Baby Boom in Kenya

 2020 was a banner year for elephants in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, one of the most important elephant conservation areas in Africa. The Amboseli Elephant Trust reports that a record 226 elephant calves were born last year, more than double the annual average.

Experts believe that the high fertility rate is largely due to abundant food resources, resulting from a higher than normal rainfall in 2018 and 2019, but conservation measures are also a significant contributing factor. Habitat for elephants has been greatly expanded by private conservancies surrounding the Park (Ol Donyo and Tortilis Camp being perfect examples) and, thanks to increased monitoring efforts, there was not a single poaching incident recorded in 2020.

 Also in Kenya, the Lewa-Borana Conservation and Research Department announced a record six rhino births in the last quarter of 2020, bringing the total rhino population on the Lewa-Borana Conservancy to 214 (113 black rhinos and 101 white rhinos). Lewa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site by virtue of its community-based conservation efforts to protect critical migratory routes and landscape, as well as endangered species such as rhinos and Grevy's zebra. Explore the conservancy from Kifaru House or Sirikoi Lodge.

The new baby rhinos have not yet been named, and the research department anticipates that this will be done via their Adopt-a-Rhino program. By adopting a rhino, "parents" have the privilege of naming the rhino, and will then receive regular updates on its progress, and be offered the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts. Click here to learn more about adopting a Lewa-Borana rhino!

Last, but not least, Kenya saw an explosion of endangered Green Turtle hatchlings on its Southern Coastlines. This is largely thanks to the members of the Tiwi Turtle Police who act as personal bodyguards to the newborn turtles, thereby increasing their chances of survival.