Kenya once supported more than 20,000 rhinoceroses, but rampant poaching in the 1970s and 1980s decimated populations. By 1982, numbers had plummeted by 98%, leaving fewer than 400 individuals. Thanks to decades of dedicated conservation, the population has steadily rebounded to over 1,000 rhinos today.

Tragically, the northern white rhinoceros is now functionally extinct, with only two surviving females—Najin and Fatu. Kenya’s rhino population today consists of black rhinoceros (the smaller of the two species) and southern white rhinoceros translocated from southern Africa.

To secure the future of these iconic animals, the Government of Kenya is partnering with landowners to expand rhino habitat. This initiative represents a turning point: restoring rhinos to landscapes where they have been absent for more than 50 years, removing fences, strengthening security, and developing a scientific strategy for long-term monitoring so they can once again roam freely.

In May, I had the privilege of helping organize and attend a pivotal meeting at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County. Local and international experts gathered to shape the scientific agenda for rhino range expansion. The meeting was honored by the presence of Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service, with virtual remarks from Dr. Patrick Omondi, Director/CEO of Kenya’s Wildlife Research & Training Institute.

This collaborative effort marks an important step toward ensuring that future generations will inherit a Kenya where rhinos thrive once again. Rhino, however, face many challenges, with poaching that continues to decimate populations across many parts of their range.