Rhino Ark was formed in 1988 by the conservationist, Ken Kuhle, when poaching of rhino and elephant had reached its peak and the bordering farming communities were demoralised by the constant raiding of their land by animals. Its main aim was to build and maintain a protective electric fence to keep wildlife within fence, curb illegal log extraction and poaching of wildlife including the endangered rhino and mountain bongo antelope among others.

The fence offered a practical and effective solution to the dual challenge of protecting the wildlife and forests from destruction on one hand, and keeping the adjacent farmland safe from wildlife on the other.

In 1999, a comprehensive expert study of the fence was completed. This study, titled ‘Aberdares National Park and Aberdares Forest Reserves Wildlife Fence Placement Study and Recommendations’ by Dr. Thomas Butynski, confirmed the necessity of a physical barrier for the Aberdare Conservation Area (ACA) to prevent movement of wildlife out of the ACA therefore reducing human-wildlife conflict. This barrier was also supposed to protect the significantly important habitats, species and overall biodiversity that the ACA offers.

True, but it has been tailored to the particular circumstances that exist in the Aberdares region where rich forests border highly productive farmland and where wildlife and humans are competing for land. It is not a remedy for all areas.

The fence rises seven feet above ground and three feet below. It is electrified and wired down to three feet below ground (to deter burrowing wildlife) and the upright posts are hot wired to deter baboons and monkeys from scaling them.

The average cost is Kshs 1.5 million (US$20,000) per kilometre. Since 1988, Rhino Ark has raised over Ksh 750 million for fence construction.

Mainly by the annual world unique Rhino Charge where some cars raise as much as nine million shillings and more each year.

But we now have additional partners, The European Union's Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP), the Safaricom Foundation and many other corporate donors including Nation Media Group, Eden Wildlife Trust, Kenya Shell/BP, KenGen, Carbacid CO2, AFEW (Giraffe Centre) and AGGREKO.

There is a ground swell of public opinion amongst Kenyans who believe that their future depends upon keeping Kenya's Aberdare highland forests intact

There are two distinct phases:

(1) Construction

The construction phase of the fence was completed on 28 August 2009. It has taken 21 years to build the fence, which is nearly 400 km long.

(2) Long Term Maintenance

The project has now shifted into the long-term maintenance phase, which requires upkeep of the physical fence and the entire supporting infrastructure. There are various elements involved in this including:

• Construction of Guard posts also known as “energizer houses”, which house the solar equipment that powers the fence and also double up as accommodation for the fence scouts. One guard post covers between 10-20kms of fence, depending on the terrain. 12 guard posts are to be constructed under the maintenance programme with each costing approximately US$60,000

The recently completed guard post in Nandarasi. Aggreko donated Ksh 4 million
to the construction of this guard post as part of the fence maintenance process

• Clearing of the fence line - the fence scouts patrol the fence daily to clear vegetation overgrowth, fallen trees on the fence line and carry out any repairs as needed.
  

• Since 2006 – the Government has assisted in providing Ksh 110 million of fence materials
• Risk of injury or death from animal attacks eliminated
• General security improved
• 100% offtake of crops
• Improved land values- up to 300%
• Employment- fence scouts recruited from local communities
• Re-plant programmes of indigenous trees inside the fence
• Sustainable projects on farmland outside the fence, including tree nurseries for both indigenous and exotic soft woods
  

A team of trained fence attendants, called “Fence Scouts” patrol the fence daily to repair and maintain the fence so that it continues to reduce human/wildlife conflict and protect the forest, thereby receiving the continued backing of the communities who are adjacent to it.

We already have a Maintenance Fund which has raised over Kshs 50 Million as seed money and KWS has provided personnel for constant maintenance of the fence. However, we do need a policy that is able to withstand the huge anticipated pressures from illegal and greedy elements in the society who eye rhino horn, trees and bush meat for gain.

They are seen regularly at The Ark and Treetops game lodges in the Salient area of the National Park. However, the threat from poaching is real and tougher measures are needed to provide adequate security.

Support the Rhino Ark initiative. Details of all our new fund-raising activities are on this website as well as through our Bi-annual newsletter ARKive, which is also available for download on this site. Visitors to our offices, in Kenya, UK and USA are always welcome.

Yes, because the voices raised against illegal forest off-take and land grabbing are not only growing in numbers but also impacting strongly upon public opinion.

For more information, contact Rhino Ark,
P.O. Box 181Uhuru Gardens 00517
Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 (0) 20 -2136010 or 2136011
Mobiles: 254 (0) 733 632460 or +254 (0) 724 604233
Email: info@rhinoark.co.ke