If Amboseli National Park is the heart of the Amboseli ecosystem, then Kimana Sanctuary is one of its lungs. Its swamps, streams and plentiful grass provide perennial relief for all of Amboseli’s wildlife.

We accomplished much in the 4^th quarter of 2024. From a successful Maasai Olympics to ranger operations, to community initiatives, I’m proud of what we’ve done for the ecosystem, all of which is outlined in this report. But I write today somewhat distracted by other news.

It’s been a full year since you heard our plea to help protect the Nairrabala corridor, which connects Amboseli National Park to habitat areas north of there. We were able to secure conservation leases with local landowners, protecting more than 35,000 acres of habitat. Since then, our rangers have worked to secure the area from threats, creating a safe space for migrating elephants and other animals.

One of the key motivating factors for protecting this area was to protect elephants like Paolo. Paolo was a super-tusker, of which there are very few remaining. He was a popular elephant, photographed by visitors to the park for several decades. He died last week. And while I’m deeply saddened that he’s gone, I’m encouraged that his passing was natural – presumably from a twisted gut, like Tim.

Before Big Life’s anti-poaching operations went into high gear, 15 years ago now, these elephants were targeted by ivory poachers. That we’ve been able to keep this area secure for elephants like Paolo to thrive into old age is remarkable.

Today, the biggest threat to Amboseli’s elephants isn’t poaching. We haven’t lost a single elephant to ivory poachers in our area of operation since early 2018. And we intend to keep that record. No, the biggest threat to this incredible population of elephants is habitat. Animals as big as elephants need SPACE – room to migrate, to breed, to eat and seek out water sources. They travel vast distances. But those areas are narrowing as development – roads, fences, farms, factories – increases.

We need your help to protect their migratory corridors and keep land open. Paolo’s legacy, and Tim’s, will live on through their elephant families, but also through your support of our work to secure their habitat. Thank you for making it possible. 

Richard Bonham
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman -
Big Life Foundation Kenya

SEE THE FULL 4TH QUARTERLY REPORT

Photo: James Lewin

It was a heartbreaking sight. A neat, ball of chainmail - no larger than a bicycle helmet - was unfurled, and presented to the policemen at Taveta Police Sation. At first glance, it looked like it might be sleeping, but sadly a combination of stress and suffocation led to the demise of this harmless creature.

It was a pangolin. Of the eight pangolin species across the globe, every single one is threatened with extinction. They are persecuted for the scales that cover their skin. Their scales are a remarkable adaptation, made of completely unremarkable keratin, the same as our fingernails. Tragically, their financial value for the perceived value of their scales places them all at risk.

Their scales protect them from natural predators, but not the unnatural ones. That’s where our rangers and intelligence agents enter the picture, and how these suspects were arrested. Embedded in every community in the Amboseli ecosystem, there is rarely anything that happens without us knowing. The two men that killed this pangolin were put behind bars and handed considerable fines.

In the last year, our intelligence networks helped arrest five suspects in three cases involving pangolins. Two for this dead pangolin, one for possession of pangolin scales, and two for possession of a live pangolin which was handed to KWS, treated, and then released in a secret location, far from human settlement.

Pangolins endure a silent crisis. Today on World Pangolin Day, we want to draw attention to their plight, as we continue to do our bit to ensure they do not go extinct. Thank you for your support of our efforts.

Paolo, one of Amboseli’s most impressive elephants, died last weekend.

These announcements are always bittersweet. ‘Super-tuskers’ like Paolo comprise just 0.02% of their entire species, so his loss feels significant. The good news is that Paolo died of natural causes, and not at the hands of humans. For an elephant with such enormous tusks, that’s a major accomplishment. But at just 46 years old, we’d hoped to have several more years with him.

Elephants have long lifespans. It will be 2070 before today’s children might see Paolo’s offspring reach their full potential. But that future may never happen if we do not act today in 2025. Right now, Amboseli, its elephants, and its wildlife, are at a crossroads. The threat against them isn’t poaching, but the sale and division of their habitat.

This crisis presents a once in a generation opportunity to safeguard Amboseli’s future. Big Life is working hard with local communities and organizations to achieve this, and Paolo inspired a lot of that initial work.

We first introduced you to Paolo last year, a critical part of his habitat called Nairrabala was under threat of development. Thanks to you, our supporters, we not only secured conservation leases for 38,000 acres there, but we also secured the neighboring 19,000-acre Marite Conservancy. These conservancies form the crucial link between Amboseli National Park and Eselengei to the north.

Paolo hails from one of the largest elephant families in Amboseli, so it is perhaps fitting that his legacy will be in helping birth these conservancies whose vast open areas will be home to many elephant families long into the future.⁠

There can and will be more like Paolo, but only if we continue to protect the rest of his kind and the open spaces they need to thrive.

📸: Joshua Clay