Rhino ConservationOl Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya
Rhino Conservation in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Black Rhinoceros
The Mighty Vulnerable
With a heavy stature, armour-like skin and pointed horns, rhinos appear invincible; but looks can be deceiving. In truth, these big softies spend much of their time eating on the savanna and wallowing in the mud, oblivious to their one and only threat: humans.
A Huge Mistake
Fuelled by the misbelief their horn is powerful and valuable, rhinos continue to disappear from many parts of the world. Slaughtered by poachers and traded by wildlife criminals, their future has taken a grim turn. Human greed has left populations in dire need of our protection.
Saving Species
Over three short decades, we’ve lost all but a few black rhinos. In 1993, less than 400 rhinos remained in Kenya. The overwhelming mission to save rhinoceros began. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 110,000-acre sanctuary was chosen to house 20 black rhinos, a population that has since grown to 120 with our ongoing support. Now, as East Africa’s largest population of black rhinos, we’re playing a huge role in rhinoceros conservation.
The Last of their Kind
But for subspecies like the northern white rhino, it may be too late. In early 2018, the world said goodbye to Sudan, the last male northern white rhino on earth. Now, only two remain; his daughter Najin and her daughter Fatu. Both live under constant protection at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The future of their family and subspecies now lies with modern day science.
The Guardians
With rhinos only existing in heavily guarded areas, today the role of our rhino guardians is more important than ever before. Teams of fearless rangers work round the clock to deter unwanted intruders and protect the critically endangered rhinos. Our support provides the team with patrol equipment and helps improve the ranger’s wellbeing and living conditions, by building new accommodation blocks to give them a safe place to rest. Under their watch, we can save the rhino.
Make a gift of $100 and provide bedding for a ranger’s housing block.
A Rhino’s Best Friend
The specially trained K-9 Unit work alongside the rangers. From tracking the scent of a poacher, to detecting ammunition and attacking and detaining potential suspects, these conservation dogs are helping to eliminate wildlife crime.
Give $20 and help feed a tracker dog in the K-9 Unit for one week.
Empowering the Community
When local communities thrive and prosper, the people can help wildlife do the same. By empowering communities with programs for school children, medical dispensaries for people in need and water catchment systems for drought-ridden farmers, more people are choosing to partake in rhino conservation, rather than poaching activities.
Technology for Conservation
We’re working to build relationships and close the information gap between the rangers and the local community. Thanks to our support, a SMS Reporting System now allows locals to report illegal activity anonymously to help anti-poaching teams detect threats early and respond quickly to incidents.
Donate $50 and cover the cost of fuel for the anti-poaching patrol teams for one day.