Upon arriving at our camp, you are likely to be welcomed by a limping adult male giraffe named Kiwete. Despite his apparent disability, he is a resilient survivor of the conflict between farmers and giraffes along the Tana River. Kiwete was once among the frequent farm invaders, from the Garissa Giraffe Sanctuary which intensified farm…
Read more
It is critically endangered and has been listed among 10-top focal species at risk of imminent extinction (IUCN, 2008, Isaac et al. 2007). The likely extinction of the world’s most endangered and refugee antelope species could be the first loss of an entire mammalian genus in modern times. Even though the governments of Kenya and…
Read more
In this post Jacob Goheen and Abdullahi Ali discuss their recent paper ‘Resource selection and landscape change reveal mechanisms suppressing population recovery for the world’s most endangered antelope‘. The arid climate of eastern Kenya is harsh and daunting to outsiders. In this part of Kenya, however, lie the only known haunts of the hirola, one…
Read more
Our guide to the world’s most endangered antelope – the hirola, including why they are sometimes known as four eyed antelopes, and why their populations have declined. What are hirolas? Hirolas are antelopes belonging to the family Bovidae (hoofed mammals) that includes buffalo, cattle, goats, and sheep among others. They are medium sized slender antelopes…
Read more
Arawale National Reserve (ANR) offered an important conservation area not only for the long-term recovery of the critically endangered hirola, but also for the conservation of other endangered species including the Grevy’s zebra, the Somali giraffe and the East African Wild Dog. Immediately after its short-lived operation, poaching increased considerably while wildlife populations in…
Read more
Africa is home to 22 species of sting-less bees, many of which favor Kenya for its climate and landscape. These tiny creatures are vital pollinators, helping to spread the grasslands which are so important for the Hirola, as well as elephants and other wild animals. Not only dobees play a crucial role in hcp’s…
Read more
We arrived in Dertu town at one of the completely dried water holes to find multiple carcasses of giraffes. Their skin scorched and appeared grey, lips cracked and body covered with skin liaisons. Dr. Ali and a team of scientists assess the carcasses and their initial diagnosis suggests Sarcoptes scabiei infestation which is an…
Read more
On Monday (September 3,2018), Kenya wildlife service’s rangers in conjunction with the Bura East conservancy scouts and Kenya forestry service, tracked two problem lions that had caused havoc in parts of the hirola’s range. This search came after it was reported that a male lion had attacked and injured a 19-year-old local male teenager who…
Read more
Underlying issues In Garissa County, the communities occupying areas along the river Tana have transformed from nomadic pastoralists to farmers. The farm owners use water from the river for irrigation. Emergence of farms along the river has led to the blocking of giraffe water points hence giraffes have to force their way to the river…
Read more
The month of March is considered as the women’s month in relation to the International Women’s Day on March 8, which seeks to commemorate and encourage the role of women around the world. As such, we shine a spotlight on one of our female rangers. To be a female conservation ranger on the front-lines of…
Read more