Giving Rhinos More Room to Roam

In Kenya, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary has been successfully expanded to make more room for its horned inhabitants, thanks to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Eden Wildlife Trust, IUCN-SSC-African Rhino Specialist Group, Zoo D'Amneville -- France, and Zoological Society of London, among others.

The sanctuary, situated adjacent to Tsavo East National Park, was established in 1986 to prevent poachers from slaughtering black rhinos for their valuable horns. Today, Ngulia remains a stronghold for black rhinos, as well as a breeding ground to help bolster other rhino sanctuaries and wild populations.

Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary completed an expansion project in mid June, increasing its size from 62 square kilometers (24 square miles) to 90 km_ (35 mi_).

Already, staff have confirmed that the rhinos are using the expanded area. Rangers patrol the sanctuary and monitor the rhinos, providing protection around the clock.

The resident population of rhinos shares the sanctuary with a multitude of other wildlife species, including elephants. Too many elephants were competing with the rhinos for vegetation both species feed on. KWS relocated 255 elephants from Ngulia.

"With the sanctuary expansion and the removal of over 250 elephants -- offering more space, more forage and less competition -- we shall see improved reproduction and survival of the rhinos," says Dr. Philip Muruthi, AWF's Director of Conservation Science.

Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary will continue to be a key source population for the eastern black rhino. As rhinos continue to breed in the sanctuary, and the population increases, they can be relocated to repopulate other sites and boost the national population which grew 5% in 2005.

AWF will continue our support to rhino conservation in Kenya in close consultation with KWS.