I am pleased to update you with some of the highlights from my visit last month to Save Giraffes Now programs in Kenya.
Olosira Community Conservancy
The Save Giraffes Now team and a representative from Houston Zoo visited Olosira Conservancy to unveil a new borehole funded by the zoo and Save Giraffes Now. This borehole will not only benefit giraffe but other wildlife, livestock, and the community, as well.
Photo: Save Giraffes Now, Houston Zoo, and the Olosira community at the site of the new borehole.
In addition to their support of the borehole, Houston Zoo brought much needed supplies for the Olosira rangers, including shirts, socks, binoculars, and rain ponchos.
Photo: John from Houston Zoo gifting essentials to the Olosira Community Conservancy rangers.
Swara Plains Conservancy
In a further effort to increase water accessibility, Save Giraffes Now is drilling a new borehole at Swara Plains Conservancy.
Swara Plains Conservancy urgently needs a new borehole as two existing boreholes, drilled before 1940, have dried up. This new borehole is essential to sustain wildlife, especially during times of drought. This borehole will also redirect wildlife away from Mombasa Highway, where many animals continue to be killed by vehicles each year. In 2023 alone, fatalities totaled over 100 animals (including multiple giraffe).
Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy
During my visit, Aggrey Chemwa, Head of Research; Fiona Sandeman, Director of East Africa Operations; and I brought predator deterrent lights to Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy in order to protect the young Ruko calf that the community has been hand rearing with financial and advisory support from Save Giraffes Now. The Save Giraffes Now team and the Ruko rangers mounted the lights to the stable and paddock where the calf sleeps at night. These lights flash throughout the night, helping to deter any potential predators.
Photo: Mounting the predator deterrent lights to the paddock at Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy.
We also spent time with the calf who continues to thrive under the care of the Ruko rangers!
Photo: Kayla feeding the young Ruko calf.
Underpass Utilization Research
Save Giraffes Now also hosted Jacob of Kansas City Zoo. Jacob and Aggrey, our Head of Research, have been investigating a local underpass and the factors affecting its usage by giraffe and other wildlife.
Photo: Jacob of Kansas City Zoo and Aggrey installing camera traps to investigate a local underpass.
In addition to these current programs, the Save Giraffes Now team visited several sites across Kenya to analyze exciting potential new projects for 2025! Stand by for additional updates on those.
Thank you so much to all of Save Giraffes Now’s partners and Giraffe Friends for your support of this work. It means the world to us, and – most importantly – to the majestic giraffes of Africa.
Warmly,
Kayla Walisch
Chief Operating Officer
Support Save Giraffes Now
Save Giraffes Now has accomplished so much for giraffe since our inception 5 years ago, but there is still more to do. Please join us in our fight to save giraffe from extinction now so they can live freely and safely for generations to come.
