Lewa

@lewa_wildlife

@LewaWildlifeConservancy Visit our website: www.lewa.org

@lewa_wildlife

2019 2020

IMPACT REPORT

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2019-2020

BLACK RHINO

A 10% Black rhino population growth rate in the Lewa-Borana Landscape.

The landscape is now home to 214 Black and White rhinos.

CLEAN WATER 6,182 households gained access to improved clean water systems and received training in how to manage and maintain boreholes and water stations.

HEALTHCARE 49,327 people received basic healthcare services through Lewa-supported clinics and health outreach programmes.

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LEWA EDUCATION PROGRAMME 7,847 students received scholarships, school supplies, and mentoring through the Lewa Education Programme.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMME 4,065 Kenyan students visited Lewa to learn more about Kenya’s unique natural heritage and sustainable conservation practices through the Conservation Education Programme.

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MESSAGE FROM CEO Friends, For all of us here at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, 2020 began on a high note with a record number of rhino births and a successful fundraising event in Nairobi that strengthened relationships and garnered support from corporate industry leaders and government partners. We were prepared for a year of strong growth and impact in the landscape.

expanded, our programmes to help people weather the storm. We have only been able to celebrate these successes because of our loyal and dedicated network of supporters around eighbouring communities, participating in country-wide discussions about tourism protocols and supporting Kenya’s Ministry of Health on coronavirus education, prevention and response.

Nobody could have predicted what then happened in March, and we felt the impact of the global pandemic immediately. As the world began to witness the spread of coronavirus, it became clear that Lewa would not escape its devastating impact. Tourism screeched to a halt, schools were closed, thousands of workers in northern Kenya lost their livelihoods, and many feared that the threat of poaching would increase. I am extremely proud of the Lewa team for moving quickly to reduce costs whilst ensuring core programmes were not compromised. Detailed planning and careful stewardship of funds allowed Lewa to support partners and operate scaled-back programmes in security and anti-poaching, healthcare, women’s microfinance, sustainable agriculture and education.

2020 has undoubtedly been one of our toughest years ever. It is only with your support and camaraderie that we have provided the much-needed support and assistance that many of our neighbouring communities need at this time. For more than three decades, we have worked together to protect and secure vital wildlife habitat and used conservation as a platform to improve lives. We will continue to work hard to ensure these hard-won conservation gains that you helped achieve are not reversed.

For the first time since the event launched in 2000, we were forced to cancel the Lewa Safari Marathon that takes place every June.

In its place, a virtual marathon event was held with more than 1,500 participants from over 20 countries. Although we were unable to welcome you here to run the course, we felt your support and are grateful for your commitment.

In August, I am happy to report that we were able to bring back staff members who voluntarily went on unpaid leave in April. We have maintained, and in some cases 3

We look forward to welcoming you back to Lewa soon.

With gratitude, Mike Watson CEO, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

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MESSAGE FROM KENYA’S MINISTRY OF TOURISM & WILDLIFE As difficult as this year has been, the world is learning to adapt, innovate and survive in the face of challenges. For example, Lewa was forced to cancel the Lewa Safari Marathon.

However, we watched Lewa organise Kenya’s first virtual marathon, keeping the spirit of conservation alive.

As a government, we understand that it will take time for international travel and tourism to resume to prior levels and 2020 opened our eyes to domestic tourism opportunities.

We cannot overstate the extent to which local investment has saved the day.

We are committed to reopening the economy with caution and ensuring that travel is safe. These efforts have already paid off. In August 2020, Kenya was the first country to be awarded the Safer Tourism Resilience Seal, an honour bestowed by Rebuilding Travel, a global consortium of tourism boards, ministers of tourism, professional associations, industry stakeholders, researchers, academics and travellers. This recognition came shortly after Kenya received the “Safe Travel” stamp, awarded by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

We must all take all necessary proactive measures to safeguard against future pandemics, especially those attributed to illegal trade in wildlife.

As we adapt, Kenya’s wildlife remains a symbol of our heritage and a source of pride.

Now more than ever, we recognise the symbiosis between tourism and conservation. One of my goals is to help shift the paradigm so that individuals, communities, businesses and governments increasingly invest in the preservation of our natural resources.

We believe that even in the midst of ecological and health threats, Kenya has time and again proven resilient. We have remained Magical Kenya.

Hon. Najib Balala Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Government of Kenya

The Government has effectively stepping in as the first respondent to the crisis facing the wildlife sector by contributing Kenya Shillings 2 billion in support of the Ranger Force in all Community Conservancies as well as providing employment to 5500 Community Scouts to be recruited by KWS during this period of hard times.

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MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR OF MERU With Mount Kenya to the southeast and rangelands to the north, our region represents Kenya’s biodiversity and cultural heritage at its finest. As communities, we have been the custodians of the natural world for millennia. In fact, one of the roles of Meru County’s Tribal Council of Elders is to ensure the preservation of natural and sacred sites, including mountains, rivers, trees and wildlife. We, the people of Meru County, appreciate the value of a wildlife sanctuary in our backyard.

Private and public institutions, communities and individuals, local and central governments, forest and wildlife services, regional and international friends must all work together to protect our natural heritage.

The Meru County Government collaborates with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy because the Conservancy aligns with our ethos, which emphasizes models that encourage direct participation from communities, provide real value to individuals, foster communal pride and lay the groundwork for long-term change.

The fact that thousands of Kenyan students visit Lewa annually for conservation

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education fills me with hope that we are nurturing the next generation. The Meru County Government uses the word ‘green’ in our mission and it is an authentic statement, a commitment to sustain our indigenous flora and fauna, which can only be done through collaboration.

Hon. Kiraitu Murungi Meru County Governor

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MESSAGE FROM NORTHERN RANGELANDS TRUST Fifteen years ago, when the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) began, community conservation in Kenya was almost unheard of. Since then, the community conservation movement has grown steadily across Kenya. Today, there are over 160 conservancies in Kenya with 76 on community land. These conservancies are strengthening and indigenous governance structures, supporting local economic growth, and helping to protect threatened and vulnerable species.

We hope that our partnership continues to pass forward the spark that ignited the community conservation movement in northern Kenya.

Tom Lalampaa CEO, Northern Rangelands Trust

In recent years, the movement has received increasing support from all levels of the government, clearly indicating that the Government of Kenya believes strongly in sustainable investments in communities who are living alongside wildlife.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a key partner of NRT, originally its incubator, and now a valued member of our network. While NRT and Lewa have separate identities, the two organisations will always benefit from a close working relationship and the shared guiding philosophy that communities should be at the core of conservation.

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ABOUT LEWA

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CONSERVATION

71

SECURITY

98

39

COMMUNITIES

53

EDUCATION 11

GLOBAL COMMUNITY

87

TOURISM

CONTENTS 81

LEWA SAFARI MARATHON

115

LEADERSHIP

111

107

PARTNERS

113

FINANCIALS

GET INVOLVED

LIFELINE FOR LEWA

116

117

CONTACT US

THANK YOU 12

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ABOUT LEWA Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Lewa) is part of the UNESCO Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site, a Man & Biosphere Reserve and has been Green Listed by the IUCN for excellence in protected area management. Run by Kenyans for Kenyans, our aim is to serve as a catalyst for wildlife conservation and the improvement of community livelihoods. Founded in 1995 and recently expanded to include neighbouring Borana Conservancy, the Lewa-Borana Landscape (LBL) consists of 93,000 acres of secure and protected habitat for some of Africa’s most threatened species, including Black rhinos, reticulated giraffes, and the world’s largest single population of the Grevy’s zebra. Lewa is proof that conservation can be a strong positive force for economic development and poverty alleviation. Through locally-led wildlife protection and community development programmes, Lewa is a model for successful conservation in northern Kenya and beyond.

