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The Legacy Club

Interconnected Sanctuaries in Kenya:

A New School for Children and a New Home for Rhinos

A flat cutout shaped like a rhino hangs from a wire fence
"Flashers" “Flashers” shaped like rhinos will be hung on the sanctuary fence to alert other wildlife and avert run-ins. © Roshni Lodhia

Across much of northern Kenya, where The Nature Conservancy is working with partners to stitch together millions of acres of grassland habitat, schools are scarce. In communities fortunate enough to have schools, families often find the fees for supplies and teachers’ salaries to be prohibitive.

In parallel to this challenge, we are keenly aware of the need to increase support for conservation among people who share their communally owned lands with wildlife. It’s essential here for conservation to measurably improve people’s lives. 

Sometimes, the stars align quite naturally as seen in two building projects at Loisaba Conservancy, a 56,000-acre sanctuary that TNC donors secured to serve as a key piece of the habitat puzzle in this vast landscape.

One project is a new sanctuary for endangered black rhinos. The species was wiped out at Loisaba decades ago, yet there are other preserves in Kenya that are running out of room to house these highly territorial animals. Now, TNC is working with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to build a secure sanctuary at Loisaba and to relocate an estimated 20 individual animals to it next year, enough to begin a breeding population, from other preserves in Kenya that have reached maximum carrying capacity.

Meanwhile, a Loisaba-supported sanctuary of another sort is already flourishing nearby: the Amani School, which was funded in large part by TNC donors through a giving circle called the Africa Affinity Group for Women and Girls. The name, which means “peace” in Swahili, is apt because it brings together children from different communities, including Maasai, Samburu and Kikuyu, to advance harmonious co-existence. 

Previously, there was no school in this area. Now, nearly 200 students have access to life-changing education. To ensure that the school thrives, and to ease the financial strain on families, funding will continue to flow from Loisaba to cover school expenses. This service to the community will directly benefit from the new rhino sanctuary because rhinos draw more tourism revenue.

By layering in conservation education at the Amani School, we can ensure that the connection is made in the minds of local people, who are the ultimate stewards of wildlife. 

Lelaki's Story A father looks forward to the day when rhinos are returned to their traditional habitat near his home.
Students holding up their drawings of rhinos
Students at Amani School learn “The children thought that a kifaru (rhino in Swahili) was a big military tanker! They didn’t know it was a wild animal. When we asked them “have you seen a Kifaru?” They would say- “yes, we saw one pass by the other day!” They were referring to the tanker.”- Head Teacher, Beatrice Kesses © Roshni Lodhia

“The children thought that a “kifaru”, which means “rhino” in Swahili, was a big military tanker! They didn’t know it was a wild animal. When we asked them, ‘Have you seen a Kifaru?’ They would say, ‘Yes, we saw one pass by the other day!’ They were referring to the tanker.”

-Head Teacher, Beatrice Kesses

A student holding a rhino "flasher"
A student at Amani School A student at Amani School makes good use of one of the “flashers” that will be hung on the rhino sanctuary fence to alert other animals to the wire barrier and avert entanglem © Roshni Lodhia

A student at Amani School makes good use of one of the “flashers” that will be hung on the rhino sanctuary fence to alert other animals to the wire barrier and avert entanglements. With their large size and limited agility, rhinos are easily blocked by fences that leave enough space for other species to slip over, under or through. The flashers, which will be painted bright colors, are being manufactured by high school students in Nairobi using recycled materials. 

A ranger walking with his daughter
A ranger and his daughter Lelaki Lekulal is a ranger and walking guide at Loisaba Conservancy. Here he is at his boma with his youngest daugher, 7-year-old Naisula Lekulal (in yellow). Lelaki is looking forward to the day he can take Naisula to see a rhino at the conservancy. © Roshni Lodhia

Lelaki Lekulal is a ranger and walking guide at Loisaba Conservancy. Here he is at his boma with his youngest daughter, 7-year-old Naisula Lekulal (in yellow). 

A ranger walking with his daughter
Father and Daughter Lelaki Lekulal, a walking guide at Loisaba Conservancy, and his youngest daugher Naisula. © Roshni Lodhia

Lelaki is looking forward to the day he can take Naisula to see a rhino in the new TNC-supported sanctuary.