• Some 29,000 acres have been set aside for the rhinos' new sanctuary, CEO says
• He termed their relocation a homecoming and sign of Kenya’s conservation success
Image: REUTERS
The Loisaba Conservancy has said it is thrilled to welcome 21 black rhinos to the landscape after a long hiatus.
Speaking days before the expected translocation, the CEO Tom Silvester said it is a mark of Kenya’s conservation success.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of the reintroduction of rhinos to a landscape where they’ve been absent for 50 years,” Silvester said.
“It means so much to us on Loisaba to see this iconic species come home again.”
The conservancy will start receiving a mix of male and female rhinos this week.
It has set aside around half of its 58,000 acres for the rhinos: 29,000 acres.
Highly-skilled vets will move the rhinos, which can weigh up to 1,400 kilos, by truck to their new home.
The new sanctuary has been secured with a world-class security operation and low-profile fencing to allow for free movement of all other wildlife species.
Rhino translocations are not new. The Kenya Wildlife Service has been undertaking them as part of its mandate to conserve and manage wildlife in the country.
Statistics show that the service has carried out more than 11 translocations since 2004.
More than 180 rhinos were moved to other areas, where their populations are now thriving.
Translocations are done using immobilisation and translocation protocols.
KWS revised the protocol in 2019 following the botched exercise that resulted in the deaths of 11 rhinos.
Black rhinos are solitary animals, and without enough room to disperse, they cannot be encouraged to breed.
Kenya’s existing 16 sanctuaries are either nearing or have surpassed their maximum capacity.
Rhino sanctuaries must have intense security to curb the risk of poaching.
Such spaces should also allow rhinos to demonstrate their natural behaviours, including migration between territories and genetically diverse breeding.
In black rhino sanctuaries, territorial fights are becoming a big challenge.
In the wild, rhinos, especially black ones, are extremely territorial.
Males in particular will fight other males found in their territory, often inflicting injuries on each other. Fierce fights, in some cases, lead to death.
The rhinos earmarked for translocation are from Nairobi National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
A report by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in collaboration with KWS shows that Nairobi National Park has 98 black rhinos.
This is against a maximum productivity-carrying capacity of 44, leaving a surplus of 54.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy has 166 black rhinos, while the maximum capacity is 90, leaving a surplus of 76.
Lewa (Borana Landscape) has a black rhino population of 133 against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 92, leaving a surplus of 41.
Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, The Elewana Collection and Space for Giants are supporting the exercise.
KWS will lead the upcoming translocation.
KWS director general Dr Erastus Kanga said the translocation reaffirms their unwavering commitment to the protection, conservation and expansion of the black rhino population.
“The success achieved in sustaining their numbers is a testament to our relentless pursuit of security measures against poaching and our dedication to the principles outlined in the 7th edition of the Recovery and Action Plan for Black Rhinos in Kenya (2022–26),” Kanga said.
“This strategic action of having 21 rhinos in Loisaba Conservancy aligns with our vision to establish viable habitats, fostering optimal conditions for rhinos to thrive.”
Munira Bashir, The Nature Conservancy Kenya programme director, also hailed the move.
She said securing the habitat at Loisaba and bringing rhinos back to this landscape with support from the government of Kenya is an incredible conservation success story that The Nature Conservancy is proud to be a part of.
Dr Max Graham, CEO and founder of Space for Giants, said the reintroduction of the eastern black rhino to Loisaba is a testament to our collective ability to enact meaningful change for Kenya’s iconic wildlife and be a force for nature.
“We are delighted to play a role in the conservation of this critically endangered species alongside Kenya Wildlife Service and our dedicated partners.”
Dr Domonic Maringa, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy head of conservation and wildlife, said the translocation showcases their unwavering commitment to securing the future of the iconic animals.