A Kenyan biologist has received the prestigious Whitley Award for his role in conserving vultures, around the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti.
Munir Virani, a former cricketer, won the award which carries Sh5.53 million in London last week on Wednesday.
He said vultures are an important part of the ecosystem though they have been projected in bad light.
“Vultures are often associated as the ‘ugly betty’ of the world, yet they are a vital part of our ecosystem and prevent the spread of deadly diseases,” said Virani according to the Star.
Virani who is the vice president at The Peregrine Fund, first began his project in 2003 after the Asian Vulture Crisis, where 40 million vultures across South Asia were poisoned.
He said he will continue working with communities around Maasai Mara and Serengeti to equip them with knowledge on why they should conserve vultures for the sake of the ecosystem in the region.
“Supporting the Maasai people to become the next generation of conservationists has been rewarding. Our project will continue to develop practical solutions on the ground, develop champions and tackle a landscape threat,” he said.
Virani becomes the fourth Kenyan to win the award after other Kenyans, Paula Kahumbu, Dino Martins and Shivani Bhalla won the award in the past.