The Aberdares came to London recently when an audience of over 500 Fellows and members of the historic Royal Geographical Society heard details of the completion of a major project which now rings the entire Aberdare mountain range in Kenya.

As reported in the Guardian, one of the UK’s leading national newspapers, the Rhino Ark electric fence “has become a model for countries struggling to protect scarce water resources”.

In his hour-long lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, Colin Church, chairman of the Rhino Ark’s Management Committee, said that in the early days of the project “the motivation was to protect the black rhino. Then we all woke up to the fact that the farmers, who lived near the fence, were celebrating. The reality is that this forested mountain area was the lifeblood for millions of people. We realized that the whole ecosystem was at stake.

“Our thinking had to change. The Aberdares are now the most secure ecosystem in the whole of Kenya – and maybe Africa. Now all wildlife and precious fauna in the Aberdares are better able to flourish”.

The project has started to attract serious international interest and renowned travel writer Brian Jackman, in an article in the Sunday Telegraph, referred to the completion of “the massive task of ring-fencing” the Aberdares – as a major sign that Kenya was determined to combat poachers. A two-page feature on the Aberdares, published in the current edition of African Business, wrote about the close collaboration between the Rhino Ark and the Kenya Wildlife Service – for the building, management and future maintenance of the fence.

The strong historic connection between the Aberdares and UK was emphasised by the presence of Lord Aberdare at the Royal Geographical Society. In 1884, the Aberdares were named after his great, great grandfather – then President of the Society.