Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have announced a KSh5.8 billion programme aimed at expanding the rhino population and supporting the tourism sector.
The two bodies intend to link land, resources and expertise to broaden rhino habitat across Tsavo and Central Kenya and to reinforce the National Black Rhino Recovery and Action Plan 2022-2026, which sets a target of a 5 per cent annual increase in the black rhino population and the restoration of its historic range.
Working with government, private-sector partners and local communities, KRRE is addressing density dependency – the problem of overcrowded rhino groups breeding less successfully and creating tension over limited resources – which has been identified as a major obstacle to species recovery.
“The Kenya Rhino Range expansion is not just about rhinos and environmental conservation. It’s about people. It’s about ensuring that we improve livelihoods for people surrounding the areas in which we hope to introduce rhinos,” said Jamie Gaymer, Chief Executive Officer Kenya Rhino Range Expansion.
KRRE says the investment and growth of the rhino population will generate new rangers, lodges, drivers, builders, rhino monitors and researchers, together with a much larger number of indirect jobs linked to an industry that depends on thriving biodiversity.
“For the KRRE to be successful, we need to ensure that the people see the benefit of conservation. We need to drive a wildlife economy. We need to create employment, and we need to, create tangible benefits for the people who coexist with these animals. Rhinos are a keystone species that can catalyze a sequence of changes required in order to preserve biodiversity and the health of our planet,” he added.
The newly created Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary has enlarged the roaming area for roughly 150 black rhinos from 92 to 3,200 square kilometres – more than thirty times the previous space – and has prompted the deployment of over 100 rangers, alongside new ranger accommodation, water points and fencing.
In recent weeks KWS and KRRE completed a second ear-notching and transmitter-placement exercise that now enables 75 per cent of Tsavo West’s existing rhino population to be identified and monitored across what is now the largest rhino sanctuary of its kind in Africa.
The World Travel and Tourism Council reports that travel and tourism contributed $12.7 billion to Kenya’s economy last year, representing 9.3 per cent of GDP and supporting 1.8 million jobs, or roughly 8.3 per cent of total employment.
