Here in Amboseli, it’s the peak of the dry season and literal fires are a very real and potentially lethal concern.

This week, more than 40 of our rangers worked around the clock to put out an enormous blaze

One of the most precious commodities in any walk of life is trust.

As the saying goes, it takes decades to build and seconds to destroy.

The Greater Amboseli ecosystem is vast. Despite the fact we coordinate almost 400 rangers, 15 vehicles, and 2 aircraft, it’s impossible to cover every blade of grass every day. However, we have something just as valuable as our vehicles, planes, and uniforms: trust.

We have earned this after decades of presence here in this ecosystem, from providing employment for hundreds of local people to helping thousands more. We do what we say we will, and that means something.

This quality helped us recently when our rangers were alerted to two separate poaching incidents on the same day. Both incidents shared grisly similarities: two giraffes had become entangled in snares set by poachers. Once immobilized, they were butchered.

Yet they also shared the fact that both poachers were seen by community members who quickly called Big Life, and in both cases our rangers arrived at the scene quickly to arrest the poachers, literally red-handed.

The photo of one of the crime scenes is hard to look at, but we believe it is important to share it. Because sadly, across much of Kenya, wildlife is still being targeted. We see an uptick in bushmeat pushing during dry seasons such as this, as resources become scarce. Giraffes are targeted due to their immense size. 

Keeping wildlife safe from poaching, and other threats to habitat, is an ongoing battle. These poachers will be held accountable for their crimes.

We have earned the trust of the people we work with, but now we need to help show the value of wildlife. Please consider donating to Big Life today to help keep Amboseli’s wildlife safe.

Giraffe 📸: Jeremy Goss

We are thrilled to welcome Holmes and Watson back from their training at the impressive Kuru ‘The Conservation Dog’ School in Arusha, Tanzania. They’re now actively integrating with our dog handlers based at Big Life’s Headquarters in Kenya.

Over the second quarter, Big Life’s ranger teams have responded to a noticeable uptick in bushmeat poaching incidents—an unfortunate reality during times of economic hardship. Our rangers, drawn from the very communities most affected, have been relentless in their patrols, arrests, and community outreach, all while navigating the complex dynamics that drive these offenses. Thanks to their vigilance, numerous illegal activities were intercepted, and the lives of countless wild animals spared.

At the same time, we’ve seen a promising trend: fewer crop raids by elephants, largely due to consistent and widespread rainfall last Spring. When water and food are readily available in the bush, conflict between people and wildlife decreases—a welcome reprieve for both. However, this doesn’t mean our work slows down, especially as the dry season sets in. If anything, it underscores the urgent need to secure and protect critical wildlife corridors and habitats, ensuring that as Amboseli’s wild inhabitants roam, they have the space they need to survive and thrive.

None of this would be possible without the steadfast support of our donors. You are the reason our boots stay on the ground, our vehicles stay moving, and our rangers stay watchful. Thank you for standing with us and with the communities who share their land with wildlife. Together, we are building a future where people and animals can flourish side by side.

Benson Leyian
Chief Executive Officer –
Big Life Foundation Kenya

SEE THE FULL 2ND QUARTERLY REPORT

Photo: Joshua Clay