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Strengthening Conservation Efforts: Rhino Ark & Kenya Pipeline Company’s Partnership to Protect Mt. Kenya’s Biodiversity

Human-wildlife conflict remains one of the most pressing challenges to the conservation of Mt. Kenya’s unique ecosystem. These conflicts, predominantly caused by elephants but also involving species like buffalos, porcupines, giant forest hogs, and baboons, have devastating effects on the lives of forest-adjacent communities. Farmers bear the brunt of these challenges, with their crops often destroyed, resulting in significant economic losses. Unfortunately, the damage caused by wildlife has occasionally led to tragic encounters, including human fatalities, heightening tensions between people and the wildlife they live alongside.

For many farmers, the forest and its wildlife are perceived as direct threats to their livelihoods, creating a barrier to engaging them in conservation efforts. In extreme cases, such tensions have even resulted in the retaliatory killing of wildlife, particularly elephants. In the Imenti Forest, where elephant populations are particularly concentrated, the conflicts led to the tragic loss of 11 community members and the killing of 11 elephants over a span of just two years.

The Role of Electric Fences in Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict

In response to these growing tensions, Rhino Ark, alongside dedicated partners, constructed a 53 km electric fence around the Imenti Forest from 2016 to 2018. This initiative successfully mitigated the human-wildlife conflicts, and since the completion of the fence, there have been no reported casualties. The fence has become a crucial tool in fostering coexistence between communities and wildlife, allowing farmers to regain confidence in their safety and livelihoods.

However, despite these achievements, several hotspot areas on the south-western slopes of Mt. Kenya remain without comprehensive electric fencing, leaving communities vulnerable to recurring conflicts. Recognizing the critical need for protection in these areas, Rhino Ark embarked on an ambitious project to extend the protective electric fence, with a focus on the Naro Moru region. Here, forest-adjacent communities continue to face significant challenges from wildlife intrusions.

A Powerful Partnership: Rhino Ark and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC)

At the heart of these efforts is Rhino Ark’s invaluable partnership with Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Together, they are spearheading the construction and rehabilitation of the electric fence in the Naro Moru Forest, a critical area that has long suffered from human-wildlife conflict. This collaboration is central to Rhino Ark’s mission of creating lasting solutions to conservation challenges, and KPC’s unwavering support is making a significant impact.

The partnership between Rhino Ark and KPC goes beyond merely constructing the electric fence—it represents a shared commitment to preserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable coexistence between wildlife and local communities. This joint effort has enabled a robust conservation framework that not only safeguards livelihoods but also protects the wildlife that is integral to Mt. Kenya’s ecosystem.

Naro Moru Fence Construction Progress:

  • March 2022: First 10 km completed
  • June 2022: 20 km completed
  • September 2022: 27 km completed
  • March 2023: 43 km completed
  • December 2023: 61.7 km completed

In addition to the initial construction milestones, between December 2023 and June 2024, Rhino Ark and KPC rehabilitated 28 km of the electric fence between Gikumbo, Chehe, and Kangaita. This rehabilitation was vital, as the construction at Naro Moru was temporarily halted, awaiting the hiring of new fence attendants by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). During this period, essential maintenance work was carried out, including:

  • Clearing vegetation in the fence buffer
  • Reconstructing corner assemblies
  • Replacing rotten wooden line posts and insulators
  • Building solar panel stands at Gikumbo guard post
  • Installing new energizers, solar panels, charge controllers, and solar batteries at both Gikumbo and Kangaita guard posts
  • Fitting 22 new earth pegs
  • Straining loose strands and installing danglers at open gate sections

This comprehensive rehabilitation was crucial to ensure the electric fence remained effective in keeping wildlife at bay, protecting both the communities and the wildlife.

A Shared Commitment to Conservation

The ongoing partnership between Rhino Ark and KPC demonstrates how effective collaboration can drive meaningful change in conservation. By combining resources, expertise, and passion for wildlife protection, both organizations are helping to create a future where humans and wildlife can coexist in harmony.

The Naro Moru electric fence is just one example of what can be achieved when businesses like KPC invest in preserving Kenya’s rich biodiversity. With every kilometre of fence constructed and rehabilitated, we take another step toward securing a more sustainable future for Mt. Kenya’s ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

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