Partnering with the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is proud to enhance Kenya’s conservation efforts through the donation of 20 Land Cruiser vehicles, one Isuzu truck, and camping equipment for 200 rangers.
This donation comes at a time when the Kenya Wildlife Service maps a historic milestone: The first recruitment in 10 years of KWS ranger graduates from the Manyani Law Enforcement Academy to help reinforce field operations.
We have always proudly supported the KWS in their mission to manage, protect, and conserve Kenya’s wildlife. KWS rangers work in protected areas across the country, bringing much-needed oversight to vulnerable habitats. A team is only as effective as their resources — and chief among them is the ability to travel anywhere and set up camp to hit the ground running. It is vital that rangers have the necessary tools to do their jobs, keeping morale high and helping them to be more efficient and impactful.
Protecting a landscape on the scale of Tsavo requires agility and mobility. While Tsavo is Kenya’s largest wilderness, the country is checkered with vast areas that need protection. A single conservation operation isn’t a matter of a few hours, but can span several days or even weeks.
That is why we, alongside our partner the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation, were happy to support the KWS through this large-scale donation. When the latest class of rangers graduated from the Manyani Law Enforcement Academy, we wanted to ensure they had the best tools to execute their duties as custodians of Kenya’s flora and fauna.
The donation included:
- 20 Toyota Land Cruisers, specifically customised for field anti-poaching work. Each vehicle has been fitted with state-of-the-art radios, 2 spare tyres, and durable recovery equipment that will help them navigate whatever challenges the rugged terrain presents.
- 1 Isuzu FTS 4x4 truck, which was fabricated for field conditions. This truck will enable teams to move camp efficiently and travel between mobile field bases.
- Camping equipment to accommodate 200 rangers within the Tsavo Conservation Area, including 50 four-man tents, 200 bedrolls, 200 camping chairs, and 50 folding tables. This can be set up in almost any field environment, providing the necessary accommodations for rangers as they do their important work.
- Funding a comprehensive 4x4 training course for 21 KWS drivers
Rangers are the frontline defenders of Kenya’s wildlife. We are proud to support the brave KWS personnel in their noble mission as they stand empowered and equipped for the task at hand.