Annual Report 2019
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OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OURConservation VISION | Community | Tourism | Technology | Livestock & Agriculture | Human Capital | Finance LETTER FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR To become an innovative and sustainable development model of national importance that conserves biodiversity (particularly endangered species) and Ol Pejeta Conservancy enjoyed a reasonably buoyant year in 2019 with significant growth contributes to economic growth and the improvement of the livelihoods of in the tourism sector in particular. We also managed to make good progress towards the recovery of the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction, secure the Mutara rural communities. Conservancy as future habitat for rhinos, and continue to grow our black and southern white rhino populations - with nil poaching recorded during the year. On the community development front, we continued to support the economic and social development of the people that live around the Conservancy in a way that is tangible, recognised and supportive OUR MISSION of government efforts. Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary However the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world since the beginning of for great apes, and to generate income through wildlife tourism and 2020 poses a major threat to the commercial revenue streams of the organisation. Given complementary enterprise for reinvestment in conservation and communities. the fixed cost nature of conservation, this will likely force the company into a period of financial losses until tourism recovers, probably not before mid-2021. The challenge during this period will be to maintain the integrity of the organisation at the same time as ensuring recent gains in conservation and community development are not reversed. Despite current challenges, the year 2019 actually saw record incomes from tourism as Ol Pejeta took significant steps in its strategy to develop more value-add opportunities across this sector of the business. As a result visitors can now choose from 26 different immersive conservation activities, sales of which increase the average per-person spends at the same time as improving the overall visitor experience. Thus Ol Pejeta aims to become a destination that offers deep insights into what it takes to achieve conservation, creating a competitive advantage for itself in the tourism industry and stimulating increased demand for its product in the process. Going forwards the Conservancy will welcome two new third party camp investments by Abercrombie & Kent under their “Sanctuary Camps” brand, and Entim Camps. It is expected that these camps will be commissioned in mid-2021. In the agriculture sector, progress to develop the Sirima section for the purposes of fodder production continued, with the aim of improving overall livestock productivity. Whilst this has yet to translate into improvements to bottom line profitability, the investments made now will serve the company well for the future, allowing it to position itself as Kenya’s top producer of prime “conservation beef” going forwards. Approximately three years ago Ol Pejeta took a decision to invest in the development of a fundraising arm to supplement revenue streams in support of the landscape level conservation and community development objectives of the organisation. To that end the Fundraising and Communications department is now fully established and the organisation successfully registered as a charity in the United Kingdom aimed to enhance the ability to generate philanthropic income. Over time this will significantly enhance our ability to deliver on our key “2030” objectives across Laikipia, and potentially beyond. BOARD OF In summary, despite the challenges now faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, DIRECTORS (KENYA) Ol Pejeta Conservancy remains in a relatively strong position to continue to make forward progress on its key objectives of conservation and community development in the future. Philip Coulson, Chairman However 2020 is going to be a massive challenge. Joanna Elliott (Fauna & Flora International) Dr. Annette Lanjouw (Arcus Foundation) BOARD OF Mike Watson (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy) Hon. Francis Ole Kaparo DIRECTORS (UK) Michael Gichangi Dr. Helen Gichohi Joanna Elliott (Fauna & Flora International) Vijay Gidoomal Dr. Annette Lanjouw (Arcus Foundation) Richard Vigne Daniel Szlapak Charles Graham Richard Vigne Managing Director Patrick Green Ol Pejeta Conservancy 2 3 Lion cubs on Ol Pejeta | Renee Roaming Keeping curiosity wild OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 © 2015 Endana Secondary & Primary School Mt Kenya JAMBO MUTARA TENTED CAMP NANYUKI KAMOK GATE HQ GATE OL PEJETA MUTARA CONSERVATION AREA Muturu