As Kenya celebrates World Wildlife Day, conservationists are raising alarms over the rapid loss of wildlife habitats, despite significant progress in the recovery of endangered species. The country’s natural landscapes are shrinking due to the dual pressures of climate change and human population growth, leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts that threaten biodiversity and conservation efforts.
One of the key solutions to address these challenges is the creation and expansion of wildlife corridors—strips of land that connect isolated wildlife habitats. These corridors facilitate safe animal movement, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and allowing species to find new sources of food and water. A prime example is the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, located 260 kilometers north of Nairobi, which has been actively working to expand its conservation efforts by linking Mount Kenya’s forest with the rangelands to the north. This strategy has seen tangible success: Lewa’s elephant population has grown from 350 in 2014 to over 450 in 2024, while the rhino population has also steadily increased.
However, the success of these conservation efforts is being tested as wildlife populations grow and ecosystems become increasingly strained. “As conservationists, you have to be looking at these trends, relate them with climate change and human-wildlife conflicts, and think ahead,” said Dominic Maringa, head of conservation at Lewa. “You think ahead, open new corridors, connect your conservancy with others.” The need for further expansion of wildlife corridors has become urgent as rising populations place additional pressure on already fragile ecosystems.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reports similar trends of population growth across the country, particularly among elephants. From a population of 16,000 in the 1980s, the number of elephants in Kenya has surged to nearly 37,000 today. However, this success is overshadowed by the rapid urbanization and population growth that have come with Kenya’s expanding cities and infrastructure. Kenya’s population has more than doubled since 1989, bringing with it increased demand for land and resources, which, in turn, has led to encroachment on wildlife habitats. Key migration routes, such as the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem and the Nairobi Kitengela corridor, are now under immense pressure from development projects and agricultural expansion.
Authorities are urging wildlife conservancies, landowners, and local communities to collaborate in preserving open wildlife corridors, as well as participating in translocation efforts that move animals from overpopulated areas to more suitable, less crowded habitats. Without these essential measures, experts warn that Kenya’s hard-earned conservation successes could be undermined. Habitat loss could lead to a decline in wildlife populations, especially as climate change further exacerbates the challenges faced by Kenya’s biodiversity.
The World Wildlife Day celebrations are a stark reminder that, while progress has been made, the work of conserving Kenya’s wildlife and ecosystems remains an ongoing battle. With continued efforts to expand and protect wildlife corridors, there is hope that Kenya’s rich biodiversity can be safeguarded for generations to come. However, this will require sustained cooperation between government authorities, conservationists, landowners, and local communities to ensure that wildlife and people can coexist in an increasingly urbanized and climate-stressed environment.
