Nairobi , Kenya – In a landmark event, the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Prof. Erustus Kanga, attended the inaugural board meeting of the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) initiative in Nairobi. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador (Dr.) Monica Juma, Kenya’s National Security Advisor to the President, and honored by Meg Whitman, former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and current Chair of the KRRE Advisory Board.
As a founding board member, KWS reaffirmed its commitment to expanding black rhino habitats, with a particular focus on the Tsavo and Laikipia ecosystems. The KRRE initiative, also known as the Room to Roam Program, aims to address key challenges in rhino conservation, such as overcrowded sanctuaries, territorial conflicts, and limited ecological space resulting from Kenya’s successful rhino conservation efforts.
By creating new, secure habitats, the initiative seeks to promote sustainable population growth, enhance genetic diversity, and ensure the long-term survival of Kenya’s black rhinos. The KRRE’s goals align with Kenya’s National Recovery Action Plan for the Black Rhino (2022–2026), which aims for a meta-population of at least 2,000 eastern black rhinos in suitable habitats by 2037, with an interim target of 1,450 rhinos by Vision 2030.
The board meeting brought together a diverse group of conservation leaders and stakeholders, including Justin Heath, CEO of Ol Pejeta Conservancy; Craig Millar, COO of Big Life Foundation; Dickson ole Kaelo, CEO of the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA); and Dr. Patrick Omondi, CEO of the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI).
Beyond its ecological benefits, the KRRE initiative is expected to deliver significant socio-economic advantages, including:
- Enhanced conservation management and security
- Job creation for local communities
- Increased revenue for conservancies and surrounding businesses
- Contribution to national economic growth through conservation-led initiatives
This collaborative effort marks a crucial step in ensuring a thriving future for Kenya’s rhino population and reinforces the nation’s leadership in global wildlife conservation.
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