In Lewa, Kenya, the celebration of World Wildlife Day highlights a growing concern among conservationists regarding the reduction of habitats available for wildlife. In a country like Kenya, where the economy heavily relies on tourism centered on wildlife, this issue is becoming increasingly pressing. Conservationists emphasize that while efforts over the past twenty years have helped many endangered species recover, their habitats are declining due to climate change and detrimental human actions.
Despite these challenges, conservationists see promise in the creation of wildlife corridors, which are land passages that provide connectivity between separate habitats disrupted by human activities. These corridors facilitate the free movement of animals and help mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, which in turn supports the thriving of wildlife populations. An example of ongoing efforts to establish such corridors is found at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Situated around 260 kilometers north of Nairobi, Lewa is owned by a nonprofit organization that has expanded its landholding to bridge the gap between the Mount Kenya forest preserve and northern Kenya’s rangelands. This sanctuary is crucial for protecting 14% of Kenya’s black rhinos, along with various other animals, including lions and zebras.
During a recent visit by conservationists, an ongoing wildlife census at Lewa was observed. The conservancy uses both ground and aerial teams to meticulously count each animal, ensuring thorough documentation of all species, particularly those critically endangered or threatened. Dominic Maringa, who leads conservation and wildlife efforts at Lewa, explained, “Our aim is to meticulously account for every species present on the conservancy, prioritizing those most at risk.”
The elephant population in Lewa has risen significantly, from 350 in 2014 to over 450 by 2024. This positive trend extends to both black and white rhinos, attracting numerous visitors to the area. However, Maringa points out that successful population growth requires enhanced measures to protect and expand habitats as well as establish new wildlife corridors.
According to data from Kenya’s wildlife authority, there are positive trends in wildlife populations across the nation. These improvements include an increase in elephant numbers, from approximately 16,000 in the late 1980s to close to 37,000 by 2024, and black rhinos from under 400 in the 1990s to over 1,000 today. Moreover, critically endangered Grevy’s zebras have surpassed 2,000, and lion numbers have reached around 2,600. Nonetheless, these successes face threats due to Kenya’s human population, which has grown from 22 million in 1989 to over 55 million in 2025.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) actively encourages both conservancies like Lewa and private landowners to maintain wildlife corridors to allow for animal movement. Moreover, KWS is implementing translocation strategies to redistribute animals from overcrowded ecosystems to less populated areas. A recent statement highlighted the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem in southern Kenya, a critical area for elephant migration, as being increasingly pressured by human activities that impede wildlife movement.
Similar challenges are found in the Kitengela corridor, which links Nairobi National Park with southern Kenya’s grasslands and is affected by urban developments. Urbanization, propelled by population growth, is a significant contributor to shrinking wildlife corridors, alongside climate change. Furthermore, wildfires pose an additional threat. Since the beginning of the year, Kenya Forest Service has reported over 180 wildfires that have devastated more than 1,358 hectares of vegetation nationwide.
