Single Largest Rhino Translocation Undertaken in East Africa Starts on the 1st of February

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SINGLE LARGEST RHINO TRANSLOCATION UNDERTAKEN IN EAST AFRICA STARTS ON 1st of FEBRUARY

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya Wildlife Service and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Team Up

NAIROBI, Kenya, January 26, 2007 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- On the 1st of February the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy will commence the single biggest rhino translocation ever undertaken in East Africa. In total 34 black rhino will be translocated: 4 from Ol Jogi to Ol Pejeta, 4 from Solio to Ol Jogi and 26 from Solio to Ol Pejeta.

Solio Rhino Sanctuary is one of the most successful rhino sanctuaries in Kenya; with a population of over 80 black rhinos it carries the largest single black rhino population in East Africa. Initially stocked with 23 black rhinos in the early 1970s, Solio has so far bred more than 100 rhinos, many of which have been translocated to other sanctuaries within the country. Indeed most of the successful rhino sanctuaries in Kenya were initially established with a founder population from Solio.

Currently Solio has a surplus of over 30 black rhinos; these will be translocated to Ol Pejeta and Ol Jogi where recent expansion programmes have created the opportunity to further expand their existing populations. It is important to regularly remove rhinos from overstocked sanctuaries to maximize breeding rates and maintain adequate food resources.

The translocation will be run by two teams, each with a KWS vet and 10 capture staff. Each team will use an aircraft to help find the animals identified as candidates for translocation. Once immobilized, each rhino will be fitted with a radio transmitter embedded into the horn and then loaded into a custom built box for transport to either Ol Pejeta or Ol Jogi.

On reaching their destination the rhinos will be "free released" and left to establish a new home range, a process that will be intensively monitored from the outset, both from the air and on the ground.

When the translocation is complete the Ol Pejeta Conservancy will hold a breeding population of 79 black rhino; this will be the largest breeding population of black rhino in East Africa. The overall carrying capacity on Ol Pejeta is estimated at 120-130 individuals, achievable within the next 8-10 years.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy occupies approximately 360 square kilometers of African savannah within the Laikipia District of Kenya and incorporates the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary. Laikipia carries large and growing wildlife populations and is home to almost 50% of Kenya's black rhino population. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes and to generate income through wildlife tourism and complementary enterprise for reinvestment in conservation and community development.

Visit www.olpejetaconservancy.org.

CONTACT:
Melissa Duveen
Public Relations Manager
+254 / (0) 623-2408
pr@olpejetaconservancy.org

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