Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation

Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation KMMREC studies whales & dolphins in Kenya developing conservation strategies with Watamu Marine Assoc

The Humpback Whales are back in Watamu KenyaFirst sighting by Captain Alfred on Bs Nest with Hemingways Watamu!The long ...
21/07/2026

The Humpback Whales are back in Watamu Kenya
First sighting by Captain Alfred on Bs Nest with Hemingways Watamu!

The long migration from the Antarctic feeding grounds to the safe warm tropical waters to breed, means mother's and calves have to be in tip top condition to make the 4000km journey.

A thrill of excitement ripples through guests, conservationists, and scientists in Kenya as Kisite Mpunguti National Park reported the first sighting last week off Kisite Point on the south coast with Kenya Marine Mammal Network primed and at the ready to spot these spectacular large whales.

Eyes on the water, and ears under the water in the shape of an accoustic sound recorder recently deployed by us with Aquaventures and Captain Andy's

Photos of B's Nest during a Kenyan Tourist Board promotion of the Twin Migration - Whales to Wilderbeest

Eyes on the Ocean.

www.kmmrec.or.ke

Humpback whales connecting East Africa with South Africa and the Antarctic.The whales are in their way for the Great Ind...
29/06/2026

Humpback whales connecting East Africa with South Africa and the Antarctic.

The whales are in their way for the Great Indian Ocean Migration. Photographed here off Isle Sainte Marie, Madagascar a few weeks ago, the Breeding Stock C population of humpback whales have been reported by IndoCet citizen science contributors, and researchers, a formidable African coalition, in Madagascar and Mauritius since 26th May.

Have they arrived yet in Kenya.
We need you to help us from land and sea

The Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation team will be deploying underwater acoustic loggers and continuing our land based whale watching count.
Also as part of a new regional initiative.
More news coming soon with our East Africanl partners

Photo courtesy of Madagascar humpback Research and IndoCet

www.kulalucampkenya.co.ke

05/06/2026

We dedicate World Environment Day to out 180 Citizen Scientists with the Kenya Marine Mammal Network whom have been reporting sightings to us for 15 years helping us map the coast of Kenya, to understand dolphins and whale preferred habitat

Snorkeling in Watamu came across this large pod of Indo Pacific bottlenose dolphins off Watamu
Volume up to listen in to their chatter

Conservation, eco tourism and research working together

Note - Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation supports international dolphin watching protocols.

www.kmmrec.or.ke

Credit Seas4Life Safaris
Julie Church

13/05/2026

A marine partnership for 15 years Watamu Marine Association with Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation support by Giraffe Centre Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife

"Michael Mwangombe is on the floor to share the conservation story on Kenya Marine Mammal Research Conservation a long Kenyan Coastal Ecosystem study with an accumulation of data on the Endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, during the ESRI Eastern Africa Summit and Conference at Pride Inn Mombasa. Dates May 11 - 15, 2026

He is attached to Watamu Marine Association one of AFEW Kenya's close partner organizations in Kenya"

- Emmanuel Ngumbi AFEW

*Remembering Rick Anderson - Director and Developer of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and the Giraffe Centre.*...
14/03/2026

*Remembering Rick Anderson - Director and Developer of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and the Giraffe Centre.*

Rick was a man who truly cared about wildlife, with an unwavering desire to protect, conserve, and involve people — especially children. He was remarkably effective in turning that vision into reality, making a difference to the lives of countless visitors to the Giraffe Centre, whose support and donations helped fund vital projects protecting endangered species.

His impact extended to the Indian Ocean. On the coast, Rick supported many initiatives, including the anti-trawler campaign in Malindi in the early 2000s, the work of Local Ocean Conservation with sea turtles, and the establishment and purchase of the EcoWorld Watamu Recycling Centre. More recently, he also supported efforts to control the invasive house crow.

Rick cared deeply about the ocean. From 2011 to 2021, AFEW was the main — and often the only — support from outside Watamu for our dolphin and whale research projects.

Through this support we were able to expand focused boat-based studies, deliver research and education sessions, train boat operators and safari sellers, and engage schoolchildren — all crucial in building public understanding of marine mammals, which are still sometimes mistakenly regarded as fish.

Quite simply, without Rick we would not have been able to expand our focused research efforts along the Kenyan coast, nor connect with East African partners — collaborations that are essential for protecting migratory species like the humpback whale.

We owe Rick so much. He is hugely missed.

Rick’s wife, Bryony Anderson, also works in conservation and has supported EcoWorld and KMMREC. Together they were a formidable team. Bryony continues their shared commitment to conservation, with her current focus on Friends of Nairobi National Park.

**Kahindi Charo Katana**Today we remember and mourn the sudden passing of Kahindi Charo Katana — a truly gentle and dedi...
14/03/2026

**Kahindi Charo Katana**

Today we remember and mourn the sudden passing of Kahindi Charo Katana — a truly gentle and dedicated man whose life reflected a deep and abiding care for the natural world. The words used to honour Rick Anderson, *“a life quietly dedicated to conservation,”* describe Kahindi just as fittingly.

