Support Our Scouts

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Our Scouts Milgis Lugga NE Kenya

Support Our Scouts (SOS) is an international distress signal and an urgent call to action!

These men put their lives on ’the thin green line’ everyday - to protect and conserve valuable wildlife and habitat within one of the world’s last pristine wilderness areas - just above the Equator, in Samburu territory, northern Kenya - an area of roughly 21,000 km² supports the pastoral livelihoods of several different nomadic tribes and is home to the fascinating and colourful Samburu people on the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

The territory supports a diverse range of flora, and fauna consisting of key species including the African Elephant, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Grevy’s Zebra, De Brazza’s Monkey, Desert Warthog and many of the large predators including Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena, Jackal and the endangered African Wild Dog.

Wildlife in this region does not exist in isolation. Most of the wildlife lives outside of protected areas, alongside humans. This complex human-nature dynamic demands interdependent and integrated projects and programmes focused on protecting and conserving biodiversity, sustainable management of natural resources and the development of responsible tourism that contribute to the triple bottom line of Sustainability - People, Planet and Prosperity.

Our Scouts provide security and protection 24/7, and with these measures in place over the past five years, wildlife numbers have increased, the elephants are returning to the area and tourists continue to have memorable and safe camel safaris and wilderness experiences which help to support and sustain our conservation work.

The future of conservation in this region and the preservation of its biodiversity and wilderness - on the edge of the Great Rift Valley - lie in the hands of these unsung hero’s and ‘natural resource managers’. It is crucial that we retain, maintain and sustain those responsible for the future of conservation in this unique African heartland. Well-trained and well-equipped these men are an effective force in curbing the threat of poaching, enabling the coexistence of wildlife and people and enhancing the sustainability of this unique wilderness area.

The core area that our scouts protect - is roughly 8000 km² - located within the drainage area of the beautiful Matthews Range, Ndoto Mountains and Karisia Hills, spreading out towards Oldonyo Mara, Mount Nyiru and Mount Kulal.

SAMBURU DISTRICT Core Milgis Trust Area

The Milgis Trust is exactly what it says: The Milgis – a core area within the Samburu heart lands of northern Kenya, and Trust – not only as a business and legal entity, but more importantly – Trust, as a core value in building rapport with the tribal communities, chiefs and elders in identifying common meaning and purpose and an understanding that sustainability in the region for present and future generations is based on interdependency, cooperation, collaboration and respect for its natural resources.

At present the Trust employs 22 full time indigenous scouts, a manager and 2 radio operators on Radio Hill, who work relentlessly 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Also supported by the Trust is - a Community Conservation Committee, made up of chiefs and elders from all the surrounding villages, a management and maintenance team in charge of running the Trust’s Headquarters, and an Eco-Screen Awareness Team, that coordinates conservation screenings each month. Without the integrity and commitment of this loyal team the Trust would not be able to support the many unforeseen situations such as emergency hospital transfers to elephant rescues, which regularly arise in this remote and challenging region of the world.

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By participating in a Wild Frontiers or Reboot Leadership Safari, or Get REAL 2011, you help to support this Milgis Trust initiative, but we need to increase our number of Scouts and services and need your help.