ifaw and USAID hand over vehicles to rangers in Kenya’s Lumo Conservancy

In the past, understaffing and the restricted range of foot patrols has limited the ability of rangers in Kenya’s vast Lumo Conservancy to respond to real-time threats. Addressing this challenge as part of the Sustainable Management of Amboseli and Tsavo Landscapes Project, IFAW and lead implementing partner USAID handed over 21 motorbikes and 5 vehicles to Lumo Conservancy on 16 December 2022.

Lumo Conservancy, part the Tsavo region, falls under IFAW’s visionary Room to Roam initiative. Giving rangers the ability to move faster around the area can help reduce and prevent poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

IFAW President & CEO Azzedine Downes and board members of the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA) were present at the handover ceremony. Downes spoke about the area’s key role in Room to Roam and how it’s crucial to secure the area in every sense so that loss of species can be avoided by quickly addressing threats.

The community in Lumo listen keenly as community leader and conservationist from Greater Amboseli Ecosystem, Daniel Leturesh, gives a speech during the handover.

Flanked by IFAW CEO & President Azzedine Downes and Governor of Taita Taveta, Hon Andrew Mwadime, Principal Secretary of State Department for Wildlife Ms. Sylvia Museiya inspects the motorbikes and vehicles before the official handover at Lumo Conservancy.