KWS translocates 10 southern white rhinos to Loisaba Conservancy

The Kenya Wildlife Service has successfully translocated 10 southern white rhinos to Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia County.

The exercise, conducted in collaboration with Loisaba Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and with support from Sharjah Safari, marks a milestone in Kenya’s conservation journey.

It reinforces Loisaba’s role as a protected area contributing to the National Rhino Conservation and Management Action Plan.

The rhinos were moved from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Meru National Park, two critical strongholds, under the oversight of KWS during a 10-day operation.

The process involved advanced capture and translocation techniques to ensure safety and efficiency.

“The process entails usage of an immobilization protocol that facilitates walking the rhino into the transportation crate. This way, the veterinarian gets ample time to monitor the animals’ vital parameters during loading,” explained Dr. Isaac Lekolool, Head of Veterinary and Capture Services at KWS.

Loisaba Conservancy now becomes one of the few sanctuaries in Kenya hosting both black and white rhinos.

“This translocation aligns with Kenya’s national vision to manage rhino populations across secure, well-protected landscapes. We are proud to work with partners to support species recovery and strategic population management,” said Prof. Erustus Kanga, Director General of KWS.

Although southern white rhinos are not native to Kenya, the country plays a crucial role in conserving and recovering their population, which ranks third globally after South Africa and Namibia.

The majority (98.8 per cent) of the southern white rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.

Southern white rhinos were thought to be extinct in the late 19th century, but in 1895 a small population of fewer than 100 individuals was discovered in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

After more than a century of protection and management, they are now classified as Near Threatened and around 18,000 animals exist in protected areas and private game reserves.