Chyulu Hills rhino programme, Kenya

Location: Chyulu Hills, in the north-east of the Tsavo ecosystem Project leader: Richard Bonham Project partners: Maasailand Preservation Trust / the Kenya Wildlife Service Rhino species: Black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) Rhino numbers: ± 13 Size of protected area: 926 km2 Activities: Anti-poaching and monitoring patrols, rhino dung DNA analysis, reafforestation programme, Predator Compensation Fund, education bursaries and mobile health clinic Support: We focus on the Game Scout and Rhino programme, helping to pay for salaries, vehicle fuel and running costs, and camping and monitoring equipment Funding partners: Chester Zoo, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Amnéville Zoo, International Rhino Foundation

The Chyulu Hills National Park extends to the north of Tsavo West National Park, and is a vital part of the Tsavo ecosystem as a whole. A long range of volcanic hills, much of which is covered in dense thickets, it acts as a crucial water catchment area for wildlife, livestock and neighbouring communities, and provides shelter and food for a high concentration and diversity of wildlife, including rhino, elephant, plains game and carnivores.

Of particular interest, in the northern section of the Chyulu Hills is a population of ~13 critically endangered Eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli), one of the three surviving subspecies of black rhino. This population is one of two native, or indigenous, populations surviving (all others have been reintroduced) and is one of the last potentially viable unfenced populations of D. b. michaeli in Kenya. The African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) estimates that there are only 638 D. b. michaeli in total, all now found in Kenya and Tanzania (apart from one population in South Africa, which is due to be repatriated to Tanzania shortly). The AfRGS has given this breeding population in the Chyulu Hills a Key 1 rating.  About 80% of the Chyulus’ black rhinos’ home range is inside the National Park, an area of 741 km2. However, the rhinos and other wildlife move in search of water and browse from the  Park into the surrounding areas, and the other 20% of their range is outside the Park on Mbirikani Group Ranch, a Maasai cattle ranch that is collectively owned land nestled between the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National Parks, and the Amboseli Reserve. It is home to 10,000 Maasai pastoralists and their many cattle and goats.

The main problems affecting the ecosystem health and its functions are, in essence, poverty and overgrazing. The areas surrounding the Chyulu Hills are becoming more and more overgrazed by livestock each year, creating increased competition between wildlife herbivores of the Amboseli ecosystem and livestock. Water is scarce. As overstocking and competition for resources increases, the Chyulu Hills will become an increasingly important grassbank for migrating wildlife, primarily zebra, wildebeest, eland, hartebeest, oryx, giraffe and buffalo. Threatened species using the area include not just the rhino, but also elephant, cheetah, leopard, African wild dog and giant forest hog. During the dry seasons, wildlife concentrates around swamps and other permanent water, thereby competing with cattle for water and grass; while during the wet season it disperses to forage and find temporary water on the outlying plains. With such a strong cattle / livestock presence, there is not enough grazing or water to support big numbers of game, and the attendant predators, and this in turn affects the overall health of the ecosystem.