Some 25 endangered Grevy’s zebras were translocated from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to Sera Wildlife Community Conservancy in northern Kenya, to boost biodiversity in East Africa’s first and only community-run black rhino sanctuary.
“The move highlights the importance of conserving key Grevy’s populations like Lewa’s so that they continue acting as source populations for introducing these animals in new areas or supplementing and invigorating existing small populations genetically,” said David Kimiti, head of Research and Monitoring at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Sera Rhino Sanctuary, within the Sera Community Wildlife Conservancy, already hosts 19 Grevy’s zebras.
“The long-term survival of Grevy’s zebra will hinge on not only stabilising population declines, but on promoting population growth in northern Kenya, which is their stronghold,” said Ruben Lendira, Sera Community Conservancy manager.
The move was a partnership between Sera Community Conservancy, the Northern Rangelands Trust, the Kenya Wildlife Service, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, USAid, The Nature Conservancy and Danida.
