Wildlife scientists are grappling with how to contain black rhinos as their populations have increased beyond ecological carrying capacity in some key sanctuaries.
Rhino sanctuaries must have intense security to curb the risk of poaching.
Such spaces should also allow rhinos to demonstrate their natural behaviours, including migration between territories and genetically diverse breeding.
The increasing populations of rhinos, especially the black ones, are now giving scientists sleepless nights.
In black rhino sanctuaries, territorial fights are becoming a big challenge.
In the wild, rhinos, especially black ones, are extremely territorial.
Males in particular will fight other males found in their territory, often inflicting injuries on each other. Fierce fights in some cases lead to death.
Due to changes in wildlife habitat dynamics over time, coupled with climate change-related factors, scientists are racing against time to review the ecological carrying capacity protocol.
A report covering all the rhino areas for the period ending December 31, 2022 shows that black and white rhino population was 1,890, comprising 966 black rhinos, 922 southern white rhinos and two northern white rhinos.
The report has been consolidated by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
It shows that Tsavo West National Park (Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary) has 134 black rhinos, while the Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity is 45, leaving an estimated surplus of 89.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy has 166 black rhinos, while the Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity is 90, leaving a surplus of 76.
Nairobi National Park has 98 black rhinos against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of 44, leaving a surplus of 54.
Lake Nakuru National Park has a population of 89 black rhinos against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity 50, leaving a surplus of 39.
Lewa (Borana Landscape) has a black rhino population of 133 against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of 92, leaving a surplus of 41.
Meru National Park has a black rhino population of 36 against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of 32, leaving a surplus of four.
Ruma National Park, however, has a population of 22 black rhinos against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of 62.
This means that Ruma needs 40 more rhinos.
Sera Community Conservancy has a population 21 against a Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of 40.
This means the conservancy needs 19 more rhinos.
I am glad to report that for the first time in 20 years, we have had less than 1 per cent rhino poaching in 2017-2021, and remarkably zero poaching in 2020
On September 22, KWS director general Dr Erustus Kanga said poaching had been brought down.
“I am glad to report that for the first time in 20 years, we have had less than 1 per cent rhino poaching in the entire period of the implementation of the 6th edition of Black rhino Action Plan (2017-2021), and remarkably zero poaching in 2020,” Kanga said.
Kanga however noted that territorial fights were increasing in some of the rhino sanctuaries.
The director general spoke at KWS headquarters during the unveiling of the 7th Edition of the recovery and action plan for the Black Rhinos in Kenya (2022-26).
Black rhino suffered a catastrophic decline across Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, both in numbers and in the extent of its range.
Numbers plummeted from an estimated 65,000 in 1970 to fewer than 2,500 by 1992 due to poaching.
The black rhino dropped in numbers in Kenya from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to under 400 animals by 1987.
The state needs billions of shillings to fully implement recovery and action plan.
The plan shows that Sh100 million is needed for appropriate security technologies and rhino and law-enforcement monitoring.
They include camera traps, thermal cameras, acoustic sensors, satellite-based transmitters, drones, Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), digital radio systems with command control rooms operating in real time and AI software.
Kenya black rhino population ranks third after South Africa and Namibia.
The plan shows that Sh25 million is needed to enhance the capacity within Wildlife Research and Training Institute-Kenya Wildlife Service forensic and genetics laboratory and undertaking Rhino DNA Indexing System compatible analyses to enhance prosecutions.
Some Sh83 million is required to fence priority rhino areas.
For example, 83km fencing is required to further secure Tsavo West IPZ to support the protection of rhinos in the next five years.
Sh1 million is needed to construct a kilometre of such fence.
For the implementation of annual rhino translocation plans, an estimated Sh50 million is needed to move 35 rhinos per year.
Some Sh100 million is needed to strengthening rhino capture and translocation capacity through the provision of crates, equipment, machinery and vehicles.
For rhino ear notching, Sh45 million is needed for 500 rhinos.
Ear notching ensures all animals can be reliably identified, minimising the number of rhinos in the critical sighting interval and ensuring 99 per cent of rhinos are confirmed.
The plan shows that Sh5 million is needed for biological monitoring and management, while a further Sh7.8 million is needed for undertaking ecological carrying capacity estimates of sanctuaries.
Some Sh110 million is needed for security and monitoring. This will include Sh50 million in the first year and Sh15 million for the next four years.
The money will be meant for the full effecting of Tsavo West Intensive Protection Zone with strengthened security and monitoring systems, establishing a key population of more than 100 rhinos in the zone by the end of the plan period.
To commission the constructed rhino sanctuary in Tsavo East and use it primarily as a holding site for rhinos to be released into the wider Tsavo East intensive protection zone also needs substantial money.
Freshwater provision in the sanctuary will be a key component of the project.
Some Sh35 million is needed for repairing infrastructure and harnessing fresh water from Galana River.
Authorities are not taking chances this time round following the deaths of scores of rhinos in the past due to poor planning and decision-making.
The development and implementation of Aberdare rhino recovery plan will also need money.
Some Sh4.5 million is needed to develop a recovery plan detailing threats and interventions.
The only montane forest black rhino population has declined to a few individuals.
Quantifying factors that have contributed to the decline and mitigating their impact and translocation of additional rhinos into the area will be required.
The plan shows that some Sh18 million is needed for feed, minerals and soil chemistry sampling and analysis in 12 rhino sites.
Sh2.5 million is needed for developing the guidelines.
Habitat utilisation and movement patterns of black rhino in relation to habitat quality are also crucial as the information obtained will guide translocations, zonation of protected areas and infrastructure development in rhino areas.
For this purpose, Sh5.25 million is needed for assessments in three key sites at Sh 1,750,000 per site.
The plan shows that Sh18 million is needed for undertaking disease surveillance in six sites, and procuring necessary laboratory equipment, consumables and protective gear.
The plan shows that Sh22,500,000 is needed to undertake social assessments in 15 rhino sites to enhance community involvement and engagement in rhino conservation.
Some Sh3.5 million is needed for developing material, printing and dissemination at a cost of Sh1.5 million in the first year, then Sh500,000 per year in the next four years.
Sh4.5 million is needed for convening technical teams for developing the strategy and implementing it.