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Where We Work

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Mission The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy works as a catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. It does this through the protection and management of species, the initiation and support of community conservation and development programmes, and the education of neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife.

Vision Lewa envisions a future where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife.

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Lewa’s Model By ensuring that surrounding communities directly benefit from Lewa’s strategy through secure, healthy ecosystems and wildlife, and investment in community livelihoods, Lewa maintains high levels of trust and engagement with its neighbours.

Lewa receives new recognition from UNESCO In May, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme extended the Mount Kenya Biosphere Reserve to include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve, which neighbours the Conservancy. MAB's goal is to use science to convey the importance of the relationship between people and their environments. As a recognised biosphere reserve, Lewa is considered a learning place for culturally appropriate and environmentally friendly approaches to economic development.

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LOGISTICS THE ENGINE OF LEWA Interview with Adrian Paul, Head of Logistics, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Logistics is that it is divided into four sub-sections.

There is Works, Workshop, Fences and Stores – all of which are very much interlinked.

The Lewa Workshops is where anything to do with vehicles, generators and any machinery.

We service, maintain and overhaul all our own vehicles as well as the Northern Rangelands Trust vehicles and conservancy vehicles - there is up to 40 conservancies, and they all have at least one vehicle. We also do our own fabrication and our own welding. Most of the vehicles that we use come as pick-ups and we remodel them to our specifications.

Then there is the Lewa Works department and they look after all the infrastructure. All the buildings on the conservancy, we help build new ones and maintain the old ones which includes roofing thatching, water, electricity, grounds, gardens - all that falls under the works team. Through the infrastructure department, we are very much a part of the education and community programmes because we oversee all their infrastructure that goes on in the 24 Lewa supported schools. We oversee any buildings that they need be it classrooms, dining rooms, libraries or whatever is needed.

The Lewa Fence department is all about the boundary and the exclusion zones. Lewa is fenced with 100kms of fence and so it must be continually maintained. This means ensuring that we have enough power running through it, that it is constant and that it is up to standard.

Last but not least is the Lewa Stores. The stores are an integral part of what we do. Hardware and anything that is used on Lewa, comes through the stores and is issued then to certain department and stakeholders.

Logistics employs at up to about 100 people and when we are really busy and need extra hands on deck, we take on many casual workers to help support. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were employing anywhere from about 50 – 60 casuals a day.

Logistics is the unit that is not naturally at the forefront of people’s mind when they think about Lewa, but it is the engine room behind other departments such as wildlife, education and community. Leading from behind, we continue to support and work with our colleagues and other stakeholders towards a collection vision where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife .

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CONSERVATION Lewa protects and manages many of Africa’s most threatened species by matching research and cutting-edge technology with community engagement. This approach has led to a significant growth in wildlife populations, including Black rhino - Lewa’s flagship species. Lewa is now one of Africa’s most successful rhino sanctuaries. The conservancy also provides safe habitat for the Grevy’s zebra, elephant, lion and reticulated giraffe among others.

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ELEPHANT

RHINO

12%

The rhino population has increased by

increase in elephant population in Northern Kenya.

25%

in a four year period and now comprises 13% of all Kenyan rhino.

As a pioneering rhino sanctuary in Africa, Lewa’s Black and Southern White rhino populations are thriving. The rhino population has increased by 25% in a four year period and now comprises 13% of all Kenyan rhino.

We work closely with partners to expand protected habitat and establish new sanctuaries for the Critically Endangered Black rhino.

Lewa is home to more than 400 migratory elephants. Together with our partners, we monitor elephant numbers and poaching incidents, promote landscape connectivity, support human-elephant coexistence and reduce resource-based conflict. The elephant population across northern Kenya has increased by 12% over five years due to the promotion of human-elephant coexistence.

These interventions have been supported

by Lewa and partners, including Save The Elephants, Kenya Wildlife Service, Northern Rangelands Trust and several county governments in the region.

LIONS Lewa has recorded an

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89%

cub survival rate. One of the highest in Kenya.

Lewa’s research teams monitor large carnivores — lions, hyenas, leopards and cheetahs — and work together with our community neighbours to prevent human-wildlife conflict and maintain thriving ecosytems.

BIRDS The Lewa-Borana landscape hosts over

GREVY’S ZEBRA The Lewa-Borana Landscape is home to

11%

of the global population of Grevy’s Zebra.

Found almost exclusively in northern Kenya, this unique species of zebra is known for its striking, tall appearance, large ears and thin stripes. The Lewa-Borana Landscape is home to 11% of the global population of this endangered zebra, with dedicated efforts to promote an increase in the population. In fact, Lewa is one of the only landscapes in Kenya that has seen an increased Grevy’s foal survival rate in the last four years.

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bird species – a growing list as more species are spotted and updated.

The conservation team is keen on studying avi-fauna, a field that they admit is often neglected but is vital, especially since the health of an ecosystem can be determined by the increase or decline of birds.

Lewa has emerged as a favorable habitat; the swamps and marsh provide ground for cover, nesting and roosting for water birds, reducing predation and increasing chick survival.

In Oct. 2020, Lewa emerged as one of the top bird-watching havens in Kenya – coming 4th in the eBird Global Big Day, 24 hours in which birders identify species and report the listing into the online bird database, eBird.

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A Fragile Balancing Act As the world grapples with the devastating effects of COVID-19, it is abundantly clear that conservation and wildlife protection must be at the nexus of a new way of life. The world must redefine its co-existence with the natural world. With the pandemic restricting us to our homes and suspending air travel, the delicate balance between humans and nature is more apparent than ever before.

Global health depends on how we choose to exist with the natural world.

Population growth and urbanisation have become some of the biggest threats to conservation as people and wildlife compete for resources. For Lewa, human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in neighbouring agropastoral communities remains a challenge to wildlife and livelihoods. Extended dry

seasons intensify competition for water and grazing land and push wildlife to look for food in nearby community farmlands. This inevitably results in fence breakages, crop damage, loss of livestock and property.When elephants destroy crops or lions kill livestock, wildlife are often killed in retaliation or to prevent future conflict.

Lewa embraces technology and innovation as well as basic interventions to mitigate HWC. From collaring elephants and reinforcing fence lines to the construction of predator-proof livestock enclosures and the installation of beehives along fence lines. We work closely with communities surrounding the Conservancy to ensure that people and wildlife can benefit from conservation and co-exist in a shared habitat.

“These efforts not only protect elephants, lions, hyenas and other wildlife, but will also strengthen relationships with local communities and ensure that their livelihoods are not threatened by conservation efforts.”

- Geoffrey Chege, Lewa’s Head of Conservation

“I welcome the new fence and thank everybody for this work. We love conservation, we love Lewa and its supporters and with the fence our relationship will be even stronger. Our food crops will now be safe from the monkeys and baboons.”

- Mr. Kimathi, a farmer from Subuiga, a community located on the southeastern border of Lewa that recently received an upgrade to its fencing.

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Ensuring the Survival of an Endangered Zebra Species Lewa continues to be an important source for Grevy’s zebra to supplement existing populations elsewhere in the country. In May, 25 Grevy’s zebra were successfully translocated from Lewa to Sera Community Rhino Sanctuary — East Africa’s only community-run Black rhino sanctuary. This move was organised and facilitated by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT) and Lewa. The goal of this translocation was to diversify the Grevy’s zebra population and bolster the gene pool in Sera to help ensure the species’ survival.

Global Grevy’s zebra numbers have declined by at least 80% since the late 1970s.

