Flamingos at Lake Bogoria National reserve [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
The current researches are part of the plans and achievements the research institute is looking into, nearly a year since it became an independent national institution mandated to undertake research that generates practical scientific information to guide on conservation and management of wildlife in the country.
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Water recedes in Lake Nakuru as the number of tourists increases.
The changing chemistry of Lake Nakuru has seen an influx of new bird species, adding to the number the over 450 bird species within the National park.
Initially, the lake was known to host thousands of flamingos alongside other resident and migratory bird species, attributes that have made Lake Nakuru internationally recognized as a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area. But the changing chemistry of the lake has now seen an increase in the number of birds often associated with freshwater lakes.
"The phenomenon of swelling lakes has brought on board new bird species that are common in freshwater lakes. During the period of heavy rains, some fish species found their way from nearby dams into the lake, where they thrived. This in turn saw a number of bird species that feed on fish becoming a common feature within the lake," Lake Nakuru Park warden Edward Karanja said.
Three fish species have since been documented in the lake and are a protected area, fishing within the lake is prohibited.
"Being a protected area and sanctuary to endangered species like the rhinos, fishing is prohibited and it amounts to poaching. The fish within the lake has also been flagged as unfit for human consumption following research that revealed the presence of heavy metals beyond the recommended levels," Karanja said.
While the lake recorded losses estimated to be over Ksh 400 Million as a result of submerged infrastructure and facilities, the Kenya Wildlife Service has re-routed the key roads that can now allow tourists to go around the park.
"There number of tourists has also been increasing after the Covid-19 pandemic that dealt a blow to the tourism sector. Being the park that is centrally located, tourists can have access to majestic wildlife," Karanja said.
While the increasing volumes of the lake levels in Rift Valley lakes posed a challenge to many lakes, including Nakuru, it has not been all gloom.
In 2020, Conde Nast, an international travel website released a list of the 31 Most colorful Lakes in the world and Lake Nakuru was ranked 8th in the list.
In the 'deep dive into these captivating bodies of water,' the travel website described the most colourful lakes of the world as spectacular and natural and might even make one forget about beaches altogether.
"A beautiful lake with its glassy, still surface and spectrum of colours, can showcase some of water's most mesmerizing qualities. If their crystalline or wildly colored waters in these lakes do not do the trick, then the diversity of wildlife they often attract just might," Conde Nast described the lakes which Nakuru was among.