North east Kenya strives to protect its animals

North east Kenya is off the beaten path for most tourists. It’s not as well marketed as a holiday destination and it lacks the prestige of south western Kenya, with its renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. But the region is not without its attractions. In the Ijara District, which is a subsection of the Garissa District, is the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy. It is the only place in the world where the extremely endangered hirola antelope is protected.

It’s estimated that 100 hirola live within the conservancy’s borders and the total population is estimated to be around 250. For once man is not the primary cause of their endangered status, rather attacks from lions and other big cats and predators have eaten into the population numbers.

In addition to the hirola, which have distinguishing markings around their eyes that make them look as though they are wearing glasses, the conservancy is also home to buffalo, giraffe, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, the very endangered Tana River red colobus monkey and the vulnerable mangabey monkey.

According to Omar Tawane, the Northern Rangeland regional coordinator, the conservancy intends building a special sanctuary that will isolate the hirola while they are breeding, which effectively protects them from predators. There are also plans to attract more tourists by building a new hotel to complement the camps that already exist. An airstrip is also under construction.

Another animal sanctuary in the region is the Garissa Community Giraffe Sanctuary, which is so close to the town of Garissa that it’s almost a part of it. The sanctuary came into being when herds of giraffe fled the violence and poaching of Somalia and made their home near the town. The sanctuary is now home to 300 giraffe, which are so used to people that they move around the human settlement and don’t even startle when the local women stand next to them to draw water.