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Clean Up Crew With seven species in Kenya, vultures contribute to the country’s diverse avian fauna. As scavengers, vultures often receive negative attention, yet they play a vital role in public health and maintaining healthy ecosystems. By scavenging animal carcasses before they rot, vultures help to limit the spread of bacteria and diseases such as rabies and anthrax, which can infect other wildlife, livestock and humans.

In recent years, Africa’s vulture population has been in rapid decline. One major threat is poisoning. To prevent predators such as lions and hyenas from attacking livestock, farmers leave out poisoned meat as bait, unintentionally killing the vultures attracted to it. Electricity transmission infrastructure is also a contributing factor. With large wingspans, vultures often get electrocuted by power lines.

As part of the wildlife and research department, avian researchers at Lewa do a lot to educate the public about its importance. Conservationists like Eunice Kamau, an avian researcher at Lewa, are educating the public about these important birds and their contribution to the ecosystem. Lewa works closely with other conservation and research organisations as well as neighbouring communities to advocate for poison-free alternatives to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Our researchers also contribute to public and private sector discussions to promote vulture-friendly energy infrastructure developments, such as routing of power lines. Through research, awareness campaigns and conservation education, Lewa is dedicated to ensuring the survival of these avian ‘public health officers’.

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Rhino Ear Notching In March, Lewa and Borana completed an ear-notching exercise on 17 rhinos with the KWS. Notching involves creating a unique pattern on a rhino’s ears. This intensive exercise requires an aerial team to immobilise the rhino and a ground team to conduct the procedure and administer an antidote for the rhino to regain consciousness. Ear notching is a necessary procedure that enables the easy identification of individual rhinos for monitoring, research and security patrols.

Dr. Eliud Kipchoge E.G.H ear notching a rhino for the first time on Lewa in April 2020. The rhino is named after his son, Gordon.

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Rhino Baby Announcement In the first half of 2020, Lewa and Borana welcomed three Black rhino calves, increasing the Black rhino population in the Landscape to 113 (and 101 white rhino). Black rhino have a gestation period of 16 months and 2.5 - 3 years between calves, making these arrivals all the more exciting.

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Using a variety of conservation management tools from the toolbox and the national action plan, both of which are based on strong scientific evidence, Lewa has been conducting a varied set of interventions over the last three years. The aim is to better manage its endangered prey species and lion population through collaring, translocation to mitigate human carnivore conflicts and reversible management techniques that allow spacing of cub litters. Lewa remains in a unique position to be on the cutting edge of conservation research and explore the safety and efficacy of these interventions.

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Studying Lion Behaviour Since 2003, Lewa’s researchers have been monitoring lions and their impact on the landscape’s prey base.

The team relies on sightings, footprints, reports of lion kills and tracking collars. This year, a lioness from a pride of nine known by researchers as Sarah was collared, allowing the predator monitoring team to easily locate her pride to study their behavioural patterns.

Collaring of the LBL’s resident prides remains a priority to deepen our understanding of lions’ movement patterns, pride composition, interactions between prides and breeding performance.

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Monitoring Hyenas Spotted hyenas are becoming extremely rare outside protected areas and little research has been done to understand their range. Lewa’s population of spotted hyena has increased to 134 over the last couple of years and using cameras mounted close to their dens, we are able to identify individuals and estimate their populations.

Our current data shows that our population continues to increase.

In the coming year, Lewa will be partnering with the Mara Hyena Project to gain deeper insight into their movement patterns and other trends that are crucial to understanding how we can better manage our growing populations.

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COMMUNITY Sharing the Benefits of Conservation with Our Neighbours

In the last year

* Healthcare * Micro-enterprise * Agriculture

* Water * Forestry

49,257

30,000 4,800 $

Our neighbours view conservation as a resource that provides sustenance, creates economic opportunities, offers healthcare and more.

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people accessed affordable healthcare through Lewa’s partner clinics and public health services

people accessed clean water

small-scale farmers improved food security through sustainable farming methods

1,800

women received micro-loans to support small businesses

Lewa works closely with local communities as critical partners in conservation.

Lewa operates at the crossroads of wildlife conservation and sustainable development.

Lewa addresses the basic needs of the communities in the surrounding areas by increasing access to clean water, healthcare, vocational training and educational support, benefitting approximately 100,000 people.

7,655

individuals were tested through comprehensive laboratory diagnostic services

2,920

children received immunizations and treatment

1,249

individuals provided with life-saving HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatment care

In the last year

12,938

beneficiaries were reached through mobile outreach campaigns*

*Mobile outreach has been on hold since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

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COVID Response Lewa is working closely with government health facilities and clinics to procure and distribute essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers, install community handwashing stations, and conduct public awareness campaigns about COVID-19.

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MOTHER2CHILD Clinic The Mother2Child Clinic offers pre and postnatal care to mothers from nearby communities.

Started over 20 years ago, the Mother2Child Clinic sees 50-60 patients every Wednesday. These mothers often travel long distances to receive the high-quality care that the clinic offers.

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Munanda Borehole To reach additional households, Lewa is extending water distribution lines and installing solar-powered pumps in a borehole in the nearby town of Munanda. The goal is to provide a cost-effective supply of clean water to its 9,600 residents by replacing over-abstraction from streams and springs with sustainable groundwater extraction from community-managed boreholes.

Climate Resilience Variations in rainfall due to climate change and greater demand for water resources continues to be a pressing issue for the Conservancy and surrounding communities.

Proper resource management is paramount to ensure that there is a sufficient water supply to sustainably meet wildlife and communities’ needs. Through a grant from the Bently Foundation, Lewa’s research team is conducting an assessment in collaboration with the Centre For Training and Integrated Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Development (CETRAD) to better understand regional water resources, identify risks, and proactively develop tools to address them. The project will cover the Ngare Ndare Forest, one of the area’s largest natural water sources that feeds into the Ewaso Nyiro River. The Ewaso is a critical lifeforce for the adjacent communities of Lewa , as well as the Northern Kenya conservancies. This project is one of the most urgently needed at Lewa as advanced planning to protect water resources directly impacts the future viability of the entire region. These activities will serve as the foundation for a strategy developed to protect water sources for future generations of people and wildlife.

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Increasing Access to Clean Water Mt. Kenya is one of two water towers that sustains northern Kenya, a semiarid landscape where both people and wildlife share critical water sources. With increasing population growth and rapid infrastructure development, access to clean water remains a challenge to many in rural areas. Lewa works with the Ministry of Water & Irrigation, local water-use associations and the communities themselves to identify solutions to water shortages. To date, Lewa has built and overseen 17 water projects, providing a reliable water source to approximately 30,000 people. This includes dams, water storage tanks and boreholes.

We also provide training in water harvesting, sustainable water use and the importance of protecting catchment areas.

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Community Forest Conservation And Agroforestry One of the greatest challenges that endangered species face is habitat loss driven by development of agricultural land and rapid human population growth. Lewa works closely with our neighbours to protect our ecosystem’s forest cover by supporting and strengthening Community Forest Associations to ensure that they remain community-driven institutions that sustainably manage forests. Lewa oversees six tree nurseries that produce approximately 6,000 seedlings per year. These young saplings are planted throughout the Conservancy or sold to small-scale farmers at a discounted price.

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Sustainable Agriculture Since 2012, Lewa has trained 4,800 farmers in improved crop production methods that has helped increase their agricultural yield. It has enabled them to adapt to climatic conditions and improve soil fertility, while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

The training that farmers have received throughout the years proved particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic as they skillfully balanced maintaining their farms while dealing with restricted access to markets and increased supply costs. With schools and transport routes cautiously reopening, local farming communities are optimistic that markets will soon be open for business, produce will return to pre-pandemic prices and household incomes will stabilise.

