Key rhino sanctuary expanded in Kenya

July 2007. The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya has expanded to make more room for its black rhinos, thanks to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and its partners. The sanctuary, situated near Tsavo East National Park, was established in 1986 to prevent poachers from slaughtering black rhinos for their valuable horns. Today, Ngulia remains a stronghold for black rhinos, as well as a breeding ground to help bolster other rhino sanctuaries and wild populations. Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary expanded in June, increasing from 24 square miles to 35. AWF has been a major contributor to this project and has worked with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to oversee the success of the expansion.

The rhinos are using the expanded area. Rangers patrol the sanctuary and monitor the rhinos, providing protection around the clock.

The resident population of rhinos shares the sanctuary with a multitude of other wildlife species, including elephants. However there were too many elephants that were competing with the rhinos for the vegetation both species feed on, so the AWF helped the relocation of 255 elephants from Ngulia.

‘With the sanctuary expansion and the removal of over 250 elephants - offering more space, more forage and less competition - we shall see improved reproduction and survival of the rhinos,’ says Dr. Philip Muruthi, AWF's Director of Conservation Science. Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary will continue to be a key source population for the eastern black rhino. As rhinos continue to breed in the sanctuary and the population increases, they can be relocated to repopulate other sites and boost the national population which grew 5 percent in 2005.