NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Gleammour AquaFresh
NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Home Local News Encouraging Wildlife Corridors to Aid in Kenya’s Animal Population Recovery

Encouraging Wildlife Corridors to Aid in Kenya’s Animal Population Recovery

'Wildlife corridors' are encouraged to support Kenya's recovering animal populations
Up next
Prince William and Kate's Friends Poke Fun at Meghan's New Lifestyle Brand Name
Friends of Prince William and Kate Playfully Tease Meghan’s New Lifestyle Brand Name
Published on 03 March 2025
Author
NewsFinale Journal
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp


LEWA – As nations mark World Wildlife Day, conservationists in Kenya are warning of shrinking wildlife spaces in the east African country that generates substantial revenue from wildlife tourism.

While conservation efforts over the past two decades have led to the recovery of many threatened species, the animals are losing wide swaths of habitat because of threats stemming from climate change and destructive human behavior, activists warn.

But they also cite an opportunity in what are known as wildlife corridors — strips of land connecting areas that would otherwise be separated by human activities. By allowing free movement of animals and reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, such corridors support the growth of wildlife populations.

One conservation group that is trying to create such corridors is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which lies about 260 kilometers (160 miles) north of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Lewa is owned by a nonprofit that has acquired more land in recent years in a bid to connect Mount Kenya forest preserve to rangelands in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is home to 14% of Kenya’s remaining black rhinos, in addition to other mammal species ranging from lions to zebras.

An annual wildlife census was underway when the AP visited Lewa, where animal numbers have been going up over the years. The census involved the manual counting of each animal, with both ground rangers and aerial teams participating in the dayslong effort.

“All this is an effort to ensure that we undertake the responsibility of accounting for every species that is found on Lewa, especially the most critically endangered ones and the threatened ones,” said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation and wildlife at Lewa. “We make sure it’s a full census.”

Lewa’s elephant population increased from 350 individuals in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, according to figures provided by the conservancy. Similar growth was seen among white and black rhinos, a major draw for visitors.

But rising wildlife populations strain ecosystems and need to be matched by stronger efforts to protect habitats and create new corridors, Maringa said.

“As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them to climate change, relate them with people and human-wildlife conflict,” he said. “Maybe you are enjoying seeing a lot of elephants or buffalos. But at the end of the day what does that mean? You have to make sure you think ahead of the population.”

Kenyan authorities report wildlife population growth trends across the country. Figures from the wildlife authority show that elephant numbers have grown from around 16,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 37,000 in 2024. Black rhinos have increased from fewer than 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Critically endangered Grevy’s zebras now number over 2,000, while lions have grown to approximately 2,600.

But that success is threatened in some areas by growing human populations: Kenya’s population has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025.

Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, is encouraging conservancies such as Lewa and private landowners to open up wildlife corridors for free animal movement, with translocation efforts also underway to redistribute animals from crowded ecosystems into less populated areas.

KWS, in a recent statement, cited the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, an expansive protected area in southern Kenya that hosts key elephant migration routes, as “increasingly under pressure due to human activities affecting the free movement of wildlife.”

Similarly, the wildlife corridor known as Kitengela, which connects Nairobi National Park to the grasslands of southern Kenya, has faced fragmentation due to human settlements and infrastructure development.

Beside climate change, rapid urbanization driven by population growth is a major factor in the shrinking of wildlife corridors, according to KWS.

There is also the additional problem of wildfires, with Kenya Forest Service reporting over 180 wildfires that have damaged more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation across the country since the beginning of this year.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
'It's a very sinister pattern'; Decatur approves task force to combat human trafficking
  • Local News

Decatur Approves Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking, Citing a Troubling Pattern

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Three different agencies are putting a team together…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Photo of Linnie McCown. (Courtesy Michael McCown)
  • Local News

Central Texas experiences devastating loss of over 100 lives due to flash floods, here are details about the affected individuals.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — At least 119 people across Central Texas are confirmed…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Trump's trade blitz produces few deals but lots of uncertainty
  • Local News

Trump's trade blitz produces few deals but lots of uncertainty

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and his advisers promised a lightning…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Beyond the ordinary: an animal sanctuary for the forgotten and fabulous
  • Local News

Unconventional: A refuge for remarkable animals that are often overlooked

GUYTON, Ga. () — Tucked away just outside Savannah, on a quiet…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
'Betrayed': Parents left scrambling after Riverview daycare abruptly announces closure
  • Local News

'Betrayed': Parents left scrambling after Riverview daycare abruptly announces closure

RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFLA) — Parents said they have been betrayed by a…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
State sweep removes more than 20,000 illegal hemp packages from Central Florida, officials say
  • Local News

Officials in Central Florida have removed over 20,000 illegal hemp packages in a recent enforcement operation.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services removed…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
RCSO arrests seven people after search warrant on Brookshire Drive
  • Local News

Seven individuals arrested by RCSO following search warrant execution on Brookshire Drive

AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office conducted…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Lake County sheriff’s deputy shoots, injures man
  • Local News

A man was shot and wounded by a deputy of the Lake County sheriff’s office.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake County sheriff’s deputy shot and injured…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025

Russia launches biggest-ever drone assault on Ukraine following Trump’s pledge to increase weapon supply

Russia has targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones, hours after United…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Hot car deaths claim 10 children in US this year
  • US

Tragic Deaths of 10 Children in the US Due to Heatstroke in Vehicles

Since June 5, 2025 across the U.S. ten children have died in…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Smoke plumes rising from a bombed-out city.
  • News

Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages as Trump says there’s a ‘very good chance’ for ceasefire deal this week

HAMAS has said it will release 10 hostages amid ongoing efforts to…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
Faith brings light to devastated Texas town after deadly flooding disaster
  • US

Faith brings light to devastated Texas town after deadly flooding disaster

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Volunteers have descended upon…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 9, 2025
NewsFinale Journal
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Advertise Here
  • Donate