Enhancing Climate Resilience: People and Wildlife

In March you answered our call for help. Ol Pejeta was experiencing a severe water shortage after the ‘short rains’ failed and a prolonged dry spell ensued. Stretches of the Ewaso Ng'iro river had run dry, and our dams and several watering holes had dried up. The grassland was diminishing and we were concerned that if the dry conditions were to continue, it could have a catastrophic impact on our wildlife and surrounding communities. 

In addition, a drought to the north of the Conservancy was exacerbating the issue by driving wildlife south in search of food and water. Our wildlife monitoring teams recorded a sharp net-increase in wildlife entering the Conservancy, causing increased competition for resources and a dangerous rise in human-wildlife conflict.

All of this created a wealth of issues and put huge pressure on our teams and resources. You gave generously and helped raise $30,000 which made a tremendous difference: 

• Protecting people, livelihoods, and wildlife by deploying Stephen and our Problem Animal Control team immediately to address reports of human-wildlife conflict.
• Providing essential materials to our fencers to fix breakages to our 120km fence, caused by elephants seeking food and water. Preventing human-wildlife conflict is vital as conflicts of this nature can cause hostility towards wildlife and conservation.
• Keeping the world’s rarest rhinos – Najin and Fatu – healthy by providing hay, carrots, and nutritional pellets.
• Beginning supplemental feeding for Ariemet and Mojo (the potential surrogates for the northern white rhino recovery program) and Ouwan (the teaser bull).
• Keeping our Grevy’s zebra population fed by providing supplemental hay.

Water continues to be an issue. As you’re no doubt aware, April and May are usually our wettest months here in Laikipia, our ‘long rains’ season. However, whilst there has been some rainfall over the last few months this has not made a significant dent. As someone who cares and is a protector of Ol Pejeta’s wildlife and communities, we thought you’d want to know of the situation on the ground. The drought in Kenya continues. Our grassland is deteriorating further, the river is once again drying up and we are continuing to provide supplemental food to the northern white rhinos, southern white rhino surrogates and Grevy’s zebra. Samuel Mutisya (Head of Conservation) recently stated that “the impact of climate change is being felt now more than ever before”.

This year’s dry spell, and now drought, are not isolated events. With your support, Ol Pejeta is committed to responding quickly to these situations but also preparing for the unpredictable and extremes of weather that are the new norm. 

Whilst we are striving to make our water and energy supply more sustainable, your gift has enabled us to act fast for the good of our people and planet. 

You have supported Najin, Fatu, and so many more of our wildlife, teams and communities with your gift. We cannot thank you enough.