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Through the year, to augment school feeding, many Lewa-supported schools have established gardens of vegetable crops to teach sustainable farming techniques. This not only adds nutritional value to school meals but also improves student attendance and teaches skills that students can then use at home.

For conservation to be sustainable, young people need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to access gainful employment in the future, lift their families out of poverty, and make responsible choices as future leaders of their communities and stewards of the environment.

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Women’s Micro-Enterprise Programme (WME) More than 1,800 women have launched small businesses through the Women’s MicroEnterprise Programme (WME) since its inception.

With the support of the Women’s Microfinance Initiative and Kiva, Lewa offers micro-loans, skills training and a business networking platform.

These enterprises include retail shops, flour mills, hair salons, tailoring and livestock keeping.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Enterprises From the pandemic’s onset, COVID-19 created immediate challenges for Lewa as it threatened the lives and livelihoods of the communities that we support. In April, Lewa conducted a survey with women from the Micro-enterprise Programme to determine the pandemic’s true financial impact on the lives of women in the rural areas where we work. As a critical service, the programme supports women from the communities to secure micro loans to improve the lives of their families and realize their economic potential.

The survey was conducted two months after the country went into lockdown and indicated that on average week-on-week earning and household income fell by about 90%.

The programme, which had a 95% repayment success rate at the beginning of the year, indicated a repayment rate of 34% by the time of the survey – a clear confirmation that women were struggling to pay off their loans due to the harsh economic climate.

To cushion the women from further crisis, the programme has adjusted the payment structure to a more flexible and drawn out payment plan that allows the women to repay their loan at a time most suitable to them.

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EDUCATION TOTAL SCHOOLS SUPPORTED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT THIS YEAR

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WE BUILT NEW CLASSROOMS, DORMITORIES, LABORATORIES, BOREHOLES, TEACHERS’ HOUSES & KITCHENS. ALL SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL LEARNING FACILITIES

6,448

STUDENTS RECEIVED DIGITAL TRAINING.

328

DIGITAL DEVICES DISTRIBUTED ACROSS LEWA-SUPPORTED SCHOOLS

454

CHILDREN RECEIVED FULL SCHOLARSHIP

172

STUDENTS ENROLLED IN UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

326

ADULTS TAUGHT BASIC LITERACY & CONSERVATION

7,732

STUDENTS & TEACHERS REACHED ANNUALLY THROUGH CONSERVATION EDUCATION

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STAFF EMPLOYED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS

The Lewa Education Programme (LEP) supports local youth and adult learners in building the skills needed to pursue better economic opportunities while fostering a deep understanding of conservation. Lewa works closely with 23 government schools providing crucial support to 7,500 students that otherwise would not be available. Based on needs expressed by teachers, schools and community members, the LEP invests in teacher training, infrastructure development, scholarships, digital and adult literacy classes.

“Using conservation as a platform, we want to help in creating a society that has more opportunities, and relies less on finite natural resources. The potential for us to do this is huge.”

- Faith Riunga, Lewa’s Head of Education.

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Salma Lewa currently supports over 454 students by covering school fees, uniforms, transportation, school supplies and offering counseling and mentorship to youth. 16-year-old Salma is from Isiolo and attends Pangani Girls’ School in Nairobi thanks to support from the LEP. Her career goal is to become a chemical engineer.

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Halima Halima is from Manyangalo, a village located within the Conservancy. With support from the LEP she was able to enroll in university after attending the Lewa School. Inspired by the programme, Halima graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2018 with a Bachelors in Geography and Environmental Science.

Halima volunteers with Lewa’s Conservation Education team and works with students from her village to run their own environmental club.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2019 Through the LEP, a total of 429 students were enrolled in high school, university and college in 2019. Of the Lewa-supported students, 35 graduated from universities and colleges and 41 received high school diplomas.

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Francisca Apua, JKUAT, Bsc. Economics

Guyo Dulacha, Kenyatta University, Bachelors in Commerce

Abduba Jattani, Cooperative University, Diploma in Business Administration

Daniel Wekesa, Kenyatta University, BED Arts

Celestine Narasha, Dedan Kimathi University, Mechanical Engineering

Peterson Kisio, Kenyatta University, BED Arts

Mentorship & Career Development The LEP offers mentoring and career guidance to local students, with many of our staff members volunteering their time to provide career advice.

Many thanks to our mentorship partners and sponsors: Bank of Africa, Geoff Ball, Peter and Kathy Linneman, Mohamed and Beatrice Shah and the Lewa staff fraternity.

“Before the start of the 2019 school year, I met with 20 LEP students whom we had undertaken to support through secondary education. But support goes beyond funding. On this day, I got to meet and listen to their hopes and dreams for the future. I was impressed about how self-aware they were; with most of them having an idea of the careers they wanted to pursue. It was encouraging to hear that they are already being guided by their curiosity and are thinking of paths outside the convention. One of them wanted to become a fashion designer – and she already had a very distinct way of expressing her image. We talked about what level of academic performance they need to maintain in order to reach their career goals.

My husband, who has a military background, joined our second session and talked about discipline and focus. The mentorship is about academic and career excellence; which I do to honor my father who was passionate about education. But we also want to instill life skills that will help them navigate through life.

One of the issues that came up in our conversation was the challenge with bullying and peer pressure. These are students who are at an impressionable age; so, there is a need to mold ideas around leadership, esteem, curiosity, courage to pursue their dreams without being derailed by expectations. I encourage them to be each other’s support; to form a positive echo-chamber around themselves. But more importantly I want them to have a voice – I am constantly telling them to speak up – that you can either be meek or you can state your claim and become an engaging member of society.”

- Beatrice Shah, Lewa Education Program Donor and Mentor.

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Digital Literacy In 2016, the Kenyan government distributed over one million digital tablets to primary schools across the country, as part of its mandate to ensure every Kenyan student is equipped with 21st century skills. Lewa supports this aspiration by training teachers to use tools and computer applications in their lectures, making use of a system that evaluates learning progress. To supplement the national programme and teacher training, Lewa provides free, age-appropriate digital content that is accessible offline as well as library infrastructure and management technology to improve reading levels and promote a reading culture in schools.

As of 2020, Lewa supports digital literacy in 23 schools, with a total of 6,448 students currently engaged in the programme. Lewa’s offline digital content is being used at 24 additional schools. Lewa has distributed 590 tablets, 36 laptops, 19 projectors, 43 Specktron Boards, 42 desktops, 19 mini PC servers, 19 offline content access points and 3 internet access points. In the last year, the programme has helped students from Lewa-supported schools improve their literacy from a mean score of 44.2% to 53.6%.

See the young people demonstrating their innovative ideas in the videos.

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Innovation at Its Best Five students at Ntugi Secondary School, one of the Lewa supported schools, were presented with micro-bit kit (a pocket sized codeable computer with motion detection).

Under the guidance of the Lewa Digital Literacy Programme, two of the students created an automated drip irrigation model.

The other three created a tree planting machine. The project, christened the Climate Change Action, was funded by a Lewa donor with a goal to challenge students to utilize technology to solve a pressing environmental need.

Simon Mwangangi - Our Digital Guru As the Digital Literacy Section Lead with nine years of experience in ICT for Education, Simon Mwangangi is leading efforts to provide free digital access to thousands of school children. Simon himself is an incredible indicator of the Lewa Education Programme’s potential, having attended a Lewa-funded school as a child and now leading the programme.

