By January 2006 sufficient funds were raised to complete 255 kms of the total distance of the proposed fence (340kms). We are now halfway through the year and have successfully completed 285 km of the fence with about 55 km to go.

The Targets
The Project Completion Target date is 2007 subject to sufficient funding.

A further 70/90 kms of fence will be required to encircle the western and southern boundaries of the park. The target date for its completion is the year 2007.

Fence Maintenance Target Requirements
The fence will require a high level of maintenance to include:

• A team of trained game rangers to monitor the wildlife inside the fence.
• Locally engaged maintenance gangs to keep the fence clear of vegetation and repair any flood damage.
• Personnel to man the entry gates.
• A fleet of patrol vehicles.
• A radio communication network.
• Solar, and electric power for the electrification of the fence.
  

FUND RAISING

Total Fundraising Targets by 2006 as of March 2005
To complete the fence: Kshs. 100 million (USD 1.3 million)
To maintain the fence: Kshs. 200 million (USD 2.5 million)

Since its 1988 inception Rhino Ark has now raised over Ksh245 million (US $3 million).
"The fund raising effort escalates with every passing year and although most of the money is donated by individual Kenyans, increasing numbers of overseas visitors and friends of Kenya are now supporting the scheme," says Colin Church, Management Committee Chairman

Rhino Chargers astonishing fund raise energy for the 2003 Charge has kick started the Maintenance Fund with KShs 5 million. The Trustees have confirmed this sum represents 20% of net proceeds from the 2003/04 Charge. The funds set aside to date - 20% of each annual Rhino Charge fund raise - is being invested in capital equipment: radios, vehicles, IT equipment and running costs of maintenance vehicles. It is not as yet being factored into human resource training and payroll.

Utilisation of part of this amount started with two new initiatives:

• Purchase of capital equipment to support KWS’s current maintenance program.
• A direct overseas fund raise for the Maintenance Endowment fund, in addition to fence construction.

Capital items now purchased include:

A Maruti Suzuki pick up for KWS’s newly appointed Aberdare Fence Warden, James Githui; and a computer with ancillary communications equipment for the newly started Fence Maintenance office now established at the Aberdare Park Headquarters in Mweiga. James Githui who was KWS point man in the successful Gatamayu/Karimenu community initiative will supervise all sections of completed fence, a distance of 90/120 kms, with the 40 strong fence attendant contingent now maintaining it.

Mr Githui will give special attention to all communities along the fence line, so that strong relationships are developed at village level. Communities vary in their attitudes to the fence with some areas requiring very low levels of maintenance and others where abuse levels are higher. He will interact with Forest Department officials and foresters on all sections to build effective management protocols at approved entry points in forestry areas.

All the items on this list are needed by Rhino Ark to complete and maintain the fence, and to continue to protect the wildlife within the Aberdare Conservation Area. It is Rhino Ark's policy that administration costs are maintained at 11% of the gross audit accounts, see Accounts page.

Monetary donations are always VERY welcome, and are the quickest way to make sure your donation is working to conserve the Aberdares.

If you would rather sponsor a vehicle's running costs for a year, equipment for a Rhino Surveillance unit, a GPS unit, or a metre of fence, whatever it may be, it will all be gratefully received.

Rhino Ark prides itself on keeping administration costs to a minimum, and any donations will go towards conservation of the Aberdares.