By OUR CORRESPONDENT
In one of Africa’s most ambitious wildlife conservation efforts this decade, Kenya will on Saturday start the translocation of 21 critically endangered black rhinos to establish a new breeding population at Segera Conservancy in Laikipia County.
The operation, spearheaded by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), represents a major milestone in the country’s black rhino recovery efforts for rhino range expansion as outlined in the National Recovery and Action Plan for Black Rhinos in Kenya (2022-2026)
The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Hon. Rebecca Miano will flag off the translocation exercise at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County tomorrow morning, where KWS capture and veterinary teams will carefully capture and transport the animals to their new Segera 90-km² sanctuary.
Kenya’s rhino population is estimated at 2,102 individuals (1,059 black rhinos, 1,041 southern white rhinos and the only remaining two northern white rhinos).
“This strategic move addresses two critical challenges,” explained KWS Director General, Prof Erustus Kanga.
“First, it relieves overcrowding in established sanctuaries where territorial conflicts cause 30% of rhino mortalities. Second, it creates a new breeding nucleus that will significantly contribute to grow the rhino population to achieve the goal of 2,000 black rhinos by 2037,”
The founder breeding population will comprise 21 unrelated individuals with 11 females and 10 males carefully selected from Ol Pejeta, Lewa and Nakuru to ensure optimal genetic diversity.
Segera Conservancy, which is their new home, will be Kenya’s 18th black rhino sanctuary.
The site has undergone rigorous ecological assessments and security upgrades to meet the stringent criteria for establishment of rhino sanctuaries and IUCN translocation guidelines.
The translocation exercise will be carefully undertaken in 18 days with 3 rhinos captured in each translocation and a break in between to ensure the rhinos settle before the next capture operation. Technical expers highlight the operation’s precision timing.
“Cool, dry weather minimizes stress on the animals during transport,” said Dr Isaac Lekolool, the KWS Head of Veterinary and Capture Services.
“Each rhino will be monitored by the veterinary team throughout the translocation journey until they are safely released in the
new home,” he added.
The entire capture and translocation exercise and equipment is estimated to cost Ksh.14 million and is funded by the government in partnership with Segera Conservancy.
The exercise will be undertaken through novel rhino immobilisation, capture and translocation technical in adhere to the immobilization protocol for black and white rhinos and IUCN translocation guidelines.
The rhinos will be fitted with specialize tracking devices to facilitate post-translocation monitoring and support day and night security surveillance.