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School Closures Lewa’s is committed to ensuring that current setbacks do not permanently impede educational opportunities for dedicated students in the region. Lewa has guaranteed the continuity of scholarships, maintained contact with students through home visits and distributed devices for students to access learning content. While schools gradually reopen, LEP is helping students access school lessons through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development via online learning, radio and television broadcasts.

At the time of writing, 236 Lewa-supported students have received home visits by LEP staff to check in on their studies, general welfare and discuss how to be productive as they stay safe from COVID-19.

Loikwa Kinyaga is a 17-year-old, Form 4 student and one of the top performers in his class. Following school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lewa distributed 25 tablets to final-year students who do not have home internet connectivity. For the period that schools remain closed, he and his peers can access online secondary school course material. Loikwa’s story was picked up by the Kenyan local media as an example of innovation to close gaps in access to education and other basic needs, but also highlighting the challenges that students from marginalised communities continue to face.

PHOTO: Loikwa showing his younger brother how his tablet works. To download content on the tablet, Loikwa walks several miles to the nearest Lewa-supported health clinic where there is connection and electricity.

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Adult Literacy Literacy levels throughout northern Kenya are low due to marginalisation, poverty and other societal challenges. Lewa reaches 400 adult students annually who previously had no access to formal education through nine literacy and three vocational centres. This programme helps to build marketable skills that increase participants’ access to income opportunities, while promoting the benefits of conservation.

The curriculum includes basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, health and nutrition, civics, financial literacy, tailoring and agriculture while positively influencing learners’ attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours about wildlife and natural resources.

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The Sewing Sisterhood In response to the pandemic, these amazing ladies from Lewa’s Adult Literacy Programme have made 3,000 face masks. The masks were distributed within Lewa’s neighbouring communities and health clinics in the area to give community members added protection against the spread of COVID-19. The Adult Literacy Programme provides literacy and livelihood skills for community members and is proving the African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast - go alone, If you want to go far - go together.”

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Conservation Education To equip Kenyan youth with the skills needed to tackle environmental challenges, Lewa provides young, inquisitive minds with the tools and information needed to do better for the environment and wildlife, both in school and at home. On game drives, students are exposed to plants and animals in their natural habitats. In the Conservation Education Centre, hands-on lessons teach students the complexities of ecological problems, and how to be part of the solution. In the last year, Lewa hosted 104 student groups with 4,065 learners benefitting from these visits. An additional 3,732 teachers and students participated in the school and community outreach programme with teacher training, technical advice and support, student projects and environmental clubs.

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Investing in School Infras

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structure

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SECURITY Protecting People and Wildlife Lewa’s wildlife ranger and security teams are critical to our conservation success.

Divided into two main sections - the unarmed units which consists of general security and rhino monitors, who are our eyes and ears in the Conservancy. The armed rangers who form part of the National Police Reservists and who are the frontline responders in any illegal activities not only in the Conservancy but also within neighbouring communities.

Lewa’s 154 rangers play a crucial role as both are our wildlife guardians and our community ambassadors.

Being part of a system that ensures the protection and conservation of the flora and fauna in the Conservancy, the security team are integral to Lewa’s operations. In spite of a myriad of challenges, the impact of this commitment and dedication was realized in September 2020, when Lewa recorded a milestone in its history as it reached and passed a figure of 100 white rhinos.

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The growth from a handful of rhinos 30+ years ago to where we are as a viable and conducive ecosystem for critically endangered species is a testament to their devotion to the protection of nature and wildlife. Recognizing the importance of technology in wildlife protection, Lewa’s security team uses EarthRanger, an innovative, high tech wildlife and ecosystem monitoring platform developed by Vulcan Inc. EarthRanger helps Lewa’s security team protect our wildlife using real time data to stay informed and make sound operational decisions.

Lewa’s security team have also fostered good relations with the regional legislators helping them better understand the challenges that are faced in wildlife protection. In September, Lewa’s Security and Anti-Poaching teams hosted 11 Judges and 9 Magistrates from Meru County on a listening and learning tour, using the opportunity to show them the wildlife in their natural habitat and how existing wildlife laws and regulations apply to future conservation efforts.

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First Rhino Poaching Incident in Six Years Lewa suffered the loss of two Southern White rhinos in early December 2019, the first rhino poaching incident in six years. Despite an immediate response, the infiltrators succeeded in taking one horn from each animal before our team reached the scene. After six years of successfully keeping our rhinos safe and recording high birth rates, we were particularly devastated by this loss. The loss of these two rhinos serves as a reminder that the threat of poaching is ever-present. With our partners and supporters, we continue to invest in the technology, equipment, and training needed to stop poaching and work closely with the communities who serve as our front line of defense.

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A New Generation Of Rangers

Joseph Piroris Joseph’s father, Nginiwa Ledupa, was a Lewa ranger for 21 years. Safeguarding wildlife is a practise deeply rooted in Maasai culture and Nginiwa instilled these values in his son. Since 2012, Joseph has worked in all aspects of security operations. From entrypoint rank, Joseph steadily rose to his current position as the Head of Lewa’s Dog Tracker Unit.

Fridah Kinyanjui Fridah’s father, Kinyanjui Lesenderia, retired in 2000 as Lewa’s Head of security. She decided to follow in his footsteps and hopes that she can one day fill the position.

“I’m a ranger because I wanted to be like my father, who was a founding Lewa ranger. When they started, there were only 15 rhinos. Today, we are looking after more than 200 rhinos. I feel like I’m continuing the work he started and it makes me feel very proud.”

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A Day in the Life of a Rhino Monitor Meka Kiperus Meka has been a Lewa rhino monitor since 2015. Rhino monitors are our eyes and ears on the ground, using their exemplary tracking skills to patrol the landscape.

Monitors like Meka report rhino sightings to Lewa’s Joint Operations Command Centre (JOCC), which is staffed by security, anti-poaching and conservation personnel.

The JOCC serves as a coordination and decision-making point using information from monitors and rangers on animal populations, human-wildlife conflict and illegal activities. JOCC operators use EarthRanger, a software developed pro bono for Lewa by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen and his team at Vulcan, Inc. Thanks to innovative software, our team is able to monitor a vast landscape using real-time data from radios, animal tracking tags, camera traps and satellites.

Meet Lewa’s Head of General Security John Pameri John is in charge of Lewa’s rhino monitoring, the management of Lewa’s entry points and radio communications. At the age of 18, he walked 100 kilometres to Lewa with the dream of a job protecting wildlife. More than 25 years later, he now serves as Lewa’s Head of General Security. In addition to his ranger duties, he has been critical in developing Lewa’s community-conservancy partnerships.

“As a Kenyan pastoralist who has lived alongside wildlife all his life, I’m glad to be at the forefront of this work that is shaping the future of our landscape.”

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The Wildlife Ranger Challenge Due to the pandemic’s devastating economic impacts, hundreds of wildlife rangers across Africa had their salaries significantly cut, and many were laid off or sent home on unpaid leave, which left families destitute and wildlife vulnerable and unprotected. With many rangers stretched to capacity and international and national borders reopening, it was feared that protected areas in Kenya and across the continent would experience a rapid increase in poaching as well as a decline in wellbeing and economic security.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge was launched on World Ranger Day (31st of July) to raise awareness and funds for frontline conservation. With a fundraising goal of $10 million and the aim to bring 5,000 rangers back to full capacity in the field, the campaign stands to save thousands from unemployment – ensuring that they can provide for their families, support their local communities and protect Africa’s natural assets for years to come.

For two months, between August and September, Lewa wildlife rangers participated in a series of physical challenges that pitted them against fellow rangers across Africa.

On the 3rd of October 2020, 20 Lewa wildlife ranger teams stood strong with their fellow rangers and ran in a half marathon race, in 26°C (79°F) heat, carrying their typical 25kg backpack and equipment - coming in 3rd place for the day.

