CONNECTING KENYAN LANDSCAPES FOR RHINOS
Kenya’s rhino conservation is rightly hailed as one of the world’s most remarkable success stories. Thanks to decades of dedication from rangers, wildlife authorities, and conservationists, rhino numbers - especially the critically endangered black rhino - are steadily rising. But this success brings a new challenge: space. Many sanctuaries are now at or bursting beyond capacity, placing stress on habitats and limiting future growth.
To tackle this, the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) was conceived. Spearheaded by the Association of Private & Community Land Rhino Sanctuaries (APLRS) in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), this ambitious, multi-stakeholder initiative aims to secure enough habitat to double Kenya’s black rhino population - as set out in the Recovery and Action Plan for the Black Rhino in Kenya (2022–2026)
The first landscape targeted is the vast Tsavo Conservation Area, home to an estimated 8,000 black rhinos in 1970 - declining to fewer than 30 by the early 1980s due to poaching, habitat loss, and environmental degradation. Despite this collapse, the region’s ecological strength remains, offering an excellent foundation for recovery.
KRRE’s approach centers on expanding the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West National Park. Originally fenced at about 90 km² (22,000 acres), Ngulia is already over capacity - currently holding around 120–134 rhinos, exceeding its optimum carrying threshold (~45 rhinos). The KRRE plans to extend protection across the full Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), a roughly 3,000 km² (740,000‑acre) area. With proper enhancement, this space could support over 1,500 rhinos, re-establishing Tsavo as one of Africa’s premier rhino strongholds.
WildLandscapes International was proud to help launch the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) initiative by funding its early planning and groundwork. Today, the project is backed by strong support from the Kenyan government and a growing network of partners.
Our focus has since shifted to supporting the wider Tsavo ecosystem, primarily through Tsavo Trust - a respected local conservation organisation that has been active in the landscape since 2012. With a proven track record of protecting wildlife and managing natural resources, Tsavo Trust is a deeply trusted partner, and one we are proud to stand behind. Their leadership will be essential in ensuring the long-term care and protection of rhinos once they are reintroduced to the region.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is the national authority responsible for conserving Kenya’s wildlife and protected areas. Established in 1989, it manages over 40 national parks and reserves, oversees ecological monitoring, and addresses human–wildlife conflict. KWS works with communities, private landowners, and NGOs to protect biodiversity and maintain essential corridors across Kenya.
Tsavo Trust is a field-based Kenyan conservation organisation established in 2012 to protect wildlife and habitat across the vast Tsavo Conservation Area. Working closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service, it combines aerial patrols, anti-poaching teams, and community-based conservancies to safeguard elephants and wild rhinos, while supporting local livelihoods at the ecosystem's edge.