Ol Pejeta: The story of how an old cattle ranch became a rhino paradise.

The demand for rhino horn is not new. Populations of the black rhino declined drastically in the 20th century by the hands of white hunters. In the 1960s, Kenya was home to 20.000 rhinos and in just two decades poaching reduced these numbers to 300 individuals, a loss of about 98% of its population. So, when I heard that there was a very special place in Kenya where black rhinos not only survived but thrived, I had to make my way there and meet the people responsible for this conservation's success story.

East Africa’s jewel, Ol Pejeta is a 90.000 acres conservancy situated in Laikipia County, in Northern Kenya. A former cattle ranch, it was acquired in 2004 by Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a U.K based conservation organization with the financial backing of Arcus Foundation and transformed into one of the most exciting conservation success stories in East Africa.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy a non-for profit wildlife conservancy in the Laikipia County, Central Kenya

In its early days, Ol Pejeta had only 20 rhinos, but a series of efforts that included training and supplying an anti-poaching unit, effective monitoring and community engagement helped bring the species back from the brink of extinction to a healthy population of 132 individuals. Only last year they saw a record birth of 17 new calves. Today Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa.

Mount Kenya at sunset. Situated right at the Equator, Ol Pejeta is nested between the Aberdares and Mount Kenya

Ol Pejeta's success story is further enhanced by the fact that it is one of the only conservancies in Kenya to meet all of its operating costs. It managed to do so through an innovative model that promotes conservation and human progress at the same time. Of the 90.000 acres, the sanctuary assigned an area of about 11.000 acres just outside of the core conservancy dedicated to sustainable farming and agriculture.

Two Black Rhinoceros at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest sanctuary of Black Rhinos in East Africa

Eco-tourism is its main source of revenue followed by livestock ranching and green energy. The sanctuary works with local communities to help improve their standards of living through programs on education, healthcare and entrepreneurship. These efforts have proven to be paramount in protecting wildlife and deterring poachers from getting close.

A quick stop in Lewa Conservancy, 15 minutes away from Nanyuki

My visit to Ol Pejeta was organized in a matter of days. When I arrived at the airstrip in Nanyuki, I was welcomed by the local school community who embraced me from the moment I touched land. I knew from the start that this was a very special place. The view from the sky allowed me to discover an unfamiliar landscape. The Great Rift Valley and the Aberdares, together with the view of the imposing Mount Kenya prove to be as stunning and rich as I hoped they would be. 

A warm welcome by schoolgirls at Nanyuki Airstrip, Kenya

During my stay at Ol Pejeta, I had the opportunity to meet incredible people who dedicate their lives to protect the wildlife there. Zacharia Mutai, Head Keeper of the last two Northern White Rhinos spends his entire day making sure the species remain alive. A 24/7 job that has allowed him to understand a subspecies, that without science would not have had a chance to survive. Like these rhinos, he too has seen the best and the worst of what humanity has to offer. 

Zacharia Mutai, Head Keeper of the last two Northern White Rhinos. Ol Pejeta

In the last 4 years, Ol Pejeta has experienced zero poaching. This is a huge accomplishment considering the rhino horn is still in high demand. It is a task that requires collaboration and planning. Fences, armed guards, anti-poaching canine units are just a part of the conservancies landscape. When I asked Richard Vigne, the Chief Executive Officer of Ol Pejeta, whether this was the only way,  he said -

“The reason why you see fences and armed security guards is Rhinos. Rhinos are a risk. They are costly and can be dangerous, so securing land for them can be expensive. A single rhino horn is worth USD 60.000. Ol Pejeta has 90,000 acres, we had zero poaching cases in the last four years, and as the rhino population increases we are reaching its ecological carrying capacity.”

So if rhinos are so expensive, why do we need to protect them? As an animal lover and a true believer that we have no right to destroy our planet, this is a hard question to ask, but as an Economist, I had to understand why this program worked.

We have a moral duty with the planet and future generations to protect what is left

From a conservation perspective, rhinoceros, as any other animal play a role in maintaining the ecological balance. You lose the rhino and you create an imbalance; you lose the elephants and lions and the whole ecosystem goes out of sync. We have a moral debt to our planet and future generations to protect the resources that allow us to thrive. We cannot accept to lose an entire species giving in to human ambitions.

Najin, one of the last two Northern White Rhinos. Ol Pejeta Conservancy

From an economic perspective, rhinos are extremely valuable for the protection of all wildlife. As an umbrella species, revenues generated to protect them guarantee the future of other species that share the same ecosystem. Protecting the rhino  guarantees a natural balance in one of the most vulnerable landscapes on Earth. With the outstanding success of its rhino program, Ol Pejeta is an example of long-term planning and community engagement that I hope we will see replicated across the continent.

Plans to expand the conservancy are already in place. A new association in the Laikipia County plans to bring together nearby communities, ranches and conservancies to secure Kenya’s biodiversity. This association is already a major milestone for a country where only about 8% of the landscape is effectively protected. This will mean that wildlife corridors will be secured to allow wildlife to migrate freely and that the growing population of rhinos will expand into territories that have not seen them in years. This exciting project could only be achieved because of the existence of a validated model that allows humans and wildlife to coexist. Once again collaboration has played a crucial role in securing the survival of our planet’s wildlife. Despite the efforts of being self-sustaining, the effect of COVID-19 is being felt in the region. With travel bans in place, Ol Pejeta's main source of revenue, eco-tourism will not help meet this year’s target. This means that rangers’ salaries and other operative costs will not be met, hence increasing the vulnerability of rhinos and other highly trafficked species. If you are interested in learning and supporting Ol Pejeta's work, please follow this link.