Kenya's first White Rhino Conservation and Management Action Plan
African Wildlife Foundation
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Abstract: Kenya conserves both subspecies of the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). There are currently circa 750 southern white rhinos (C. simum simum) (SWR), on private, community and State lands (Table 1). The species was introduced into Kenya from South Africa to support conservation efforts, in total 51 animals (six animals in 1965, 20 in the 1970s, 5 in 1992, and 20 in 1994; six of the latter individuals died due to disease) (Rookmaaker 1998). The population has grown rapidly over the last 20 years at an average rate of 6.76% (95% CI: 6.19%?7.33%) per annum (Fig. 1). It has so far been managed with guidelines largely under the umbrella of the Black Rhino Conservation and Management Action Plan (Okita-Ouma et al. 2007). However, due to their rapid growth, there was an urgent need to develop a separate action plan to inform best practice management of the subspecies.