The population of giraffes across Africa is down to around 110,000. It was about 160,000 as recently as 1985. The Masai giraffe found in East Africa in particular has struggled. It was listed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN Red List in 2019, which came as a result of the more than 50% decline over the last three decades, from approximately 71,000 to 35,000.

The numbers are sobering, but most animal populations in Big Life’s area of operation across Greater Amboseli, including elephants, lions and cheetahs, are either stable or increasing, a stark contrast to the dramatic decline in wildlife across much of the rest of Africa. In fact, the local giraffe population has roughly doubled in ten years of Big Life’s work and is now close to 7,000 giraffes. That means that the 1.6 million acres of the Greater Amboseli ecosystem protected by Big Life rangers is actually home to more than 5% of the entire African population.

There is no shortage of threats – ranging from habitat loss (land conversion to agriculture and cutting of trees for charcoal) to poaching (giraffes are highly desired in the bushmeat trade) but thanks to the efforts of Big Life and our ecosystem partners, Amboseli has become one of the strongholds of this species (or sub-species).

It is likely that the continent-wide decline of all giraffe populations will continue, as suitable habitat is consumed by Africa’s fast growing human population. As this happens, healthy giraffe populations such as that of Amboseli become the buffer against extinction, making our work more important with each passing day.

Such work needs your help, and you can make a difference today by making a donation or by joining the Ranger Club with a recurring, monthly gift. Thank you all for your support.

Dear All, 

I’m delighted to present to you today the first of several new films about the work that Big Life does, and the challenges we face. 

As most of you now know, the biggest threat to Amboseli is the rapid land subdivision taking place, fragmenting the ecosystem into thousands of privately-owned small plots, opening it up to rapid destructive development such as mass-scale commercial farming. 

However, at the same time, the 300+ rangers that Big Life employs are the beating heart of the ongoing protection of the animals in the ecosystem.

So it seems only fitting that in this instance, the first of these new films is about the Big Life rangers, and that I hand over this appeal to one of Big Life’s rangers, Daniel Kutata. 

After you have read the following from Daniel, please watch the 2-minute film, called WE ARE BIG LIFE.

If I may be so bold, I really think it is worth your time. And at the end of it, I hope you’ll feel inspired to support the Big Life rangers and donate.

Thanks, as ever, for your support.

Nick Brandt

I remember when there was a lot of poaching.

I was very young, and at night I would see the poachers with their lights, following giraffes and zebras. In the morning, when I went to herd my family’s cattle, I found dead animals. Sometimes body parts were missing, sometimes I’d just find a blood stain on the ground.

One day, I even saw them out in the bush, the poachers… There were six, carrying bags and arrows. My dog started following them, but I had to stop him. I was afraid of what they would do to me.

But then I saw people in uniform who were patrolling, and I learned that these people were protecting the animals; the wild animals that I love and are so important to me. I had found my passion. It became my dream to protect wildlife.

I am Daniel Kutata, and I am a Big Life ranger.

Being a ranger and working where I grew up makes me feel so special, because I’m protecting for the future. This is one of the only remaining places where animals can move freely.

But the animals need protection like never before: the pandemic brings major new threats, with people struggling to earn their living, and everybody looking for something that will pay. Wild animals are once again in danger of being poached. There are always people watching and waiting.

If Big Life stopped, everything would collapse. We rangers are the first to bring awareness of the positive aspects of wild animals in our communities. We are the first to teach our family members about wildlife.

Because of Big Life, communities have changed their minds about wildlife from negative to positive. Their sons and daughters are employed and earning a living. People praise what Big Life rangers are doing, and how quickly we respond to reports by the community.

In the middle of the night, someone might be sick and have no means of transportation. They call a nearby Big Life outpost, and the rangers take the person to the hospital. Or there might be crop raiding by elephants. Big Life is there to help. We do more than just protecting wildlife.

I have a son who is ten months old, and he is also the reason I do this. I want these animals to be there in the future for him. But if there are no people like us who are willing to protect and provide security, in the future, wild animals will just be a story from another time.

To the people out there supporting us, we need you like never before.

Thank you for making our work possible.

Daniel Kutata
Big Life Ranger

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Big Life Foundation’s Commanding Officer Francis Legei has been honored with a Disney Conservation Hero Award, one of only 20 award recipients globally. The award recognizes local citizens for their commitment to save wildlife, protect habitats, and inspire their communities to take part in conservation efforts.

Francis has been Big Life’s Commanding Officer since 2011. He is the leader of Big Life’s 300+ community rangers, and is in charge of security across the 1.6 million acres in our area of operation. He manages special security operations and acts as liaison with communities on issues within the ecosystem’s Group Ranches, especially regarding human-wildlife conflict. Francis has proven to be completely trustworthy, reliable, and a steadfast leader in East Africa. Big Life is incredibly proud of his unwavering commitment to protect wildlife and wild lands for the benefit of all.

Thank you to the Disney Conservation Fund for honoring Commanding Officer Francis Legei and building a global community inspired to work together to protect the magic of nature.  Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $100 million to support nonprofit organizations working with communities to save wildlife, inspire action and protect the planet, and has honored more than 200 Conservation Heroes for their extraordinary conservation efforts.

What endangered natural substance is as sought after and illegally trafficked as ivory or rhino horn?

HINT: It’s not from an animal. The answer is sandalwood, a word you are likely familiar with from using candles, incense, or essential oils. Although there are a number of beneficial uses of this special tree, including the obvious use as firewood, it also can be used for tea, medicinal and cultural purposes, and as a natural red dye. In its ecological niche, sandalwood is an incredibly important species for wildlife habitat during hot seasons.

Because of the high global demand for sandalwood and its many uses, combined with the fact that sandalwood grows rather slowly, it is increasingly as desirable on the black market as ivory.

Over the course of the past decade, Big Life rangers have curbed nearly all instances of wildlife poaching in our area of operation (AOO), but “poaching” a tree is a more challenging event to track or prevent.  Unlike the poaching of a rhino or elephant, illegally harvesting sandalwood involves significantly less risk to those involved, both physically and legally. But that doesn’t mean stopping illegal sandalwood harvesting isn’t as important.

The good news is that Big Life rangers are making progress in cracking down on it. Since April, they have made 12 arrests in 5 incidents and confiscated nearly 3,000 kgs of sandalwood.  That’s roughly equivalent to the weight of 25 newborn elephants. While this is an alarming amount of sandalwood to confiscate in our AOO, the busts that have been made were at the source, while harvesters were actively illegally taking sandalwood, as well as higher up the chain involving the buyers and brokers.

And while we will continue to work to prevent illegal harvesting at the source, and keep these trees alive in the first place, Big Life’s intelligence network has been highly successful at dismantling the larger supply chain.

Regardless of the species, we remain committed to protecting the wildlife and wild lands in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem for the benefit of all.