Rangers across Africa are the guardians of wildlife and ecosystems and are crucial to the security, livelihoods and wellbeing of the communities to whom this wildlife belongs. The Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2020 garnered a strong global show of support for the wildlife and marine rangers across Africa, with many joining the rangers as they stood strong to support their counterparts and raise awareness and vital funds for livelihood and wildlife protection in Africa.

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21KM 26Kg 26 c o

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DISTANCE COVERED TO SUMMIT

16.6KM

ELEVATION REACHED

4,985M PACE

19 MINS 23 SECS PER KM Starting at 6am and returning to base camp by 6pm, this was the first ever organised team to achieve this feat.

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Setting Records For Rangers In support and ahead of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, on September 13 six Lewa Wildlife Conservancy rangers with colleagues from Kenya Wildlife Service ascended and descended Mt. Kenya in record time. They were joined by 16 year old Joseph Ndiritu, whose father Edward was leading the team.

Starting at 6am and returning to base camp by 6pm, this was the first organised team to achieve this feat.

The speed at which the team ascended to an altitude of 4,985m tested their utmost limits and highlighted the dedication they have to their jobs to their fellow wildlife rangers across the continent.

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LEWA SAFARI MARATHON

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20 +

COUNTRIES 81

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Global Challenge

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In February, Lewa unveiled a new identity for the Safaricom Marathon, now the Lewa Safari Marathon, co-sponsored by Safaricom and Huawei Kenya.

Well into preparations and with global events unfolding by the minute, Lewa and our marathon co-organisers, Tusk made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person event scheduled for June and hosted the first ever Virtual Lewa Safari Marathon.

Our global network of supporters rallied behind Lewa, and completed their own fitness challenges at home. This garnered support from 1,500 participants in over 70 cities around the world on marathon day.

The virtual Lewa Safari Marathon kicked off to a great start when top-billing Kenyan artist, Nyashinski, provided exclusive access to his award-winning track, “Marathon Runner.” Hon. Najib Balala, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, announced the Kenyan government’s full support of the event, recognizing it as a testament to the innovative ways in which conservation can remain at the top of people’s minds.

World’s fastest marathoner and Lewa Ambassador, Dr. Eliud Kipchoge E.G.H, participated in the activities and included Lewa in his training regime alongside rangers.

“It means a lot to me to run with rangers. To run with the people who watch over wildlife when we sleep at night and take care of rhino and elephant, is actually an honour. I urge everybody to participate and just run where they are. We are all part of the human family and we must keep strong, stay fit, observe directives from our government[s], and know this situation is not permanent.”

PHOTO: World’s fastest marathoner and Lewa Ambassador, Dr. Eliud Kipchoge E.G.H, during marathon training session with Lewa wildlife rangers.

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Since its inception 20 years ago, the marathon has raised close to Ksh. 800,000,000 ($8,000,000) for healthcare, livelihoods and the conservation of endangered species and their habitats.

The funds raised from the marathon have had an irreversible impact on communities across the country.

Despite the pandemic, this year’s marathon was no different.

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“We were thrilled by the outpouring of support, which raised $300,000. This will cushion many in the communities that Lewa works in, providing them with access to services like education and healthcare during a year that has been so difficult, and in which many lost their livelihoods.”

- Charlie Mayhew, CEO, Tusk Trust

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TOURISM Tourism is one of the primary economic drivers and areas for job growth in Kenya. The sector is the second largest contributor to the nation’s accounts bringing in US$1.57 billion annually in revenue. Over the years, tourism alone has created over 1.1 million jobs.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, tourism across the continent came to a standstill, leaving those heavily reliant on a tourism economy utterly devastated. As the pandemic took hold across the globe, air travel was suspended and scores of countries went under lockdown. It was estimated that the largest sector to be hit would be the tourism sector. By June 2020, Kenya had lost 80 billion shillings ($752 million) in tourism revenue, about half of last year’s total, due to the coronavirus crisis.

Every year, Lewa hosts an average of 5,000 visitors. Tourism is a key anchor to our conservation and community development efforts not only are most of our donors former guests of Lewa, but earnings from tourism constitute up to 30% of our annual revenue, which we invest back into wildlife conservation and community programmes.

Despite the challenges of the year, the lodges on Lewa have rallied tosupport staff and community members and have continued their commitment to the environment.

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Lodges in the Lewa-Borana Landscape Lewa Landscape Lewa House Lewa Wilderness Sirikoi Lodge Elewana Lewa Safari Camp Elewana Kifaru House

Borana Landscape Borana Lodge Arijiju Lengishu House Laragai House Sirai House

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Borana As one of East Africa’s most sustainable lodges with the 4Cs — Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce, firmly embedded into their culture and ethos, in early 2020, The Long Run awarded Borana Ranch and Lodge with Global Ecosphere Retreat®️ (GER®️) status – one of the world’s highest sustainability standards for privately protected areas. GER status is awarded to organisations that embrace conservation as a long-term viable option through business resilience, strong community connections, while also providing a habitat for the region’s most endangered species.

This is one of the most rigorous sustainability audits in the hospitality industry and is onsidered to be ‘one the world’s best standards for privately protected areas’. GER ®️ takes into account the impact of every aspect of the 4Cs; ensuring that it is not only about businesses mitigating their negative environmental impact, but about positively impacting the well-being of the planet and people. GER status for Borana Lodge means when guests stay they are making a direct contribution to the protection of the pristine rangelands and ecosystems of northern Kenya, and by doing so automatically becoming part of a growing trend of responsible travellers who play a key role in the conservancy’s positive impact.

“Our landscape conservation has always been strong, and with The Long Run’s technical support, and a brilliant team here at Borana, we have become more efficient and more considerate in everything we do. Collaboration with and being part of the Long Run Global Community has helped create efficiencies through sharing best practice and greening our business”, Michael Dyer, CEO Borana Conservancy.

2020

Borana Joins The Global Ecosphere Retreat® Family

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Awards

2019 Sirikoi Lodge voted #1 Luxury Resort in the World AND #1 Safari Property in Africa 2019, Condé Nast Lewa House Trip Advisor Award

Sirikoi Community Support Rural communities have been especially hard hit by job loss and coronavirus-related restrictions. Since April, with the support of previous guests, the lodge supplied food staples each month to the Manyangalo community adjacent to the lodge. Sirikoi also distributed hundreds of kilos of maize and beans primarily focusing on elderly and disabled members within neighbouring communities. The food packages also comprised of other essentials like water, containers, masks and sanitizers. Sirikoi also delivered water containers, masks and sanitizers.

In August, guests began returning to Kenya as airspace and international flights resumed.

Since then, Sirikoi has hosted a marriage proposal and a honeymoon couple determined to not let the pandemic change their plans. These special events occurred amongst amazing game viewing, which now includes a semi-resident leopard. Making these visits even more special is that without fail, Sirikoi is visited daily by lion families who roar well into the night.

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Lewa Wilderness Community Outreach The Rehema Children’s Home sits on the edge of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Through the support of guests, Lewa Wilderness has provided gifts for the children, school fees, food support, water access for the vegetable plot and general support to Rehema. Lewa Wilderness is also proud of its School Bag Project, which aims to provide school supplies to disadvantaged children in remote parts of Kenya. Through this project, 250 schools received supply bags made from local recycled fabric filled with books, stationary and encyclopedias.

Lewa Wilderness also had a productive year in lodge environmental management. To address biodegradable food waste, the lodge started a fly breeding programme that produces high protein larvae that are fed to fish.

