Haller Park (Kenya)

Haller Park holds a variety of plant and animal species which serve as a recreation spot for tourists and locals.

In 1952, Cementia Holding searched for a site at the East African Coast to build a cement factory.

In 1959, Rene Haller was hired as manager of the garden department and given the task to beautify the area.

Its branchlets look like pine needles and have a strong outer surface skin which protects the tree against loss of water.

However, due to the causarina's high tannin content its needles are too tough and bitter to be broken down by bacteria into humus for other plants to grow in.

The droppings of the millipede while feeding on the casuarina needles made it easier for bacteria to break down resulting in a rich layer of humus allowing other plant species to grow.

They feed on fruits of the ficus trees, whose seeds must travel through an alimentary canal to completely break dormancy.

Rene Haller believed animals should play an equally important role in the forest ecosystem as plants.

The introduction of the millipedes into the casuarina forest triggered a chain reaction of colonization by plants and animals.

The female giraffes feed on leaves and dispersed plants seeds while their faeces acted as fertiliser.

The dung beetles also played a role by helping bring the manure underground where it is broken down by micro-organisms creating further plant life.

The Nile cabbage is a special plant which removes excess nutrients and impurities form the water body.

The purpose of the tank system was to give the fish a chance to swim in a constant current.