Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has begun a five-day translocation operation to move three southern white rhinos to the Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, marking a major step in efforts to restore the species to their historical range.
The operation involves relocating two female rhinos from Lake Nakuru National Park and one male from Meru National Park.
Once complete, the Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy will become Kenya’s 20th rhino sanctuary, a move expected to boost national rhino recovery and strengthen long-term species resilience.
KWS said the initiative aligns with its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, which prioritises securing new conservation spaces and accelerating rhino population growth.
The Mt Kenya ecosystem once hosted the country’s largest rhino population in the 1970s but suffered a catastrophic decline through the 1980s, losing its last rhinos by 2011.
After almost 15 years without the species, KWS conducted a two-year assessment to evaluate MKWC’s suitability for reintroduction.
The KWS vet and capture team stand ready to guide her safely once she is on her feet / Irene Ouma KWSThe positive findings cleared the way for the current operation, which officials say is rooted in science, collaboration and long-term ecological planning.
The translocation, jointly executed by the KWS Veterinary and Capture Unit and Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, is intended to re-establish a viable rhino population, strengthen species resilience, and restore the ecological balance of the wider Mt Kenya landscape.
The exercise also served as a benchmarking opportunity for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, whose team observed key procedures, including chemical immobilisation and helicopter darting techniques used to safely guide the rhinos to open areas for handling and loading.
KWS described the initiative as a milestone in Kenya’s broader conservation mandate, aimed at expanding secure rhino habitats and safeguarding one of the country’s most iconic species for future generations.
Dr Pogon, KWS vet, gently prods a female white rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park, encouraging her to rise / Irene Ouma KWS
A rhino is released at Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, calmly guided by the KWS vet and capture team to its new home /Irene Ouma KWS
