Twenty-one black rhinos, a species facing a high risk of extinction, were safely moved to Loisaba Conservancy in northern Kenya from other parts of the country. This effort is part of a larger plan to ensure the survival of black rhinos in Kenya for years to come.
Tom Silvester, the CEO of Loisaba Conservancy, led the operation. He described it as a huge undertaking and expressed excitement about having black rhinos back in Loisaba after 50 years.
Normally, moving wildlife is done to establish new breeding grounds and reintroduce species to areas where they disappeared. However, in this case, the main reason is that Kenya’s 16 black rhino sanctuaries are getting full, which shows a significant improvement in the country’s conservation efforts.
Forty years ago, the number of black rhinos in Kenya dropped dangerously low. In the 1970s, there were about 20,000, but by the mid-1980s, there were fewer than 300. However, as of December 2023, there are around 1,004 black rhinos in Kenya, and the government hopes to have 2,000 by 2037.
Tom Silvester explained that after large numbers of rhinos were killed by poachers, the sanctuaries where rhinos live are now too full. This overcrowding leads to fights between rhinos, lower birth rates, and other problems.
Black rhinos are found in Eastern and Southern Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as critically endangered, with just 6,468 left across Africa as of the end of 2022. Rhino horn is in demand in places like China because some people believe it has medical benefits, even though it doesn’t. Sadly, poachers killed at least 561 rhinos across Africa in 2022 alone.
Loisaba, a large wildlife area in central Kenya, used to have a healthy population of eastern black rhinos. Unfortunately, they disappeared from the area in 1976 because of poaching.
Now, a project is bringing back these rhinos to Loisaba. It’s a joint effort between Loisaba Conservancy and the Kenya Wildlife Service, with support from conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy, Space for Giants, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Each rhino costs about $10,000 to move and take care of for the first five years.
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Ten male and eleven female rhinos were moved to Loisaba from three different places in Kenya: Nairobi National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
“This is a big moment for black rhino conservation in Kenya,” said Munira Bashir, who leads the TNC program in Kenya. “We’ve turned things around since the tough times of the 1970s to 1990s when rhinos were almost wiped out. Now, we need more space for them because their numbers have bounced back. What’s even better is that poaching, which used to be a big problem, has dropped a lot. It’s been almost zero for years now.”
Kenya has almost stopped poaching altogether. “In 2013, the government made a strong move by passing the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act,” Bashir explained. “This law means serious trouble for anyone caught harming wildlife, especially rare animals like rhinos. Security got much better in government areas, local communities, and private reserves, which helped stop the poaching.”
Bashir believes other countries can learn from Kenya. “It’s about the government taking action, support from conservation groups, and locals working together to protect wildlife. While we’ve made great progress, Kenya’s rhinos still face risks like climate change, diseases, poaching coming back, and their homes being damaged.”
The process of moving black rhinos to Loisaba took three weeks, starting on January 16th. Each rhino can weigh up to 1,400 kilograms, or almost 3,100 pounds. They were given tranquilizers, captured, and put into sturdy crates made of wood and steel. These crates were then moved in groups of three, with the last group arriving on February 2nd.
Moving rhinos like this is risky and has led to deaths before. “The biggest challenge is keeping them alive when they’re tranquilized,” Silvester explained. “We use a strong drug called M99 to immobilize them. Just like some people react badly to anesthesia, some rhinos might stop breathing, which can be very dangerous. We try to keep them stress-free by keeping them in the crate for as short a time as possible and waking them up quickly and safely.”
In 2018, a similar move of 11 rhinos in Kenya ended tragically. All the rhinos died shortly after they got to Tsavo East National Park. Ten died from stress, dehydration, and salt poisoning from the water in their new home. The last rhino was killed by lions. In the same year, African Parks lost four out of six rhinos they moved from South Africa to Zakouma National Park in Chad because they couldn’t find enough food.
“After the bad outcome in 2018 when rhinos were moved to Tsavo East in Kenya, we made sure to double-check all the protocols,” Silvester explained. “KWS wanted to avoid the same mistakes. We’ve planned for every possibility, but dealing with wildlife always comes with risks.”
The 21 rhinos were released into a special fenced area covering almost half of Loisaba. “We made sure there’s enough food and checked the water quality, learning from the mistakes in Tsavo,” Silvester added.
“I’m concerned about the rhinos getting out of the sanctuary. When they arrive, they’re disoriented and might hit the fence. And then there’s the risk of lions attacking them,” Silvester said. “But despite the risks, moving rhinos is important for their future and the environment.”
The black rhinos coming to Loisaba are expected to bring more tourists and benefits to the community. Silvester said, “Black rhinos are fascinating creatures, almost like a ‘dinosaur-unicorn.’” Their presence creates jobs and helps keep the area safe for everyone living nearby.
Once the rhinos settle in, we hope they’ll have babies. Silvester explained, “We want to see rhino births in Loisaba within the next 24 months. If we have a calf within a year, it’ll be a big deal. Our goal is to have lots of healthy rhinos. In 10 years, if we have more than 30 rhinos, I’ll be really pleased.”
Scientists say having 21 rhinos is enough for breeding. So, there are no plans to bring more to Loisaba. But other types of rhinos, like the northern white rhinos, might come in the future. “If the mission to save the northern white rhinos is successful, we could see them here again,” Silvester said.
