By Hannah Campbell

When people think of African wildlife, the first term that comes to a lot of peoples’ minds (and therefore what they want to see most on safari) are the “Big Five”: elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo.

What many people don’t know is that the phrase comes from an old hunting term, which lists the five most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot. Since trophy hunting was banned in Kenya in 1977, it turned into a list of species to ‘tick off’ on game drives.

While Loisaba is currently home to four out of the five, with an ambition to add the eastern black rhino to the list, several other wildlife species can also be found here – many of which can only be seen in areas such as Northern Kenya…

1. Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

Population Trend: Decreasing

Found here in northern Kenya, these unusual antelopes are easily distinguishable by their extremely long necks – the name ‘Gerenuk’ comes from the Somali word ‘garanuug’, meaning “giraffe-necked”. They are extremely well adapted to the dry areas of the horn of Africa, due to the fact that they get the moisture they need to survive from the plants they eat – meaning they can go their entire lives without having to drink water!

2. Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi)

IUCN Status: Endangered

Population Trend: Stable

Once found across Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya, Grevy’s zebras have undergone one of the most substantial reductions of range of any African mammal – now only found in parts of southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya. Their population has reduced from around 6,000 in the 1980’s to an estimated 2,800 today.

As well as habitat loss and competition for grazing resources, Grevy’s have also been hunted for their striking skins. They are much larger than the Burchell’s zebra, with narrower stripes and huge rounded ears.

3. Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)

IUCN Status: Endangered

Population Trend: Decreasing

It was once thought that there was only one species of giraffe, with 11 different subspecies. Recent research has suggested that there are in fact four completely separate species of giraffe that are as genetically different as a polar bear is to a black bear!

The reticulated giraffe is listed as endangered by the IUCN, primarily due to habitat loss. This species can only be found in Somalia, southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya.

Loisaba has partnered with San Diego Zoo Global on their “Twiga Walinzi” (giraffe guards) initiative in order to help save this species from extinction.

4. Beisa Oryx (Oryx beisa)

IUCN Status: Endangered

Population Trend: Decreasing

The name ‘oryx’ is from the Greek word for pickax, an appropriate name for these striking ungulates. The myth of the one-horned unicorn may be based on oryx that have lost one horn. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder held that the oryx was the unicorn’s “prototype”. From certain angles, the oryx may seem to have one horn rather than two, and given that its horns are made from hollow bone that cannot be regrown, if an oryx were to lose one of its horns, for the rest of its life, it would have only one.

5. Laikipia Hartebeest (Alcelaphus lelwel x A. cokii)

IUCN Status: ?

Population Trend: ?

Also known as the Kenya Highland hartebeest, this antelope is considered to be a cross between the Coke’s and endangered Lelwel hartebeest. They are darker in colour and larger than the Coke’s species, with longer heavier horns than both ‘parent’ species. Formally distributed throughout Kenya’s highlands between Lake Victoria and Mount Kenya, they are now believed to be restricted to fragmented areas in Laikipia and nearby regions.

 

By Hannah Campbell

World Rhino Day is celebrated annually on September 22^nd and celebrates the five rhino species: black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan.

The eastern black rhino is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 5,000 remaining worldwide. In Kenya, the black rhino population dropped from an estimated 20,000 in 1970, to fewer than 400 individuals in the space of 20 years, a decline of 98%. This was largely due to poaching as a result of challenges to wildlife management.

Progress is being made…

Due to outstanding conservation efforts across the country, the eastern black rhino population has grown to around 750, with Kenya remaining the stronghold of the subspecies.

This excellent progress in the reduction of poaching and implementation of breeding programmes has meant that the current sanctuaries are fast approaching the ecological carrying capacity for the population, and space is needed to maintain the desired grown rate of at least 5% per year.

2,000 individuals are recognised as being the minimum number for a metapopulation of the black rhino necessary to ensure the long term survival of this species in Kenya. The sooner this target can be achieved, the greater the reduction in loss of overall genetic diversity.

If the desired population growth of 5% per year is achieved and maintained, Kenya could reach this goal of 2,000 rhinos in 20 years. The main limiting factor is providing the space needed for this population growth.

… but space is needed to maintain the desired population growth.

 

Loisaba has recently sent an application to KWS requesting permission to become a Rhino Sanctuary.

Black rhinos were last seen on the property in the early 70’s, and it is an aim to make Loisaba a permanent home for rhinos again. Laikipia is already a stronghold for the eastern black rhino, with proven success in the similar environments to Loisaba such as Ol Jogi, Ol Pejeta and Lewa, which are prime black rhino habitat. The national black rhino action plan recognises the need to identify areas for population expansion to achieve the vision of attaining a metapopulation of 2,000 rhinos. Establishing a new rhino sanctuary in Loisaba conservancy will help achieve this vision, and contribute meaningfully to the Biological Management of the black rhino (D.b. michaeli) as Kenya strives to achieve the goal of a minimum population of 830 black rhinos by the end of 2021.

The reintroduction of rhinos to Loisaba not only provides habitat in order to maintain a population growth rate, but also creates an opportunity to widen the gene pool by creating a new breeding population with individuals from several different sanctuaries that have successfully reached carrying capacity.

In order to be ‘rhino ready’, we are aiming to raise funding for the extra costs associated with providing infrastructure and monitoring for rhinos. If you would like to hear more about our plan or find out how you can help us bring rhinos home to Loisaba, please contact Hannah on [email protected] or visit www.loisaba.com/donate.