Rhino Ark Charitable Trust and Rhino Charge – a look behind the scenes

Modest these figures seem in comparison with today’s achievements. The Charge now raises over USD 1.5 million annually, and the Rhino Ark fence encompasses the whole of the 2,000 sq km Aberdare Conservation Area, the Mount Eburu forest ecosystem, and well over a third of the projected fence for Mount Kenya – which, at 450km, will take over from the Aberdare electric fence as the longest in the world. Rhino Ark projects are also set to expand into other endangered forested areas.

The Rhino Charge is not the only source of funding for Rhino Ark projects, of course. The Kenya Government and its two agencies, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), recognise that protection of Kenya’s forests is a national obligation. Development partners and the private sector are now strong partners too. However, the underlying advantage of Rhino Charge funding for Rhino Ark is that it “enables us to maintain and protect our projects on a continuous basis”, comments Christian Lambrechts, Executive Director of Rhino Ark. “Crucially the funds raised by the Charge can be used flexibly and at our discretion, and are not restricted to a particular part of the project. The Charge must be one of the very few sporting events which are organised purely for a national conservation purpose: to safeguard the integrity and ecological functions of Kenya’s mountain forests – or water towers, the source of all main rivers in our country.”

“Every shilling raised in sponsorship for the cars taking part in the Charge makes a direct contribution to our vital work,” he adds.

At the end of last year an assessment on the status of the Aberdares electric fence was completed by the Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit, a KWS fence technician, and fence attendants and supervisors. Minor repairs were done at the same time.

“The work reflects the meticulous way in which we and our partners look after the fence,” says Christian Lambrechts, “and the range of challenges they face. Maintenance is a continuous process.”

Repairs included rehabilitation of 1.4km of the fence, damaged tightlock mesh wires, uncleared vegetation in nine sections, encroachment of the ten metre buffer zones, and broken gate hinges. Rehabilitation of the oldest section of the fence is continuing. The five kilometre Ruhuruine-Kinaini section, which was extensively damaged by falling trees from the adjacent forest plantation, has been rebuilt – and “is as good as new”, says Christian Lambrechts. Following design improvements and rehabilitation of the animal grid at Kieni, upgrading of the two animal grids at Geta has been completed.

Vigilance, too, is a continuous process. Earlier this year a Rhino Ark surveillance flight over the southern and south-eastern slopes of the Aberdares recorded that tobacco was being cultivated between the counties of Murangu and Nyeri – and deep inside the indigenous forest in Mucharage Forest Station. Rhino Ark’s partners were promptly informed of these developments. Equally challenging have been the incidents of forest fires, with Rhino Ark swiftly alerting the teams on the ground to this menace. Reconnaissance flights, organised by Rhino Ark, have pointed to the exact location of the fires, their extent and direction – and the manpower needed to deal with the problem.

Rhino Ark, in consultation with KFS, purchased 220 rakes, 170 pangas and 220 fire beaters to equip community groups. Despite the dry conditions experienced in January and February this year, the measures undertaken appear to have considerably reduced the impact of the fires.

Over 170km of the new electric fence around Mount Kenya have now been built, while three kilometres of the fence recently completed in the Imenti Forest Reserve have been realigned following the grading of the adjacent road. In the Imenti Forest, outriggers have been placed on the fence posts to reduce fence damage by elephants.

A projected innovation has been the possible construction of one-way automatic gates to enable elephants moving from Shaba/Isiolo and the Meru National Park to enter the Imenti Forest. This will mean upgrading the three manned elephant gates currently in use. In the constant human-wildlife struggle, the old Thego Forest two-strand fence, 9.2km in length, has been upgraded to three strands – creating a more secure environment for elephants and humans alike.

The Lake Naivasha-Eburu forest connectivity committee continues to move forward. A wildlife monitoring plan for the corridor area has been developed by KWS and will be implemented with support from Rhino Ark.

With the support of Calgary Zoo, an exciting new mountain bongo monitoring initiative has kicked off in Eburu forest. Starting in April 2018 and for a 12 month period, 60 camera traps will be set throughout the forest to gain information on the remnant mountain bongo population, its habitat preferences and threats in Eburu Forest.

Meanwhile, the construction of Elementaita and Morop primary school tree nurseries has been completed. The schools programme is also being supplemented with a talent competition – “Eburu’s Got Talent”. This programme, supported by Calgary Zoo is being pitched to local children to encourage them to learn more about conservation by developing songs and dances around the endangered Mountain Bongo.

Members of the local community are also benefiting from monthly visits, facilitated by Rhino Ark, from the Ministry of Agriculture, which provides continuing advice on poultry and fruit farming. Rhino Ark, too, is supporting water access/quality initiatives for the local community. In March, a technical mission by Gilgil sub-county water officers and the local community visited the forest to identify a water source point which could serve communities in Kahuho and Centre One locations, facilitated by Rhino Ark. Final approval is also being sought to enable work on a water point and pipeline to start in the eastern part of the forest.

Rhino Ark’s continuing and expanding work in the Mau Forest Complex advanced with agreement to split the fence work into two phases. A preliminary fence environmental and social assessment reconnaissance mission was carried out in February. The technical team, involving Rhino Ark and its KFS and KWS partners, visited all outposts along the 30km-long cut line section from Timbili River to Kapkembo, interviewed community and administrative representatives, and assessed the envisaged scope of the work.

A detailed work plan is now being developed for Phase I of the fence project. Over USD 1 million has been committed to date by partners to the construction of the fence in the South Western Mau Forest Reserve. These include IDH/ISLA, Finlays, Unilever, Kenya Tea Development Authority, and Safaricom. Rhino Ark is also making a financial contribution over a two-year period.

Meanwhile, the quarterly aerial surveillance flight in March found that there was a significant reduction in illegal activity. However, the challenge of over-grazing of livestock remained high.

• The Rhino Ark, the charitable trust that supports conservation in Kenya, is building lasting benefits for the forest edge communities of the Aberdares, Mount Kenya and Mau Mount Eburu.
• Following the successful completion of the 400 km Aberdare fence in 2009, Rhino Ark is expanding its conservation work to protect and preserve the forests of Mount Kenya and Mau Mount Eburu, with the construction of electrified fences around these critically important conservation areas. The Mount Eburu fence has been completed.
• Rhino Ark was established in 1988 by the conservationist and engineer, the late Ken Kuhle, in response to the threat of poaching in the salient of the Aberdare National Park and to mitigate human-wildlife conflict affecting the farming communities of the area.
• The Rhino Charge in Kenya and Rhino Charge UK, two unique off-road motor competitions, take place annually to raise funds for, and awareness about, Rhino Ark. Rhino Ark’s conservation work also receives support from the Kenya Government and the private sector.