Scientists are grappling with how to contain the population of black rhinos that has increased beyond ecological carrying capacity in some key sanctuaries.
In fact, most rhino areas in the country are carrying more of the species than the recommended capacity.
A report covering all the rhino areas for the period ending December 31, 2022 shows that the black and white rhino population was 1,890, comprising 966 black rhinos, 922 southern white rhinos, and two northern white rhinos.
The Wildlife Research and Training Institute compiled the report in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The report shows that Tsavo West National Park (Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary) has 134 black rhinos, while the maximum productivity carrying capacity is 45, leaving an estimated surplus of 89.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy has 166 black rhinos, while the maximum capacity is 90, leaving a surplus of 76.
Nairobi National Park has 98 black rhinos against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 44, leaving a surplus of 54.
Lake Nakuru National Park has 89 black rhinos against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 50, leaving a surplus of 39.
Lewa (Borana Landscape) has a black rhino population of 133 against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 92, leaving a surplus of 41.
Meru National Park has a black rhino population of 36 against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 32, leaving a surplus of four.
Ruma National Park, however, has a population of 22 black rhinos against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 62.
This means that Ruma needs 40 more rhinos.
Sera Community Conservancy has a population of 21 against a maximum productivity carrying capacity of 40.
This means the conservancy needs 19 more rhinos.
Towards the end of last year, Kenya Wildlife Service had plans to translocate some of the rhinos to other areas.
Some 21 rhinos were to be translocated to Loisaba Conservancy.
KWS director general Erustus Kanga said the process was put off due to heavy rains that pounded various parts of the country.
“We will proceed with that process (translocation) early next year,” Kanga said.
Kanga said some of the rhinos earmarked for translocation are those from congested sanctuaries such as Nairobi National Park, Olpejata and Lewa Conservancies.
Loisaba Conservancy CEO Tom Silvester says they welcome the exciting announcement, saying it demonstrates the success of rhino conservation in Kenya over the last 40 years.
“We are so happy to be part of the journey. As an umbrella species, protecting rhinos indirectly protects hundreds of other species as well as critical habitats. The security required to keep rhinos safe also prevents poaching of many other species and brings better security for community members living near protected areas."
The rhino population has been increasing in the country due to interventions that the state has put in place.
For the first time in 20 years, the country has had less than 1 per cent rhino poaching in 2017–2021, and zero poaching in 2020.
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.
The increasing population of rhinos, especially the black ones, is now giving scientists sleepless nights.
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.
Due to changes in wildlife habitat dynamics over time, coupled with climate change-related factors, scientists are racing against time to review the ecological carrying capacity protocol.
On September 22, KWS unveiled the seventh edition of the recovery and action plan for the black rhinos in Kenya (2022–26).
Black rhinos suffered a catastrophic decline across Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, both in numbers and in the extent of range.
Numbers plummeted from an estimated 65,000 in 1970 to fewer than 2,500 by 1992 due to poaching.
The black rhino dropped in numbers in Kenya from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to under 400 animals by 1987.
The state needs billions of shillings to fully implement a recovery and action plan.
The plan shows that Sh100 million is needed for appropriate security technologies and rhino and law-enforcement monitoring.
They include camera traps, thermal cameras, acoustic sensors, satellite-based transmitters, drones, Long Range Wide Area Networks (LoRaWAN), digital radio systems with command control rooms operating in real time, and AI software.
Kenya's black rhino population ranks third after South Africa and Namibia.
The plan shows that Sh25 million is needed to enhance the capacity within the Wildlife Research and Training Institute-Kenya Wildlife Service forensic and genetics laboratory and undertake compatible rhino DNA Indexing System analyses to enhance prosecutions.
Some Sh83 million is required to fence priority rhino areas.
For example, 83 km of fencing is required to further secure Tsavo West IPZ to support the protection of rhinos in the next five years.
Sh1 million is needed to construct a kilometre of such a fence.
For the implementation of annual rhino translocation plans, an estimated Sh50 million is needed to move 35 rhinos per year.
Some Sh100 million is needed to strengthen rhino capture and translocation capacity through the provision of crates, equipment, machinery, and vehicles.
For rhino ear notching, Sh45 million is needed for 500 rhinos.
Ear notching ensures all animals can be reliably identified, minimising the number of rhinos in the critical sighting interval and ensuring 99 percent of rhinos are confirmed.
The plan shows that Sh5 million is needed for biological monitoring and management, while a further Sh7.8 million is needed for undertaking ecological carrying capacity estimates of sanctuaries.
Some Sh110 million is needed for security and monitoring. This will include Sh50 million in the first year and Sh15 million for the next four years.
The money will be used to fully implement the Tsavo West Intensive Protection Zone with strengthened security and monitoring systems, establishing a key population of more than 100 rhinos in the zone by the end of the plan period.
To commission the constructed rhino sanctuary in Tsavo East and use it primarily as a holding site for rhinos to be released into the wider Tsavo East intensive protection zone also needs substantial money.
Freshwater provision in the sanctuary will be a key component of the project.
Some Sh35 million is needed for repairing infrastructure and harnessing fresh water from Galana River.
