Investing in Wildlife Conservation in Kenya

Kenya has always been at the center of wildlife conservation due to its world-renowned national parks and an active conservation movement. Drawn by the large economic benefits brought about by tourism, wildlife conservation is however increasingly becoming a strained trade. Three events happened in the last two months that have cemented Kenya as the center for conservation. First, a project to maintain the legacy of the last white rhino in the world received a boost after the country announced the successful fertilization and creation of new embryos from the original bull. This research was conducted by Kenya Wildlife Services, OlPajeta Conservancy both based in Kenya, Berlin-based Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Italian institute Avantea, and DvůrKrálové Zoo based in the Czech Republic. The scientists and conservationists predict to have more embryos ready for eventual breeding and repopulation in the near future. This was a series of cutting-edge research and trials that brought Kenya again on the global conservation map as well as in animal research. The second event, though with a sad ending, was the discovery of a Finnish bird, an Osprey that endured a gruesome 7,000-kilometer flight from Finland to Kenya’s Lake Victoria region. The bird,