The result is delightful fresh fish for guests to enjoy alongside extraordinary fruit and vegetables from the garden while decreasing waste.

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Remembering Joseph Kirui, Lewa House Guide As a guide, Joseph was beloved by guests and offered them the experience of a lifetime. This was even more evident by the outpouring of support received from past visitors who made contributions to help cover his hospital bills.

Joseph had a wonderful eye for a photograph! We really tried to encourage him in this with various cameras, but he always reverted to his trusty combination of smart phone and binoculars to capture his special moments. I think he also, with childlike impudence, inwardly giggled as he listened to the struggles of those behind him trying to emulate his shots!

We are still reeling from the loss in April of Joseph, a gentle giant with enormous passion for the natural world and for doing right by others. When we began managing Lewa House in 2012, Joseph as a senior safari guide, displayed his tremendous humility by assisting with construction, planting trees and even entertaining our young children. His unrelenting support got our new business off the ground. His sage advice and care for what he stood for are sorely missed, but he sewed these into our foundation. Lewa House is very much a child of his, and like a child we will continue to grow on the framework he set.

Joseph was an astute, and quiet observer and often wandered into the office to discuss his observations and thoughts on ecology and animal behaviour. He was a passionate conservationist, spending his time at home educating his community about the long term damage of charcoal burning.

Ever the great teacher, we still have much to learn from him. Passion. Curiosity.

Humility. Bring them into your life and remember Joseph.

- Sophie and Calum McFarlane, Lewa House

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Commemorating Nigel Graham Sandys Lumsdaine, Founding Board Chair, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy On April 1st 1995, the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary that had been founded by Anna Merz and David Craig transitioned from a concept financially supported by one person into the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC).

The architect and first chairman of the new LWC was the Chairman of George Williamson Tea company and a close family friend of the Craig’s, Nigel Sandys Lumsdaine.

The establishment of LWC as the first private conservancy in Kenya was a tremendous step, challenging the established norms of Government-owned conservation. Nigel, in his role as Chair, was the wisdom and soft hand on the tiller to navigate these turbulent waters, working with Government to ensure that LWC was not seen as competition for precious resources but rather a partner that could enhance conservation nationally, especially the conservation of Black rhino and compliment the work of Government not compete. At the same time Nigel managed to convince the land-owning family members of the strength and value in their decisions to relinquish control of their land to an independent third party but with one goal - the conservation of the Lewa ecosystem with a special focus on partnering with communities and protecting Black rhino.

Nigel’s open and inclusive personality and passion for conservation enabled him to bring together a Board of equally competent people behind this common goal, whilst building a management team on the ground that was to influence conservation in Northern Kenya for the next quarter century and beyond. Being chairman of the fledgling LWC was no mean task requiring much of Nigel’s precious time of which he gave so generously. On hearing of Nigel’s death in September, the founding fraternity of Lewa were both shocked and saddened. Nigel leaves a legacy beyond any of the founding Board’s dreams. When Nigel picked up the reins of LWC, Lewa held 21 Black rhino and 22 White rhino. Today Lewa is home to 113 Black rhino and 101 White rhino. Thank you, Nigel, for the extraordinary foundation that you laid to make all of this possible.

Nigel died on July 31st at his home in Nairobi, Kenya.

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A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF CONSERVATIONISTS The work of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on the ground would not be possible without the contributions and support of a number of dedicated charitable entities around the world, including Lewa USA, Lewa Canada and Lewa UK. In Switzerland we are grateful for the support of Friends of Lewa in Switzerland, and our partners Zoo Zürich, who in 2019 became Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’s charitable representative in Switzerland.

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The Launch of Lewa Savanna at Zoo Zürich A supporter of Lewa for more than two decades, Zoo Zürich in Switzerland assists the Conservancy through direct funding, fundraising support and acting as a conduit for Swiss donors (foundations and individuals) seeking to donate to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. In June 2020, Zoo Zürich launched the Lewa Savanna exhibit, home to 15 species of African savanna animals. The exhibit is modeled after the Conservancy, and even includes a replica of a Lewa-supported school. Educational and inspiring, the exhibit will raise awareness of the threats to this ecosystem and encourage zoo visitors to support the protection of endangered species in the wild.

“Lewa and Zoo Zürich’s partnership is built on our shared commitment to conserving Africa’s iconic species like the Black and White rhino. This exhibit will allow our visitors to not only understand but also see what a special ecosystem this is and why it needs to be protected.”

- Dr. Alex Rübel, Former Director of Zoo Zürich “We are immensely proud to be partnered with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Like Zoo Zürich, Lewa is known for a commitment to excellence and innovation. Our new Lewa Savanna exhibit showcases the beautiful and fragile savanna ecosystem, and encourages visitor understanding of the Lewa model: that investment in sustainable communities results from, and leads to, healthy habitats and species.“ - Dr. Severin Dressen, Director of Zoo Zürich.

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Lewa in Nairobi In February 2020, Lewa hosted an event at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, which raised 10 million Kenyan Shillings ($94,000) from new corporate partners and individuals in Kenya. These funds were used to support Lewa’s vital security and community support programmes.

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Lewa in London Lewa UK hosted a reception in London on 25th February, “Pancake Day,” to share Lewa’s latest news with donors and also honour the Critically Endangered pancake tortoise, recently confirmed as present on the conservancy. Lewa supporters gathered at Sladmore Contemporary gallery to see renowned bronze sculptor, Mark Coreth, create special bronze artwork for the occasion and hear updates from the field from Lewa Donor Relations Manager, Ruwaydah Abdul-Rahman.

Lewa Ambassadors In the last year, Lewa appointed two ambassadors. Dr. Eliud Kipchoge E.G.H is a Kenyan long distance runner and marathon world record holder. Martin Buzora is an acclaimed director and cinematographer based in Toronto whose work includes Kenya Wildlife Diaries (2016), featuring Lewa.

Lewa in New York In October 2019, Lewa USA hosted A Starry Night in Kenya, an event held in New York City to celebrate a new partnership initiative with Il Ngwesi, a community-owned and managed conservancy that neighbours Lewa. This historic opportunity aims to establish Africa’s newest Black rhino sanctuary. Featured presenters included Kip ole Polos, Board Chair of Il Ngwesi, and Jonathan Baillie, the National Geographic Society’s Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist.

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Young Conservationists

A window into Conservation in Kenya

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is partnering with Honeyguide Safaris to offer a conservation leadership programme that brings creative, passionate, young adventurers to the frontlines of conservation in Kenya. The goal is to connect students to the land, the people, and the wildlife, while providing them with an inspiring experience that will help them become the next generation of conservationists. Young Conservationists live and breathe culture, conservation and adventure for two weeks while camping on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

On Lewa, the students are exposed to the diverse challenges and successes associated with wildlife conservation and sustainability in a modernizing Africa.

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Next Generation

Expanding Lewa’s Global Network In 2020, “Lewa NextGen” underwent some exciting changes. Having been run successfully as a UK initiative for some years, this year NextGen expanded, with young professionals from Kenya, USA and UK now represented on the committee. The goal, to grow a broader base of young supporters globally, in these countries, Canada, Switzerland and beyond. Through social media, hosting events and lending their professional network and skills, the NextGen committee is inspiring a new generation of conservationists, with big plans for 2021.

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In Memory of George Youssef, Lewa Canada Board Member (2007-2017) It is with great sadness that we learnt of the unexpected passing of George Youssef, a dedicated advocate for wildlife protection and conservation, and a great friend of Lewa.

George supported numerous organizations, both personally and through the family foundation he and his wife Susan Warren started in the mid1990s.

