Rhino ConservationOl Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

2024

Rhino Conservation in Ol Pejeta Conservancy

  • Wildlife Protection Squad
    2
  • Rangers within Ol Pejeta
    181
  • Surrounding communities supported
    21
  • K-9 Units
    18
  • Number of rhinos on conservancy
    222
  • Protected Areas
    110,000ac 171miles²

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.

Bindi Irwin with DJ the Rhino at Australia Zoo

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.

A Black Rhino Mother and her Calf at the Watering Hole

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.

Sudan the Male Northern White Rhino

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.

An Armed Ranger Patrolling the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya

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.

A Tracker Dog detecting the scent pf a Poacher on Ol Pejeta Conservancy

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.

Local Community Children Living Alongside the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya

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.

Rhino Guardians Watching the Rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya

A gift from you today will help safeguard the precious rhino population. Will you help us, help them?