The chilly air sweeps past a group of 60 or so individuals, all standing erect in a horseshoe formation. Their faces still invisible in the dawn semi-darkness.
As dawn breaks, the icy air in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia County is charged with anticipation. Vets meticulously prepare tranquilizer darts as the team leader conducts the final briefing under the keen eye of Kenya Wildlife Service experts.
A distance away, the helicopter that had been circling noisily above the attentive souls finally touched down in a thunderous roar. Soon after, the pilot jumps out in a springy gait and starts conducting the final checks on his black metallic bird.
Radio static crackles in unison as spotters and trackers synchronize their movements and confirm Rhino locations. The mission is not just a logistical marvel; it is a testament to the collective commitment to safeguarding the endangered black African rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
One cannot help but marvel at the global collaboration fueling this effort. Experts from Ol Pejeta, The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and beyond form a united front. They bring not only their diverse skills but also a shared passion for preserving the rhino population.
The international consortium combines traditional knowledge with state-of-the-art technology, creating a synergy that transcends borders.
As the golden sun stretches its warm rays across the vast landscape, the helicopter rotors begin to hum, lifts off and banks sharply to the right in search of the targeted rhinos.
The precision of modern tracking technology ensures that every step is deliberate. Drones equipped with thermal imaging sweep the landscape, identifying the rhino’s heat signatures even in the thick bush.
This marriage of ancient tracking skills and contemporary tools enables the team to locate the rhinos without undue stress to the animals.
In the heart of Laikipia County, Kenya lies the Ol Pejeta Conservancy – a sanctuary pulsating with the rhythm of untamed life. On this particular day, the air hung heavy with anticipation as a monumental event unfolded.
The conservancy, a haven for endangered species, stands as a beacon of hope in the struggle against the relentless poaching that threatens these majestic creatures.
A team of dedicated conservationists, with their hearts woven into the fabric of the land, embarked on a mission to relocate six rhinos to Loisaba Conservancy is a safer haven, far from the menacing shadow of the poacher’s greed.
The Rhino translocation is a symphony of humanity and technology that converges to orchestrate a daring mission – the translocation of rhinos, an exhilarating and enlightening endeavor that unfolds against the backdrop of a majestic wilderness struggling for balance.
The rhinos, immense and ancient creatures, are gently cradled into specialized crates. It is a delicate ballet, as the animals are loaded onto transport trucks that will carry them to their new home.
The sheer size and strength of the rhinos are humbling, yet their vulnerability in the face of poaching and habitat loss is a stark reality that propels the team forward.
The Rhino translocation exercise was part of a larger plan to translocate 21 black Rhinos from various conservancies and the Nairobi National Park to Loisaba Conservancy to ease overcrowding in the existing habitats.
According to Philip Coulson, the chairman of Ol-Pejeta Conservancy, the Rhino population stood at 171 just before the translocation began. Six Rhinos were translocated with Ol Pejeta contributing partly to the capture expenses with the support from Kenya Wildlife Service and donor support.
“Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is in charge of all capture operations in the Country – being the body mandated by law to undertake this. However, the rhino population in Ol Pejeta is monitored and protected by Ol Pejeta teams. As such, candidate identification/selection was done
by Ol Pejeta teams in consultation with KWS and Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) guided by a set criterion” says Philip.
Further, alludes the Chairman, Rhino conservation efforts on Ol Pejeta are guided by Kenya’s National strategy dubbed “Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) Recovery and Action Plan in Kenya (2022-2026)” In this plan, it is proposed that the established populations (across Kenya) and that is above 50 per cent of Ecological Carrying Capacity (ECC) should undertake harvesting (removal) at a minimum average of 5 per cent of the population/year.
“Ol Pejeta strives to fulfill the above objective and is quite pleased that Loisaba was secured as a rhino range. One of the greatest challenges facing Kenya is the lack of suitable and secure space
to offload the surplus rhinos held in the various rhino sanctuaries across the country” adds Philip.
In line with the above, the plan estimated that at least 500 rhinos will need to be moved across the country by the end of the year 2026. Ol Pejeta alone will need to move at least 30 rhinos before by that time – which is a huge undertaking given the limitation in the lack of such suitable spaces
for range expansion.
To mitigate this challenge Ol Pejeta is collaborating with the Association of Private and Community Land Rhino Sanctuaries (APLRS) to secure funding and other logistical support required to identify and prepare potential range areas to take up these surplus rhinos.
“The Loisaba translocation marks the first large-scale capture and translocation over the last five years. This exercise has shown a great deal of professionalism from all teams involved and hoping to complete this exercise without any issues. I believe this will help repair Kenya’s image among the various critiques out there and perhaps “soften the current grip” on approval of such activities in the country” quips Philip.
Over the years various Ol Pejeta Conservancy has deployed cutting-edge technology towards enhancing the monitoring and protection of rhinos which include the roll-out of Digital Radios –A system to receive live transmission of monitoring and security patrols which enhances command and deployment effort.
The use of Earthranger as a platform that consolidates various field/remote sensors – enhances effectiveness in monitoring various installations and resources deployed across the conservancy, remote fence performance monitoring devices help in monitoring fence
voltage, which helps in detecting interference by intruders (or poachers) and in the management of human-wildlife conflict issues, perimeter intrusion detection system.
These are state-of-the-art cameras that stream live-fed from areas along the fence line that were identified as poaching hot spots.
The cameras are armed with infra-red capability plus Artificial Intelligence analytics to enhance their effectiveness in intrusion detection, stealth cameras are deployed on specific target
areas to covertly monitor activities in such areas and data handling is now digitized through the deployment ruggedized phone with SMART for conservation installed, which is integrated into to Earthranger platform.
Back to the exhilarating rhino capture action, once located, the ground team moves into action and with practiced precision, they create a perimeter around the darted rhino, ensuring safety for both humans and wildlife.
The vets, armed with their tools of trade deliver tranquilizers with accuracy honed through years of experience. As the sedative takes effect, a hush descends over the scene, a poignant pause before the monumental task of data collection, vaccination, installing of tracking devices and finally loading the Rhino into a special purpose container begins.
After a tiring, bone-breaking and tension-filled day, a sense of accomplishment and gratitude pervades the air. The guardians of giants, the dedicated individuals who orchestrated this transcontinental odyssey, stand united in their mission.
Their collective wisdom, fueled by cutting-edge technology, has given the rhinos a second chance, a beacon of hope in a world
grappling with the challenges of biodiversity loss.