Plain CONSERVANCY WILDLIFE SERAT GATE CORRIDOR 1 TO NANYUKI & NAIROBI NAIROBI Loirugurugu Plain WILDLIFE TO RUMURUTI, CORRIDOR 2 MOUNT KENYA NAKURU & NAVAISHA Serat Plain WILDLIFE ESTATE (MKWE) Oryx Plain WILDLIFE 2 7 MOMBASA CORRIDOR 3 OL PEJETA 5 KAMOK BUSH CAMP MURERA DONGA Ol Pejeta Dam PORINI Airstrip MURERA RHINO CAMP Ewaso Ngiro River 3 DONGA CAMPSITE Rhino Lodru Plain PELICAN HOUSE Zebra Plain 6 Cemetery OL LERAI Pelican Dam CAMPSITE 8 Acacia EWASO Hippo Hide KONGONI DONGA Lodru Dam 1 CAMPSITE Dam Ngerenyi Plain HIPPO HIDE CAMPSITE Marura 4 Dam 11 9 MORANI OL PEJETA Elephant Bridge Baraka the Sirima Dam 2 Black Rhino INFORMATION Tangi Nyeusi Plain HOUSE Marsh Viewpoint CENTRE KICHECHE Airstrip 12 MARBE LAIKIPIA CAMP 10 MORANI’S Grant’s Plain RESTAURANT CHIMPANZEE Spoonbill Dam EQUATOR SIRIMA SANCTUARY Elephant Dam Equator RIFT VALLEY Sign 13 Gatune Plain ADVENTURES 1 SWEETWATERS RONGAI GATE Sirima Dam Scott’s Plain SERENA CAMP TO NANYUKI Sidai Plain Marura Medical Sweetwaters Dispensary Secondary School Withare Medical Ngobit River Dispensary LOIDIEN OL PEJETA SAFARI COTTAGES DISCOVERING OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY AND WHEAT AREA MUTARA CONSERVATION AREA A ROLE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION ROADS ENDANGERED SPECIES ENCLOSURE Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, ADC FIREBREAKS ANIMAL ‘DAMS’ provide a sanctuary for great apes and to generate income through wildlife tourism and complimentary MAIN ROAD JUNCTION NUMBERS enterprises for re-investment in conservation and ALL WEATHER ROADS SWEETWATERS CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY community development. BUSH TRACKS Visiting hours 10.00am to 4.00pm SELFCAMPING SITES/PICNIC SITES/COTTAGES RIVERS RHINO GRAVEYARD PLAINS For all the rhinos poached on Ol Pejeta Kilometres MAIN CONSERVATION AREA MAJOR CAMPS AND LODGES 4 WILDLIFE CORRIDORS MOUNT KENYA WILDLIFE ESTATE (MKWE) 0 1 2 3 4 5 5 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 INNOVATIVE, TANGIBLE CONSERVATION FOR WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE CONSERVATION 2019 HIGHLIGHTS bloodhound puppies born, two lions collared for more 9kept and seven assigned to other effective 6monitoring and conservancies management Renee Roaming 21 rhino calves born (17 black rhinos and four white rhinos). 8% growth rate - highest ever! 40 Ami Vitale rangers received extra training 6endangered Grevy’s 200 acres secured into habitat recovery 19 eggs harvested from the northern white rhinos, in drills, patrols, and wildlife zebra born, bringing total along the Ewaso Nyiro River 3 eggs developed into viable embryos monitoring population to 19 19 more kms 901 dogs in local of fence line communities have been were vaccinated added around against rabies to Mutara, protect people bringing the and wildlife. This total kms was done in of fence to partnership with 40. This is Mpala Research Justin Mott essential for Centre and the mitigating Government of 22 rhinos ear notched for easy identification human/wildlife Kenya. 219,000 kms covered by rangers on patrol and monitoring conflict. 6 7 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 COMMUNITY HOW THE FUNDING HELPED SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2019 HIGHLIGHTS 56% EDUCATION 66 health clinics conducted students71 on and 5,168 patients treated full scholarships 22% AGRICULTURE 200 2,282 HEALTHCARE computers and tablets awarded to local community farmers trained in 3% OTHER COMMUNITY PROJECTS schools with eight specially adapted 19% servers for access to educational content conservation agriculture 2,500 420 community community cattle received members artificial visited insemination for Ol Pejeta for improved stock, conservation leading to more education robust animals. trips. 2,500 tree seedlings planted along the 184 energy saving stoves built Ewaso Nyiro riparian zone and four communal seedbeds established 8 9 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 TOURISM TECHNOLOGY 2019 HIGHLIGHTS 2019 HIGHLIGHTS 26 WPS (Wildlife Protection Solutions) new technologies trialled through the conservation 3 7 experiences now covert cameras were set up Conservation Technology Lab, and on offer for guests and eventually integrated with several incorporated into the internet EarthRanger of things, using SigFox 2,583 people camped in the wild 10% increase in 5,423 domestic tourism text messages sent on the dual SMS system for community engagement 9,000 photos taken on and support Ksh 481,083,000 (US$ 4,810,830) CCTV cameras out in the field earned from tourism 110,676 The Conservation EarthRanger Technology Lab was also visitors through the gates in 2019 was officially launched, an launched on online tool that Ksh 12,386,138 (US$ 123,861) the 29th of May. helps Ol Pejeta worth of items sold through the 33,101 Kenyan citizens Since then, it to collect, Conservancy