Collaring of Grevy Zebras

Grevy Zebras are the most threatened of the three species of zebra. Of the other two species, the plains zebras are common in most game reserves in Africa, while the mountain zebra (Cape and Hartmann’s) occur in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa and in south-western Angola and western Namibia respectively. According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) fewer than 3,000 Grevy individuals remain globally making their conservation crucial. Historically, the species inhabited the semi-arid scrublands and plains of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya. However, due to rapid declines in their population, they are now confined to southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya.

Collars, which incorporate GPS and other tracking technologies monitor the movement patterns of the zebras. By tracking their movements, conservationists can identify potential conflicts and implement measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on the zebras in their natural behaviour or habitat. In order to strike a balance between conservation and development, this exercise seeks to demonstrate that infrastructure projects like LAPSSET can coexist with the protection of endangered species and their habitats. Understanding how the zebras interact with these developments will help inform conservation strategies and ensure that their needs are considered in the planning and execution of such projects.

KWS Director General Dr Erustus Kanga has received donations from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) worth over 38 million shillings to aid rangers in operations to protect wildlife. The equipment will be a big morale booster to rangers, translating to enhanced protection of wildlife.

The equipment includes, amongst other things sleeping bags, bed rolls, raincoats, cape ponchos, mosquito nets, day sacks, mole bags, camelbacks, mess tins, tactical torches and binoculars. Some of the donated equipment will go to rangers in Ol Jogi and Ol Pejeta private Conservancies. The donations are part of Rangers Technology, Tools and Training to Counter Wildlife Trafficking in Kenya project that was conceptualised in 2021 by WWF, and is envisioned to be completed by December this year. The project aims to strengthen Kenya’s domestic anti-poaching ranger force, that brings together KWS and private conservancies, to be better trained and equipped with modern night vision thermal technology to successfully protect Kenya’s wildlife and enforce wildlife trafficking laws.

The areas covered in the exercise include Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserves, Lojuk and Baragoi, which are critical habitats for Grevy’s Zebras. This collaborative effort exemplifies the importance of balancing development and conservation efforts to protect endangered species and their ecosystems while pursuing economic growth and regional integration in Kenya.

Tuesday, 24th October, marked a special day as the #airkenyateam, guided by Maryanne Ng’anga, Reservations Manager, brought essential supplies to Emarti Primary School students in Maasai Mara, supporting them as they prepared for their final exams.

Twice as Nice in 2023: In addition to wining the World Travel Award for Best Domestic Safari Carrier, AirKenya shined again to win, Receiving the Ecowarrior Award for Best Air Safari Operator in Promoting Best Practices in Operations innovative partnerships for a greener future

Regional Air team came together for a#WorldCleanUp Day! On September 16th, our team and their families transformed cleanup into a day of joy and unity, showing that caring for our planet can be a fun family affair.

Cheerful Smiles Light Up the Tanzania National Swimming Open Championship held at ISTMasaki! As proud sponsors we joined the kids as they competed and happily donated tickets to Zanzibar.