Kenyan man drives hours to deliver water to drought affected wildlife

Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua, rumbles down the dusty road with 3,000 liters tank track full of fresh water to fill the dry water pans in the Tsavo National Park, where it is most desperately needed to save the vulnerable and thirsty elephants, lions, antelopes, zebras, buffalos and other animals.

When Mwalua delivers the water, the animals are so desperate that they always come running when they hear and see the blue rumbling truck, which brings fresh drinking water.

Mwalua, who is a pea farmer in his local village, came up with the idea after seeing many wild animals dying during the famine, which has persisted in Kenya especially in the arid areas covered by the National Parks such as Tsavo. In 2016 most areas had seen precious but little precipitation, leaving animals to die of thirst.

Read:  Who cares about elephants

“We aren’t really receiving rain the way we used to,” he said. “From last year June, there was no rain completely. So I started giving animals water because I thought, if I don’t do that, they will die,” Mwalua reportedly said.

The truck which delivers the water. Photo: Patrick_Kilonzo_Mwaula/Facebook

Unique volunteer project  for wildlife conservation

Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats. The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be protected for future generations.

To Mwalua, saving wildlife is at the heart of his life. For close to two years, he has made it his mission to find solutions that save the wide array of animal life, working closely with local communities to drive water to the dying wildlife.

Read: Google 3D technology being used to combat elephant poaching

The 41 year old formed a volunteer project called Tsavo Volunteers to help make road trips of water to the wildlife during the famine.

Animals having a drink at the water hole, Tsavo national Park. Photo: Patrick_Kilonzo_Mwaula/Facebook

“I was born around here and grew up with wildlife and got a lot of passion about wildlife,” Mwalua was quoted by the Dodo. “I decided to bring awareness to this for children to see, so when they grow up they can protect their wildlife,” he reportedly said.

In July 2016 Mwalua started renting a truck and driving water to several locations in Tsavo National Park. His mission would extend to several trucks, keeping him on the road for hours every day as he drives dozens of kilometers between stops to fill the dry water pans with fresh water for the desperate wildlife.

A crowd funding initiative on GoFundMe has been created by Mwalua, Cher Callaway and Tami Calliope to help fund the water delivery project. So far, the campaign has raised well over $131,000 in just five months to be used to rent water trucks to deliver 12,000 liters of water for the vulnerable animals.

His journey to save wildlife which is enduring is unending.