The government has translocated 21 eastern black rhinos to Segera Rhino Sanctuary from Ol-Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia County in an effort to promote conservation, decongest and protect the critically endangered species.
The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, presided over the translocation ceremony in Olpajeta.
The CS said that moving the rhinos in the expansive Segera conservancy, which covers approximately 50,000 acres of land would provide a secure and ecological habitat for their breeding.
“The translocation of 21 black rhinos to Segera conservancy is way beyond a conservation milestone. It’s a bold affirmation of Kenya’s enduring commitment to securing a future of one of the world’s most iconic yet critically endangered species,” said the CS.
Miano highlighted that the exercise was a milestone towards achieving annual population of the Rhinos to 5 percent annually.
“Segera’s current 90km square sanctuary set to soon expand to 250,000 acres mega sanctuary and will provide a secure, ecologically rich habitat for rhino breeding, this is a critical step towards achieving 5 percent annual growth target,” said the CS.
The meticulous translocation process is expected to take approximately 18 days with the first three rhinos already moved to the expansive Segera Conservancy.
Miano noted that Kenya is a home to 80 percent of the eastern black rhino population and which they have grown from 384 in 1989 to 1,059 last year.
“Kenya is home to 80 percent of Africa black rhino’s population and these statistics is clear prove of decades of relentless efforts between government, conservationist and communities, yet that notwithstanding, the survival of this species remains precarious pointed out the CS.
Kenya also hosts 1,041 southern white rhinos and the last two known northern white rhinos.
She highlighted that poaching, habitat cross and overcrowding in sanctuaries continued to endanger the status of the rhinos in the country.
The CS revealed that the National Black Rhino Action Plan 2022-2026 was a blueprint policy document for the survival of the endangered rhinos and at the same aiming to grow them to 2000 individuals by the year 2037.
“This translocation directly supports that vision of increasing rhino population. By moving rhinos from Olpejeta, Lewa and Nakuru, all sanctuaries operating over 100 percent of their carrying capacity, we are reducing deadly territorial fights that account for over 30 per cent of rhino mortalities,” said Miano.
Further, the CS noted that the translocation marked a significant milestone to reactivate the new conservation frontiers in Northern Kenya.
“The event also marks a new chapter for northern Kenya, traditionally viewed as a dry land frontier. This region is emerging as a vital conservation landscape. Segera Ranch represents the promise and potential of northern Kenya rangelands where private landowners, local communities and conservation partners are reimagining what it immense to live in harmony with nature,” said the CS.
Segera owner and founder of the ZEITZ Foundation, Jochen Zeits, said that translocation was not only supporting an increase in the rhino population but also a benefit to local communities through job creation.
“By giving the rhinos a new expansive home, we not only expect to see these numbers increase significantly in the coming years, but it also benefits communities while enhancing biodiversity conservation in the incredible landscapes of central Kenya,” assured Zeits.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said that translocation as a conservation effort would boost tourism in the region and the country at large.