He was a former board member of LewaCanada for 10 years (2007-2017) and one of its biggest and most steadfast donors. The YoussefWarren Foundation has funded many lasting projects at Lewa over the years. Similarly, he and his wife Susan Warren visited Lewa in 2000, 2002 and 2007 and were planning to return. Sadly, he passed away suddenly in his 81st year, on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at his home in Oakville, Ontario.

We will miss his sharp mind and kind heart. His guidance and benevolence has secured a legacy that will endure for generations.

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In Memory of Denise Allen Lewa Donor

Gilbert (Gil) Boese Lewa USA Board Member

Pete Thomas Lewa Donor

Walter Villiger

Founder, Friends of Lewa Switzerland

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PARTNERSHIPS

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WORKING PARTNERS BORANA CONSERVANCY COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MERU KENYA FOREST SERVICE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE NORTHERN RANGELANDS TRUST NGARE NDARE FOREST TRUST

FUNDING PARTNERS AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS AL AIN ZOO BANK OF AFRICA DISNEY CONSERVATION FUND HUAWEI ICEA LION PETTUS CROWE FOUNDATION RAINFOREST TRUST SAFARICOM PLC SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL SAVE A MIND, GIVE A CHOICE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TUSK TRUST VULCAN INC WOMEN’S MICROFINANCE INITIATIVE ZOO ZÜRICH

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Lifeline for Lewa

Lewa’s model depends on income from tourism, which stopped completely in March 2020, and is only now slowly reopening. In northern Kenya, conservancies are the main mechanism for securing wildlife space and connecting habitats while extending transformative benefits to rural communities. The collapse of conservancies would have incalculable negative consequences both for biodiversity and for people who live alongside wildlife.

We are doing everything in our power at this critical time to ensure this does not happen, including the launch of the Lifeline for Lewa fund. Lewa has taken measures to scale back and concentrate on programmes that are most critical in this crisis: Anti-Poaching & Security, Education, Healthcare, Micro-Enterprise and Sustainable Agriculture. Contributions to this fund will be a lifeline, helping to ensure that wildlife remains protected and that local communities continue to have access to healthcare, education and income-generating opportunities.

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GET INVOLVED

In light of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has an increased reliance on your generosity, in charitable donations and grants, at a time when income from tourism is unreliable. THANK YOU for your incredible support!

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Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter on our website to receive updates from Lewa

We offer our sincere appreciation for all forms of support that you can give by making an online donation to the Lifeline for Lewa Fund. For any more questions regarding donations, please contact: info@lewa.org * Make a one-time gift * Make a charitable gift of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds

* Leave a portion of your life insurance or retirement plan assets

* Symbolically adopt a rhino

* Ask if your workplace offers corporate donation matches

* Name a rhino

* Visit our online shop

* Honour a loved one with a tribute donation

* Create your own online fundraising campaign for a birthday or special occasion

* Invest today in Lewa’s future by supporting our endowment * Become a monthly supporter

* Run the virtual marathon and raise funds for local communities and conservation efforts in northern Kenya

* Remember Lewa in your will or living trust

* Follow us on social media

Why We Support Lewa Linda and Greg Brown, Walla Walla, Washington USA Linda and Greg Brown first visited in 2007 and were inspired by the community programmes that compliment Lewa’s conservation work.

Having spent her career working with special needs children and their families, Linda was particularly drawn to the Lewa Education Programme. With each visit, the Brown’s relationship to Lewa deepened. Initially, the Browns encouraged friends to join them in making donations to cover meals and equipment at a Lewa-supported preschool.

Over the last 13 years, this support grew to cover teacher salaries, school housing, classrooms and scholarships that have allowed promising students from Lewa’s neighbouring communities to attend high school, college and, in one case, graduate school. Linda and Greg have truly left their mark on Lewa and even brought a lucky horse shoe from their stables in the U.S. which sits proudly at the entrance of the Education Centre’s new office block.

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FINANCIALS Global Income 2019 Net Trading & Lodging Facilities Income 9%

Conservation Fees 20%

Other Income 7%

Donations 64%

Global Expenditure 2019 Administration 27%

Fundraising 8% Programmes 65% 113

All figures presented in USD

2019 Global Income Donations

$5,145,548

Conservation Fees

$1,581,135

Net Trading & Lodging Activities Income

$731,881

Other Income

$596,772

$8,055,337

2019 Global Expenditure Programmes

$5,070,027

Fundraising

$617,362

Administration

$2,070,462

$7,757,851 Net Increase/Decrease in Assets

$297,485

The global consolidated financial figures are unaudited but are based on the audited or otherwise externally scrutinised financial statements of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy organisations in Kenya, USA, UK and Canada.

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OUR TEAM Executive Team

Lewa Kenya Board of Trustees

Department Heads

Lewa Canada Board of Trustees

Mike Watson, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tuqa Jirmo, Chief Operating Officer Lucy Ndirangu, Chief Administrative Officer George Rioba, Chief Financial Officer Georgina Domberger, International Executive Director

Geoffrey Chege, Conservation John Kinoti, Community Development James Kiogora, Human Resources Edward Ndiritu, Anti-Poaching John Pameri, General Security Adrian Paul, Logistics Faith Riunga, Education

Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux (Chair) Ryan Adams Heather Dryden Ted Harris Patricia Anne Koval Suzanne MacDonald MacDonald

Lewa USA Board of Trustees

Lewa UK Board of Trustees

Tony Barclay (Chair) Leslie Roach (Vice Chair) Deborah Gage (Secretary) Richard Essex (Treasurer) Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Alex Beard Katherine Chou Ravi Jain Edith McBean Linda Millard Myrta Pulliam Betsy Searle Timothy Sullivan Laura Webb Sara Zilkha Steve Monfort (Science Advisor) Gordon Pattee (Trustee Emeritus) J. Craig Potter (Trustee Emeritus)

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Michael Joseph, Chair Mbuvi Nguze, Vice Chair Dr. James Mworia Dr. Julius Kipng’etich Prof. Patricia Mbote Munira Bashir (TNC Kenya) Alison Ngibuini Mike Watson, CEO Tony Barclay, Lewa International

Joseph Dryer (Chair) Kathleen Crook David Hillyard Paul Mulholland Kripa Radhakrishnan Sachin Rupani Francesca Sanders Sanders Fiona Sanderson

International Advisory Council

Kito De Boer Murray Grant Kristin Morch Al Pace Alex Rubel

CONTACT US LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY

Isiolo 60300, Kenya Email: info@lewa.org Phone: +254 722 203 562/3

These worldwide entities were established to support Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya:

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy UK

P.O. Box 77672 London SW6 9PX Email: LewaUK@lewa.org Charity registration: 1069800

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy USA P.O. Box 4449 New York, NY 10163 Email: LewaUSA@lewa.org Phone: +1 646.883.2870 EIN #: 87-0572187

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Canada Department of Psychology York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Email: info@lewa.ca Charity registration: 861876357 RR0001

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Canada) is a registered Canadian charitable organisation established to support conservation, education and community development in Africa. It supports work done by Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, among others.

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ASANTE SANA 117

THANK YOU 118

Photo Credits Cover Photo by: Martin Buzora (Lewa Ambassador) Ami Vitale Andrew Campbell Dan Watts David Kabiru Duncan Ndotono Harry Skeggs Immanuel Njogi JC Noreña James Lewin Jeff Waweru Marcus Westberg Martin Middlebrook Peter Allison Robert Odingo Shaun Mousley Steve Toome Stevie Mann Tim Mwangi Will Craig Yaron Schmid Additional photos courtesy of: Arijiju Borana Conservancy Elewana Collection Laragai House Lengishu House Lewa House Lewa Wilderness Sirikoi Lodge

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