Born and raised in Kirepwe, Mida Creek, Kahindi developed a remarkable connection with nature from an early age. An accomplished bird watcher, he later brought those careful observation skills to marine research, contributing to dolphin and whale identification through photographic analysis.

From 2011 to 2019, Kahindi became intimately familiar with many of Watamu’s individual Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and the endangered Indo-Ocean humpback dolphin. His patience, skill, and commitment made him an invaluable part of the conservation programme and an important contributor to our understanding of these remarkable animals.

In later years he was widely known for his work at the Crab Shack, where he continued to share his knowledge and passion for the natural world. Visitors were often guided by Kahindi through the mangrove forests of Mida Creek by canoe, where his keen eye for birds and wildlife brought the ecosystem to life for so many.

Kahindi possessed a rare sensitivity toward animals, wildlife, and birds. He understood their fragility and their importance, and he cared deeply about their future. Through his quiet dedication and hard work, he helped bring about meaningful change for the species and habitats he loved.

It is also important to remember that the support of Rick Anderson and the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife helped make Kahindi’s work possible, enabling him to contribute so significantly to conservation along the Kenyan coast.

Today we remember Kahindi not only for his work, but for his kindness, humility, and deep respect for nature.

We raise a toast to Kahindi Charo Katana — a life of quiet dedication, and a legacy that will inspire the people of Mida Creek and Watamu and the wildlife he worked so hard to protect.

He is very much missed.

Celebrating 15 years of Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation In Memory of George Allen citizen scientist Firsts...
08/03/2026

Celebrating 15 years of Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation

In Memory of George Allen citizen scientist
Firsts for Kenya - humpback whale mother and calf in Manda Bay October 2011 and Bryde's whale in Watamu 2013.
The both sightings important to our understanding, especially the humpback whales as subsequent satellite tagging places a mother and calf in that area travelling directly from Madagascar in July 2014, and later tagging projects from Tanzania show mothers and calves travelling north in October (away from Antarctic feeding grounds after the breeding season) past Lamu and Manda Bay to Somalia

George, dive deep in your element, a young man of the ocean, always.

🐋🐳🙏🌊

Celebrating 15 years of Kenya Marine Mammal Conservation and Research.We started in Watamu Marine Protected Area in 2010...
08/03/2026

Celebrating 15 years of Kenya Marine Mammal Conservation and Research.

We started in Watamu Marine Protected Area in 2010, and have now expanded our Research area to many parts of the coast, including Mombasa, Shimoni, Ungwana Bay, and Lamu

We are looking at collecting all possible information about marine mammals, and to help us with this gargantuan task we work with over 200 citizen scientists who report animals - dead and alive. All data is important to establish baselines and potential threats.

We gather information through boat surveys and photo identification, we have an eye in the sky, our drone, we have ears underwater our acoustic sound recording devices.

We now have a greater understanding of the movement of our dolphins through matching photos of dolphin individuals along the Kenyan coast and in neighbouring Tanzania.

Through dead stranding information we expect to gather more information about the threats that face our animals in Kenya with the help of a Kenya Wildlife Service rapid response vet team.

Our welfare programme includes large whale disentanglement training workshops.

A snapshot of us
1. Three Important Mammal Mammal Areas in Kenya and we are working towards an upcoming fourth.
2. 26 species of dolphin and whale, including the critically endangered dugong
3. 6 project areas
4. 206 coastal citizen scientists with eyes on the water
5. Working with regiona East African and global partners. The marine mammal world is a small one and we are cohesive.

We dedicate this post to all our partners, and citizen scientists, who have helped open our eyes to the dolphins and whales, to help us help them overcome the threats they face.

We look forward to sharing in 2026 our Roll of Honours of everyone who has participated in this journey.
You have all made a massive difference to our oceans.

www.kmmrec.or.ke

Christmas Humpback Whale Kilifi Kenya. Important out of season sighting of humpback whale Kilifi Kenya Richard Tyrrell's...
22/12/2025

Christmas Humpback Whale Kilifi Kenya.

Important out of season sighting of humpback whale Kilifi Kenya Richard Tyrrell's video with and 3 Degrees Scuba Kilifi.

Please report your sightings of this whale which should be feeding off krill in the Antarctic at this time. This is the first confirmed sighting, with supporting video and photos of a humpback whale at this time of year.

Please adhere to the whale watching guidelines, especially as this whale is underweight. Maintain distance of 300m and approach slowly and parallel to the whale. Do not stress the whale whale by outstaying your welcome. 10 minutes viewing max for this whale, and no more than 3 boats at a time at the 300m point.





22/12/2025

Christmas Humpback Whale Kilifi Kenya.

Important out of season sighting of humpback whale Kilifi Kenya Richard Tyrrell's video with and 3 Degrees Scuba Kilifi.

Please report your sightings of this whale which should be feeding off krill in the Antarctic at this time. This is the first confirmed sighting, with supporting video and photos of a humpback whale at this time of year.

Please adhere to the whale watching guidelines, especially as this whale is underweight. Maintain distance of 300m and approach slowly and parallel to the whale. Do not stress the whale whale by outsaying your welcome. 10 minutes viewing max for this whale, and no more than 3 boats at a time at the 300m point.





Address

Watamu
80202

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Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 12:00

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+254720781782

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