Latest news with #RebeccaMiano
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Kenya Wildlife Service and the Zeitz Foundation Initiate Historic Rhino Translocation to Segera Conservancy
The initiative aims to create one of the largest rhino sanctuaries globally, protecting endangered species while delivering sustainable community benefits. SEGERA, KENYA, May 28, 2025 / / -- Kenya's Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano today presided over the launch of a groundbreaking rhino translocation exercise at the Segera Conservancy in Central Kenya. The project, a collaborative effort between the ZEITZ Foundation and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), will see 21 critically endangered eastern black rhinos moved to the 50,000-acre conservancy, marking a significant milestone in Kenya's wildlife conservation efforts. More than a relocation effort, this is a visionary model for regeneration. It forms part of a broader plan to establish what will ultimately become one of the largest rhino sanctuaries in the world by connecting Segera to other conservation areas in the region. Kenya is home to about 80 percent of the world's remaining eastern black rhinos. As of 2024, Kenya had 1,977 rhinos, made up of 1,004 eastern black rhinos, 971 southern white rhinos, and two critically endangered northern white rhinos. Jochen Zeitz the founder of the ZEITZ Foundation and Segera says, 'We are so excited to be welcoming endangered Black Rhinos back to Segera. By giving these rhinos an expansive new home, we not only expect to see numbers increase significantly in coming years, but it also benefits communities while enhancing the biodiversity and landscapes of Central Kenya.' said Zeitz. Restoring the Land, Empowering the People Like all other projects by the ZEITZ Foundation, the translocation is expected to deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for land, wildlife, and rural communities. The establishment of Segera Rhino Sanctuary will serve as a linchpin in Kenya's Rhino Range Expansion plan, with Segera Conservancy being the central geographic connection between other rhino sanctuaries. As community involvement remains central to the project's success, areas around Segera will benefit through employment, capacity building and increased conservation economies. The project also offers unique learning experiences for schools and communities on wildlife conservation and related opportunities. Enhanced Security and Ecological Monitoring The translocation process is expected to take approximately 18-21 days, during which the rhinos will be kept under close observation by KWS specialists to help them adapt to their new home. Enhanced security measures will protect not only the rhinos but also the broader biodiversity of the area and local communities around the conservancy. Organizers have emphasized that existing land rights and boundaries will be respected and remain unaffected by the rhino translocation. Advanced ecological monitoring will also ensure sustainable habitat management and help mitigate Human Wildlife Conflict. A Living Legacy of the 4Cs Segera's role in this rewilding milestone reflects a long-term vision seeded by Jochen Zeitz, founder of the ZEITZ Foundation. In 2009, the Foundation developed The Long Run—a global community of nature-based businesses committed to achieving the highest levels of sustainability through a holistic balance of the 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. Now an independent charity, The Long Run supports some of the world's most forward-thinking conservation and tourism initiatives, safeguarding over 21 million acres globally. As a founding Long Run Destination, Segera exemplifies this philosophy through efforts like wildlife conservation, women's empowerment, habitat restoration, and community development. In turn, this rhino relocation is more than a conservation success—but part of a larger story where tourism, nature, and local communities work in harmony to shape a sustainable future. A Tourism Model That Regenerates Aside from being a vital hub for the relocation project, Segera is also an award-winning eco-tourism destination where every guest stay directly supports the ecosystem and the communities who protect it. As a pioneer in regenerative tourism, Segera offers travelers a luxury safari experience grounded in purpose. Visitors are invited to take part in guided rewilding walks, learn about the 4C Philosophy, meet rangers and researchers, and explore how tourism revenue fuels long-term ecological and community resilience. Today, guests will also now have the rare opportunity to witness the return of critically endangered eastern black rhinos to their ancestral lands. ABOUT SEGERA Located in the heart of Laikipia, Kenya, Segera is a 50,000-acre wildlife conservancy and award-winning eco-tourism destination. As a hub for conservation, art, and culture, Segera blends luxury with purpose, offering guests transformative travel experiences that support wildlife protection, community empowerment, and the regeneration of East Africa's landscapes. ABOUT THE ZEITZ FOUNDATION Founded by Jochen Zeitz in 2008, the ZEITZ foundation promotes an innovative approach to sustainable ecosystem management which aims to achieve sustainability through a balance of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce (the 4Cs). Its vision is of an ecosphere – our planet and all of its life-sustaining regions – maintained in the healthiest possible state, with the major contribution to that health coming from people making sustainable choices. The ZEITZ foundation's mission is to create and support ecologically and socially responsible projects to achieve long-lasting impact and sustainability through the 4Cs, delivering tangible and sustainable benefits for land, wildlife and rural communities. Founded by the ZEITZ foundation in 2009, The Long Run is a membership organisation of nature-based tourism businesses that are committed to driving sustainability through the same holistic 4C philosophy. Now safeguarding over 21 million acres of nature in 22 different countries, touching the lives of 750,000 people and protecting over 30,000 plant and animal species, The Long Run has become the largest organisation of its kind worldwide. ABOUT THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation mandated to conserve and manage Kenya's wildlife, and to enforce relevant Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA, 2013) laws for the Kenyan people and the world. There are a plethora of challenges facing wildlife and biodiversity conservation in Kenya, such as climate change, habitat degradation and loss, forest depletion, tourism market volatility, changing land use, human-wildlife conflict brought on by population growth, and wildlife crime. KWS manages about 8 per cent of the total landmass of the country, which comprises 23 National Parks, 28 National Reserves and 4 National Sanctuaries. Also, under KWS management are 4 Marine National Parks and 6 Marine Rachel Roth Imagine PR [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Kenya receives 17 rare antelopes from the US
