RHINO RELOCATION SET TO ENRICH CONSERVANCY EXPERIENCE IN NORTHERN KENYA
(Posted 19th May 2015)
A long planned Eastern Black Rhino relocation went underway over the weekend to restock the Sera Conservancy with twenty of these prized animals, last seen in that part of the country over twenty five years ago. Two of the animals were released into their new home yesterday and the remaining relocations will be carried out over the coming eight days. The rhinos were identified and sourced from the Lewa Conservancy as well as from the Nairobi and Nakuru National Parks.
This exercise is a joint venture under a public private partnership between the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Lewa Conservancy and the Northern Rangeland Trust.
The Northern Rangelands Trust is an umbrella organisation that aims to establish resilient community conservancies that transform lives, secure peace, and conserve natural resources. There are now 27 NRT-member community conservancies across northern and coastal Kenya, home to over 300,000 people who are managing over 31,000 square kilometres of land and safeguarding a wide range of species and habitats. NRT is now widely seen as a model of how to support community conservancies, and its success has helped shape new government regulations on establishing, registering and managing community conservancies in Kenya.
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is an award-winning model for community conservation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features on the IUCN Green List of successful protected areas and is THE pioneer of private wildlife conservation when the Craig family who owns the sprawling ranch turned their focus towards mixed land use, giving a space to game on their property, already back in the 1980’’s. Lewa is considered to be at the heart of wildlife conservation, sustainable development and responsible tourism in northern Kenya and its successful working model has provided the framework on which many conservation organisations in the region are based.?
(Maps of the Northern Rangelands Trust area of operations and of the Sera Conservancy)
This will be the first time in East Africa a local community will be responsible for the protection and management of the highly threatened black rhino, signalling a mind shift in Kenya’s conservation efforts. This pioneering move demonstrates the Government of Kenya’s confidence in the local community, and materialises the promise to support community-based conservation initiatives as provided for by the new Wildlife Act, 2013. It is expected that the presence of the Eastern Black Rhino species in Samburu County will trigger a significant boost to tourism in the area whilst providing new job opportunities for local communities. Parts of the Sera Sanctuary will also be set aside for dry season grazing for local herders, and the community is reportedly looking forward to the benefits of significantly increased overall security in the area.
The animals earmarked for translocation range from six and a half years to 20 years of age. The chosen animals are meant to reflect natural demographics and encourage natural breeding conditions. All animals have been or will be fitted with satellite-based transmitters for close monitoring. The community rangers have been trained by Lewa and KWS in data gathering, anti-poaching operations, bush craft and effective patrolling – and will have the back-up of the Lewa and KWS Anti-Poaching Units.
According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature, populations of the Eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) plummeted by 98% between 1960 and 1995 primarily as a result of poaching and hunting.
However, conservation efforts in Kenya have managed to stabilize and increase numbers in most of the black rhino’s former ranges since then. Kenya’s population has increased from 381 since 1987 to a current estimate of 640. It is projected to rise significantly in the near future especially with growing partnerships between government, communities and conservation organisations. It is hoped that the new rhino sanctuary will benefit Kenya’s black rhino population.
The Sera Community Conservancy, established in 2001 and reported about here some time ago, is a member of the NRT umbrella organisation, governed by a council of elders, an elected board of trustees, a management team and the residing communities which include the Samburu, Rendille and Borana.
The current translocation exercise is jointly supported and financed by Samburu County Government, USAID, The Lundin Foundation, San Diego Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Tusk Trust, The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Zurich Zoo, and several private philanthropists all of whom deserve due recognition and a vote of thanks for their splendid effort and cooperation to make this long envisaged plan a reality.
