Wildlife numbers increase in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Good news for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy! A recently concluded wildlife census indicates that wildlife numbers are still on the increase. Every year, the Ol Pejeta Wildlife and Ecological Monitoring Department conducts an aerial census to assess wildlife population trends. This is done from a low-flying aircraft moving at a constant speed and altitude. The 2008 census, conducted in April, shows continuing increases in numbers of most wildlife species found on the conservancy.

The census indicates an average annual increase of 15% in overall wildlife populations over the last three years. The elephant population for example, has risen from 159 to 296, while the giraffe population has increased from 132 to 172. Overall wildlife numbers have increased from 6,759 in 2005 to 10,167 in 2008.

“Several factors have contributed to these results; in general most species have benefited from a more conducive environment and increased habitat brought about by the expansion of the former Sweetwaters Game Reserve to create the current Ol Pejeta Conservancy in early 2007” says Nathan Gichohi, Ecological Monitoring Manager on Ol Pejeta.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is currently home to Kenya’s largest population of the endangered black rhino and is the closest place to Nairobi where it is still possible to view all of the “Big Five”.

In February, the first ever White Rhino Calf was born on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, bringing the number of white rhinos in the conservancy up to nine.

March also saw a new addition to the family of 42 who lave found peace and refuge at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary with the arrival of “Gashuhe” who was rescued from a business premises in Rwanda.

All profits from tourism are reinvested into further conservation activities within the Laikipia district and to support a Community Outreach Programme that works with our neighbours to implement development projects that create tangible social benefit.

If you would like to get involved in Ol Pejeta’s wildlife success, visit Olpejetaconservancy.org.

Thanks to its private status The Ol Pejeta Conservancy also allows such unforgettable pleasures as the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary (the only place in Kenya to see these highly endangered animals), visits to Morani, a tame black rhino, night game drives, guided bush walks and camel-trekking across game-teaming plains. For more information on Ol Pejeta and Sweetwaters - or any of Serena’s other properties in Africa, visit Serenahotels.com.