Simon Thomsett

Category: Raptor Expedition, vultures | Date: Feb 21 2009 | By: simonthomsett

Mutt the Bearded Vulture was moved to Ol Donyo Laro a few weeks ago. Mark Jenkins had built her a large pen near his house. This was an excellent first base camp for her but it was not intended to be a release location. She was to settle here until she found her bearings and became familiar with the area. Mark had his eye on a rocky high top almost at the summit of the Nguruman’s. Here was a ranger post with radio tower and nearby appearing out of thick forest and rocky cliffs lay a perfect spot. Bearded Vultures like these outcrops of rock to drop their bones. It is called an “ossuary.”

Laila and I flew up to meet Mark and his family. We then took Mutt up the rocky road to the high radio camp. Mutt had to be slightly sedated for the trip as it was long. We passed through some of the best quality forest I have ever seen and deep valleys with formidable cliffs. Truly these forests are a beautiful area of Kenya that deserves protection. When we arrived, I carried Mutt in my arms to a shed perched on one of the finest places in the country. It has a view that beats any lodge or grand home. It looks out down the ridge to northern Tanzania. She can see Ol Donyo Lengai, and even Ngorongoro, past the vast expanse of Lake Natron. In Tanzania, the Bearded vulture is still present, and these distant hills do still have nesting pairs. It is highly likely that Bearded Vultures still fly up and down the Nguruman’s hills and pass directly over her shed.

Simon and Mutt

We even searched the bare rocks in front of her shed to see if there were any smashed bone fragments from wild Bearded Vultures. Of all the possible locations within Kenya, this is certainly the best. It has not only the likelihood of other wild Bearded Vultures, but also it has the commitment of Ol Donyo Laro and 24-hour guard and eminence. The site is secure in this respect. The habitat, too, is likely to be much healthier. Poisoning seldom occurs within this region, and if she ventures into northern Tanzania, the habitat there is much more favourable than in much of central and northern Kenya.

View from Mutt’s shed

After taking a few pictures, we put her in her shed, where she stood on shaky legs from the effects of the sedative. I felt very happy in knowing that she has such a great home. Here she must stay and get focused on new home, prior to release. It is wise to let her stay some months so that she can imprint on her location and return when she is released.

Tags: mutt the bearded vulture, mutt's new home, ololokwe