Kenya has received 17 mountain bongos – a very rare type of antelope – from a conservation centre in the United States. The antelopes are third-generation descendants of mountain bongos taken from Kenya in the 1960s. The return of the critically endangered animals, from the Rare Species Conservation Foundation in Florida, was hailed as a "monumental step" in Kenya's conservation efforts. From about 500 in the 1970s, less than 100 mountain bongos are estimated to remain in the wild in Kenya, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. The KWS said this was due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal activities, disease, and small fragmented populations. Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano described the arrival of the bongos at the country's main airport on Sunday night as "emotional and so cool", and a benefit for Kenya's tourism and conservation sectors. The animals were taken to wildlife sanctuaries in Meru county near Mount Kenya, where they will be nurtured before they are gradually introduced to their natural habitat. Ms Miano said the mountain bongo, "a species originally only found in Kenya, has suffered untold grief over the decades... dwindling to alarming proportions". She said the plan was to grow the population to 700 by 2050. The mountain bongo, which has a bright chestnut-red colour with narrow white stripes, is the largest African forest-dwelling antelope, according to the KWS. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a Critically Endangered species - with more individuals in captivity than in the wild. The first repatriation to Kenya was in 2004 when 18 mountain bongos were flown into the country. KWS director-general Erastus Kanga said Kenya was expecting another batch of the mountain bongos from zoos in Europe in the next three months. From captivity, the bongos have to go through a series of adaptation phases for them to build the immunity needed to survive in the wild. In 2022, the head of conservancy at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) told a Kenyan TV station that some of the bongos repatriated in 2004 had successfully been integrated into the wild and had started breeding. The MKWC official, Robert Aruho, however, said that other had died from tick-borne diseases, adding that building immunity takes time. Rare mountain bongo born at Chester Zoo Watch: Kenya's Mountain Bongo antelope under threat Critically endangered antelope arrives at zoo Endangered black rhinos die in Kenya reserve Kenya: Endangered giraffes killed by low power lines Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
24-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kenya receives 17 mountain bongo antelopes from the US
Kenya has received 17 mountain bongos – a very rare type of antelope – from a conservation centre in the United antelopes are third-generation descendants of mountain bongos taken from Kenya in the return of the critically endangered animals, from the Rare Species Conservation Foundation in Florida, was hailed as a "monumental step" in Kenya's conservation about 500 in the 1970s, less than 100 mountain bongos are estimated to remain in the wild in Kenya, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. The KWS said this was due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal activities, disease, and small fragmented Minister Rebecca Miano described the arrival of the bongos at the country's main airport on Sunday night as "emotional and so cool", and a benefit for Kenya's tourism and conservation animals were taken to wildlife sanctuaries in Meru county near Mount Kenya, where they will be nurtured before they are gradually introduced to their natural Miano said the mountain bongo, "a species originally only found in Kenya, has suffered untold grief over the decades... dwindling to alarming proportions".She said the plan was to grow the population to 700 by mountain bongo, which has a bright chestnut-red colour with narrow white stripes, is the largest African forest-dwelling antelope, according to the is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a Critically Endangered species - with more individuals in captivity than in the wild. The first repatriation to Kenya was in 2004 when 18 mountain bongos were flown into the director-general Erastus Kanga said Kenya was expecting another batch of the mountain bongos from zoos in Europe in the next three captivity, the bongos have to go through a series of adaptation phases for them to build the immunity needed to survive in the 2022, the head of conservancy at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) told a Kenyan TV station that some of the bongos repatriated in 2004 had successfully been integrated into the wild and had started MKWC official, Robert Aruho, however, said that other had died from tick-borne diseases, adding that building immunity takes time. You may also be interested in: Rare mountain bongo born at Chester ZooWatch: Kenya's Mountain Bongo antelope under threatCritically endangered antelope arrives at zooEndangered black rhinos die in Kenya reserveKenya: Endangered giraffes killed by low power lines Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Kenya tourism sector earnings to rise to 650 billion shillings in 2025, minister says
NAIROBI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Kenya tourism sector earnings are expected to jump to 650 billion shillings ($5 billion) this year from 452.2 billion shillings last year, Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano said on Wednesday. Miano said the 2024 earnings were up 20% compared with a year earlier. The sector alongside tea exports and remittances are Kenya's major foreign exchange earners. ($1 = 129.0000 Kenyan shillings)
