Since the rise of water levels at the Nakuru National Park was announced early this year, it has become difficult to spot flamingos at the Lake. Yet the birds are the defining symbols of the Lake and the County of Nakuru. Does this ring a bell? Perhaps not any, but after a recent visit I felt like I should ‘Cry my beloved Lake’.
Behold, what remains now at what used to be the park is a forest of lifeless trees…
This bird resting at what used to be administrative offices at the Lake is what you have for the flamingos…
What used to be sight of the reddish flamingos has also been taken over by the reflection of these trees that are slowly dying…
Experts say climate change and environmental degradation might have contributed to the Lake’s current state…
And since it might take decades for the water levels to recede, the flamingo identity of the Lake might soon become history…
Even this family seems to be moving away…
Routes on which park attendants would see flamingos as they bathed at the shores of the Lake have been abandoned…
What we have in the park are baboons, plenty of them, but they too, seem to be praying to God to have back the flamingos…
They are crying my beloved flamingos. They are crying my beloved Lake…
All Photos by Kioko Kivandi…
Environmentalists and conversationalists will be scratching their heads what to do with this only Grade A national Park in Kenya. The current scene cannot attract the much needed tourists to boost the economy.