Annual Report 2018
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ANNUAL REPORT 2018 A ROLE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 1 Ol Pejeta moved from strength to strength in 2018. As an organisation our financial performance continued to improve. With a resurgence in the Kenyan tourism industry, Ol Pejeta made good use of its reputation as an excellent safari destination to achieve record revenues and, for the first time, visitor numbers that exceeded 100,000 people. That over 50% of these visitors were Kenyans demonstrates Ol Pejeta’s commitment in making sure that those who are ultimately charged with the care and stewardship of the country’s natural resources, have the ability to access the Conservancy in an affordable manner, now and in the future. From a conservation perspective, Ol Pejeta continued to be a leader in black rhino conservation and remains home to the largest single population of this species in East Africa. We worked hard in collaboration with Government to create more conservation space as a means to ensure ecosystem connectivity, and making room for OUR VISION further growth of our black rhino population. Of course, more conservation space for rhinos provides more space To become an innovative and sustainable for all other species. Coupled with the fact that our integrated system development model of national importance for safeguarding conservation space also allows opportunities for that conserves biodiversity (particularly economic development, we are thus able to increasingly meet the endangered species) and contributes to needs of both human and wildlife populations in a model that is more economic growth and the improvement of and more recognised and replicated globally. the livelihoods of rural communities. Moving forwards into 2019, we will aim to further strengthen the quality of our tourism business to enhance net revenues, at the same time as making some significant investments into the agribusiness sector of the organisation in order to improve profitability within this OUR MISSION area, whilst creating a platform for tackling livestock and livelihood related issues within this part of Kenya. Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes, and We will also invest more into the development and use of technology to generate income through wildlife tourism as a means to improve the effectiveness of our own operations, as and complementary enterprise for reinvestment well as assisting to provide solutions to conservation globally. in conservation and communities. Overall Ol Pejeta Conservancy increasingly sees itself as an engine for sustainable conservation and economic development at a landscape scale. To that end, throughout 2019 and beyond, we will be working within the Laikipia landscape, through the Ewaso Enterprise OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Partnership, to develop economic and operational collaboration that will hopefully permit the maintenance of conservation space in a Philip Coulson, Chairman manner that encourages and nurtures economic growth. Joanna Elliott (Fauna & Flora International) We see a bright future full of opportunity, and would like to thank all Dr. Annette Lanjouw (Arcus Foundation) who have supported us in 2018 to achieve the progress we have made. We are deeply appreciative and hope very much that you will Mike Watson (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy) continue to partner with us in the future. Hon. Francis Ole Kaparo Michael Gichangi Dr. Helen Gichohi Vijay Gidoomal Daniel Szlapak Richard Vigne Richard Vigne Managing Director Ol Pejeta Conservancy LETTER FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR K e ep i ng cu 2 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 3 r io s ity wild © 2 0 15 ELAND DOWNS Endana Secondary & Primary School Mt Kenya MUTARA 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 EQUATOR CHIMPANZEE Spoonbill Dam 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 NGOBIT CAMPSITE Medical Ngobit River Dispensary LOIDIEN OL PEJETA SAFARI COTTAGES DISCOVERING OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY AND MUTARA CONSERVATION AREA WHEAT AREA ROADS ENDANGERED SPECIES ENCLOSURE A ROLE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION ADC FIREBREAKS ANIMAL ‘DAMS’ Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, MAIN ROAD JUNCTION NUMBERS provide a sanctuary for great apes and to generate ALL WEATHER ROADS SWEETWATERS CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY income through wildlife tourism and complimentary enterprises for re-investment in conservation and BUSH TRACKS Visiting hours 10.00am to 4.00pm SELFCAMPING SITES/PICNIC SITES/COTTAGES community development. RIVERS RHINO GRAVEYARD PLAINS For all the rhinos poached on Ol Pejeta MAIN CONSERVATION AREA MAJOR CAMPS AND LODGES WILDLIFE CORRIDORS MOUNT KENYA WILDLIFE ESTATE (MKWE) Kilometres 0 1 2 3 4 5 4 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 5 ZERO POACHING Absolutely no incidents of poaching in 2018. LAST MALE NORTHERN WHITE RHINO Sudan passed away in March due to age related illness. ELEVEN RHINO BIRTHS INNOVATIVE, Two southern whites and nine black TANGIBLE, rhinos. SUSTAINABLE THREE MORE GPS LION CONSERVATION COLLARS FITTED FOR WILDLIFE For research and monitoring. AND PEOPLE. CONSERVATION TWO CHIMPANZEES RESCUED & INTEGRATED Bo and Bella rescued from West Africa and successfully integrated with the others at Sweetwaters. 50% MUTARA FENCE COMPLETE Around 21 kms. 6 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 7 RHINOS ECOLOGICAL • Breakthrough in rhino IVF heralds hope for the future of the northern white rhino - the MONITORING UNIT first ever embryo using a northern white rhino sperm and southern white rhino egg • Areas of pasture that had been severely impacted by the was created. 2017 drought recovered well with the good 2018 rains. • Ol Pejeta surpassed the targeted 6% • 14 Grevy’s zebras were moved to greener pastures at the annual growth rate for rhinos for a total of Mount Kenya Wildlife Estate (MKWE). 120 rhinos. • 30 acres of the prolific Euclea Divinorum was cleared in • Two of the nine black rhino calves born MKWE to allow for pasture suitable for grazing species. in 2018 sadly died from unfortunate but • Three lions were collared to enable us to make more natural causes - one was caught in a informed conservation plans. The data gathered from scuffle between its mother and a male these collars will help us understand how their predation rhino, while the other fell prey to lions. habits affect endangered species, and mitigate human/lion conflict with pastoral communities along our boundaries. We currently host around 70 lions across six prides, with four individuals in different prides collared. • Numbers of wild dog and jackal, which dropped by about 60% in 2017 due to canine distemper virus, have chimpanzees now stabilised. • Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was accredited by PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) & GFAS (Global ECOLOGICAL MONITORING UNIT Federation of Animal Sanctuaries). These are official recognitions that the Sanctuary meets international APPROXIMATE ANIMAL NUMBERS: standards of animal care and welfare. • Chimpanzees Bo and Bella were rescued from Guinea Bissau, where they had been confiscated from the illegal market, and brought to Ol Pejeta. After months of careful 180 Jackson’s preparation and slow introductions, they were successfully hartebeest integrated with the rest of the group at Sweetwaters. • A new collaboration with San Diego Zoo was established to improve chimpanzee welfare. As part of this, we will be 68 rolling out an online course for animal caregivers in the lions near future. About 400 elephants • 18 Sweetwaters caregivers were trained in essential chimpanzee welfare • Partnership formed with US charity Children of 26 cheetahs Conservation - to support the children of Sweetwaters staff to complete school. • We continued to receive invaluable support from the Arcus Foundation who chairs our steering committee and enhances 16 Grevy’s 16 Beisa 3,500 common our networking, collaboration and technical expertise. zebras oryx zebras 8 OL PEJETA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 9 VETERINARY CARE • We acquired a bespoke veterinary vehicle, modified for rapid response and field treatment of wild animals. • Five female chimpanzees were fitted with contraception devices to prevent breeding at Sweetwaters. This is to ensure we remain true to our values as a rescue SECURITY centre, and keep as many places as we can for chimpanzees in need. • There were ZERO poaching incidents • Two lionesses were successfully treated in 2018 for serious injuries; one sustained during • Ten more rangers were qualified as a fight for pride leadership, and another National Police Reservists (NPR), which during a buffalo hunt. enables them to carry government-issue • The veterinary team ran