Date Published:
West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) has extended support to African lions by donating drugs and consumables worth Ksh. 500,000 to Kenya Wildlife Service.
The donation was received by Kenya Wildlife Service’s Head of Veterinary services Dr. Francis Gakuya on March 16, 2017 at the organization’s headquarters in Nairobi.
Dr. Gakuya was happy to receive the donation saying that lions are a fragile species that require preparedness and attention. He said the drugs will be used for veterinary interventions, including safe immobilisation of lions which is necessary prior to medical examinations or surgical procedures, when lions require relocation back to areas of safety, territorial fights that lead to injury and during collaring.
For many years wildlife has been dear to the heart of Chris Wood, CEO of WIOCC. After the sad killing of Mohawk (a majestic, 13-year-old lion with a distinctive black mane that strayed away from the Nairobi National Park in late March 2016 and was shot dead before a suitably equipped veterinary team could reach him), Chris began raising funds for the lion species awareness through multiple activities and initiatives.
“Following this initial support, I wanted to see how WIOCC could partner with KWS moving forward. Out of this came today’s donation of additional anesthetic drugs and medical consumables for use by veterinarians during wildlife rescues. My hope is that this will help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future”. Mr. Wood explained.
Acting Deputy Director Strategy and Change, Mr. Edwin Wanyonyi on behalf of KWS Director General Mr. Kitili Mbathi appreciated the donation saying it will help the veterinary department to carry out vital veterinary procedures on these wonderful and endangered animals.
WIOCC was formed in 2008 with its main office in Nairobi, where the majority of its employees and its Network Operations Centre are based. It helps international and African telcos, internet service providers, OTTs and content providers overcome complex connectivity challenges by developing seamless solutions that deliver unrivalled, high-speed, resilient capacity into, within and out of Africa
