This year, the London Marathon is shaping up to be a truly special event, as one of our long-standing conservation partners will be taking on the London Marathon in a slightly different way. Edward Ndiritu, Head of Anti-Poaching at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, will be running all 26.2 miles in the iconic rhino costume. Edward has spent decades protecting rhinos on the ground. And on Sunday 26 April, he’ll be bringing that story to the streets of London.
A career dedicated to protecting rhinos
Edward began working at Lewa in 1997 as a ranger. Since 2012, he has led the Conservancy’s anti-poaching unit, overseeing wildlife protection teams and operations across the landscape. His work forms part of a wider conservation success story. In the 1960s, Kenya was home to an estimated 20,000 black rhinos. By the 1980s, poaching had reduced the population to fewer than 300. Today, numbers are increasing again, thanks to sustained protection efforts and strong partnerships.
At Lewa Wildlife Conservancy:
- 14% of Kenya’s rhino population lives within the Lewa-Borana landscape
- There have been zero rhino poaching incidents on Lewa since 2019
This progress is hard-won, and it depends on continued support.
Taking the challenge to London
Edward is no stranger to endurance events! In 2024, he completed the London Marathon to support ranger welfare and has also taken on the 86km Mountain-to-Mountain Challenge in Kenya, alongside recently completing the Desert Ultra, with Beyond the Ultimate.
Edward Ndiritu, Head of Anti-Poaching at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, stated, “More than a million rangers around the world walk many miles in remote and harsh environments every single day to protect wildlife. By taking on the London marathon in the famous rhino costume, I can bring visibility and support to rhinos – and to the men and women who are consistently shouldering the load over great distances to help conserve our planet.”
Edward will be one of 39 runners representing Save the Rhino International in this year’s London Marathon. Now in our 34th year of participation, the event remains an important part of our fundraising calendar. This year’s team includes a mix of first-time marathoners and long-time supporters, as well as a number of runners taking part in rhino costumes.
You can follow Edward’s marathon journey on social media as he takes on this challenge.
If you’re watching from the sidelines and spot a rhino running through London, do cheer him on and give him all the support he needs.
We’ll also be sharing updates across our channels, along with more stories from the day. Keep an eye out for details of our upcoming event with Edward, where you’ll be able to hear more about his work and his experience working with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
If you’d like to make an even bigger difference, please consider donating to support Edward and the wider Save the Rhino International team. Every contribution helps protect rhinos and the rangers who keep them safe.