- Title: KENYA: Wheelbarrow race raises funds for Hell's Gate park
- Date: 13th June 2011
- Summary: A FAMILY WATCHING THE RACE
- Embargoed: 28th June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya, Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA6O1976X6ZGLGIJEG4JWPX7WS9
- Story Text: Kenya's Hell's Gate National Park was crowded with people this weekend for the annual wheelbarrow race.
The charity event held for the third year running was set up to raise money to build an education centre to help teach visitors more about protecting the endangered wildlife in the area.
Hell's Gate lies 100 kilometers north-west of the capital Nairobi and is home to zebra, elephant and rhino as well as hundreds of other small animals, birds and plants.
It's named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley.
Set up by park officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) the wheelbarrow race pits participants against each other on a demanding assault course that includes a precarious drop into a muddy pool.
Over a 100 wheelbarrows were entered into the race this year, many of them adapted or 'pimped out' by their owners, to be entered into a beauty contest after the race was completed.
Several of those entering this year competed in past events and came back determined to take the trophy.
"Last year we managed to take number five, this year I tried my best and I took number two," said Phillip Corey, one of the more advanced wheelbarrowers taking part.
"We were participating in the elite team seven kilometers. We tried as a team the two of us, we tried and we became number five. So hopefully for the next time. I know our wheelbarrow is far away but I think it will win the best pimp if I'm not wrong," said Antony Kibet, another close winner.
But the day of racing wasn't just about competing and winning a trophy. Ben Kavu, assistant director of community wildlife at KWS says it's also about bringing the community together to understand a bit more about the importance of protecting their natural environment.
Poaching is an increasing problem the rangers face but Kavu says it's not just big animals like elephant and rhino that are under threat.
"We have also heard of another, subsistence poaching where Kenyans poach small game for food. Now that's a challenge as well but that's why we are here where we are here at Hell's Gate, this is one thing that has been bothering us - bush meat poaching - we have been encouraging all the communities that participate here that they don't do that," he said.
By raising awareness of the value of the animals and the importance of tourism for boosting local revenues, rangers hope to persuade people that eating small game will remove the park's long term value.
Hell's Gate was established in 1984 and is the only park in Kenya where visitors are allowed to cycle and walk around freely. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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