rhino protection

There are seven known critically-endangered Eastern black rhinoceros in Big Life’s area of operation. They spend most of their time in the densely-forested Chyulu Hills National Park, protected by dedicated Big Life rangers and the Kenya Wildlife Service.

In addition to monitoring and protecting the resident rhinos, Big Life has been working to improve infrastructure in the rhino area, the goal of which is to maintain Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) status, which will allow for the future inbound translocation of rhinos from other territories. IPZ status is awarded by the Kenyan government for demonstrating that the area and the rhino population can be effectively protected. The infrastructure involved includes roads, fencing, and consistent water supply.

All anti-poaching and monitoring efforts are conducted in close collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service. Specially-trained Big Life rangers use traditional tracking methods, camera traps, and live sightings to maintain an accurate record of all living rhinos in the rhino area, and raise red flags if a certain period of time elapses between recording specific individuals.

7 Rhinos
59 Rhino Protection Rangers
10 Dedicated Rhino Outposts
10 Dedicated Rhino Units
43 Camera Traps
3 Water Points

 

RELATED ARTICLES

190215 Changing the game watermarked
February 15, 2019

BIG LIFE’S NEW DIGITAL CHESS BOARD

Protecting wildlife in Africa is not a game. It’s a serious endeavor with high and dangerous stakes. But to be strategic in defeating trafficking, poaching, and other wildlife crimes, it’s a bit like a chess game, and… Read More
Protecting a Prehistoric Tank
September 22, 2017

PROTECTING A PREHISTORIC TANK

It’s been two years and 3 days since we lost Bahati, the young rhino that died after an epic effort to save his life after he was trapped in a snare. It was a terrible moment, but one that motivated us further in our… Read More
170228 1 1 New Ride for the Rhinos
February 28, 2017

NEW RIDE FOR THE RHINOS

New statistics out of South Africa this week on rhino mortality paint a grim picture. While numbers have dropped from previous years, an average of three rhinos are still killed for their horns each day. And while South… Read More
160921 1 1 Not Another Dodo
September 21, 2016

NOT ANOTHER DODO

It’s happened time and again throughout history; humans have either consumed a species into extinction or stood by and let it happen. But this time it’s different, or we hope it will be. The world is well aware of the… Read More

Jul 27, 2016 -

Jun 30, 2016 -

Oct 13, 2015 -

Sep 19, 2015 -

Sep 18, 2015 -

Sep 17, 2015 -

Sep 16, 2015 -

Mar 14, 2015 -

Sep 9, 2014 -

Mar 12, 2014 -

Jul 2, 2013 -

Apr 23, 2013 -

Mar 12, 2013 -

Sep 25, 2012 -