forms a natural boundary . This open border allows large herds of ungulates to migrate.
Flora
The major part of the park consists of savannah landscape , i. H. open grassy areas with sparse acacia trees . In the west of the park there is a highland with extensive forests of olive ( Olea africana ), Muhuhu ( Brachylaena huillensis ) as well as calodendrum trees ( Calodendrum capense ) and croton bushes ( Croton dichogamus ). The park is crossed by several valleys with seasonal water-bearing rivers. Acacias and euphorbia trees ( Euphorbia candelabrum ) grow in the valleys . In the south of the park there is also a river with alluvial forests that permanently carries water. Many plant species that grow in the park are a rarity not only in the Nairobi region, such as Euphorbia brevitorta , Drimia calcarata and Murdannia clarkeana .
Wildlife
The park has a large and diverse animal population. The park is too small for elephants , but lions , leopards , cheetahs , ostriches , hippos , Masai giraffes , gazelles , wildebeest and Cape buffalo can be observed with a little patience, for example. The Nairobi National Park is also a very successful sanctuary for black rhinos (black rhino, Diceros bicornis ). This makes it one of the very few parks where black rhinos can be found in their natural surroundings.
Most of the animals can be seen in the park all year round, only a few herd animals such as zebras and antelopes only come to the park in the dry season, when many watering holes outside the park have dried up. Due to the many small dams along the Mbagathi River, the park has more water reserves than the regions outside. These man-made dams have also created attractive habitats for many birds and aquatic animals. A particularly large number of young animals can be observed in spring.
The park is also home to a world-famous rearing station for elephant and rhinoceros young ( David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust ). Sick or orphaned young animals are raised here by hand. This station was operated by Daphne Sheldrick until her death in 2018 and is open to visitors for one hour a day. Daphne Sheldrick was known as the "mother of the elephants" and was valued internationally as an expert.
Web links
- Nairobi National Park ( Memento from April 28, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- World Database on Protected Areas - Nairobi National Park (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b World Database on Protected Areas - Nairobi National Park (English)
- ↑ Kenya Wildlife Service - Nairobi National Park ( Memento from July 22, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (English)