Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Isiolo, Kenya
The money AAZK raised with BFR was used to complete the Ngare Sergoi rhino sanctuary fence, fence in the Ngare Ndare Forest Preserve, purchase a plane and a Lorry (truck used to transport animals), fence off the two remaining boundaries and increase security. The old existing fence between the rhino sanctuary and the Ngare Ndare forest area was then removed. This created a 55,000 acre haven where everything from orchids to elephants could flourish. This allows the animals to migrate between the rhino sanctuary and the lush forest area - which is extremely important during times of drought. There are 145,000 acres under common wildlife policy but only 55,000 acres are enclosed by the fence with an area open at the north end to allow for the migration of elephant in and out of the sanctuary. Starting in 1994, BFR funds were used to help provide the operating costs of this successful rhino sanctuary. From 1990 through 2002, $1,442,912.48 has been sent to LWC.
The annual operating cost of the sanctuary is over $850,000 with 170 guards protecting the area. Anna Merz, AAZKs BFR funds, and private donations combine together to fund the operating costs. Operating costs include funding the security staff for the sanctuary and the wildlife, maintenance for the fence, vehicles and plane, and research staff to provide information such as carrying capacity determinations and fire burning regimes. By supplying operating costs, AAZK makes it easier for Lewa to solicit private donations to provide funding for special projects. Future plans include relocation of reticulated giraffe, common zebra, and other wildlife to restock depleted neighboring wildlife areas, and increasing the number of security patrols and vehicles. Fuzz Dyer, head of security for LWC since 1983 has moved back to his family ranch, Borona, which borders LWC. He plans to implement the same aims and principles of LWC at Borana, with the ultimate objective being to remove the fence between the two properties allowing for free movement of wildlife. If the plan works, it will create the largest conservation area made up of private and community owned land in Kenya and would create 300,000 acres for wildlife.
The population of black rhinos started with an initial translocation of 15 rhinos into the sanctuary in 1984 when it was only 5,000 acres. The sex ratio was biased towards males. Consequently, a number of the pioneer adult males were lost in the initial years due to fighting. To improve the sex ratio, 7 males have been moved to other sanctuaries. By 1994, when the sanctuary was expanded to 55,000 acres, 10 births had been recorded. 20 births were recorded between 1993 and April 2002. Peak calving occurred after the 1997 El Nino rains. One hand raised orphaned male was recently moved to the neighboring community conservation area of Il Ngwesi. There are now 32 black rhinos. The survival rate of calves has improved to 92% since 1998.
When Anna Merz first started the sanctuary in 1983, it was a struggle to find a single rhino to initially stock the sanctuary. By 1994, when the sanctuary was expanded to 55,000 acres, 10 births had been recorded. 20 births were recorded between 1993 and April 2002. During the spring of 2002, 4 black rhinos and 4 white rhinos were born bringing the total to 32 black and 33 white. 3 of these calves were born to females that were themselves born within Lewa. Lewa has begun to restock other locations to maximize the production of rhino from within Lewa. Lewa could not have become one of the most successful rhino sanctuaries in all of Kenya without the unending support of AAZK's Bowling For Rhinos.
For additional information see the Lewa website at www.lewa.org