SAVE ENDANGERED BEISA ORYX

Nakuprat-Gotu Wildlife Community Conservancy is a community owned institution started in the year 2010. The conservancy registered as a community-based organization under Kenya ministry of social services and a member of Kenya state Community Conservancy Association. The coverage area of the conservancy is 79,000 hectors with a protected wildlife conservation area of 39,300 Ha, this managed by conservancy management and community scouts in participation with community members. Board of Trustees representing twelve community zones elected by community members to manage the conservancy for three years currently manages it. The authority of traditions, elders and chiefs has remained high in the villages that have been legislated as an Act by the government of Kenya (The Community Land Act, 2012). The management of the community conservancies is through traditional structures and organized through the umbrella community-based organization (CBO).
The conservancy is a sanctuary of the endangered Oryx Baisa species (spp Beisa Beisa), The Beisa oryx is listed as ‘endangered’ by IUCN, with populations in decline across much of Africa. Habitat loss, hunting and competition with livestock for pasture all threaten the future of this majestic antelope - and there are now only estimated 8,000 - 9,000 individuals left. In northern Kenya however, Nakuprat-Gotu Community Conservancy has been working closely with other conservation partners like Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), County Government of Isiolo, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in protecting and conserving the threatened Beisa Oryx and its habitat. In 2019 with the financial support of the European Union through IUCN Save Our Species, Nakuprat-Gotu conservancy rolled out conservation efforts and sensitizing communities on the need to protect the species from possible extinction. The project supports community ranger’s monitoring and conservation efforts, communities' awareness activities and subsequently, equipping the local youth with vocational skills ranging from different life skills courses dubbed Ujuzi Manyattani. Meant to provide an alternative source of income to the community, which will discourage falling trees for commercial charcoal burning and hunting/poaching Beisa Oryx for meat, skin and horns that illegally traded too. The support has seen a decline in the number of Beisa Oryx hunted for meat and an increase in the population - from 618 in 2016, 631 in2017 to 709 in 2018, 881 in 2020 and 814 Oryx, in 2021 a 15% annual increase, These figures indicate that this is the largest known remaining concentration of Beisa Oryx in northern Kenya. the slight decrease in 2021 is attributed to the prolonged drought affecting northern Kenya as from 2021 to present and the subsequent impact of COVID 19 on resource mobilization that has left the community conservancy struggling to finance the operations and the project actins well. The situation has seen increase in presence of livestock in the conservation areas leading to some of Beisa Oryx individuals displaced due to the influx of livestock. Moreover, these figures are not precise population estimates, as the animals are free ranging; however, it indicates that this is the largest known remaining concentration of Beisa Oryx in northern Kenya.
Nakuprat-Gotu Conservancy is now looking for support to continue conservation efforts, both directly through improved monitoring and anti-poaching patrols by the rangers, but more holistically by running awareness programs in schools, focusing on sustainable land management, and providing alternative revenue for charcoal-sellers and hunters. Currently hosting the largest number in Kenya and is a recognized corridor of the African Elephants. We belief that In-situ protection of Beisa Oryx as a flagship species will provide protection to other wildlife populations and their habitat. The most underlying critical problem we have been facing in conserving and protecting the endangered species; is the scarce investment to conservation from international grant making universal institutions and local state agencies and institutions. Calls for proposals and funding supports have been difficult to get, and this has really challenged our efforts to restore the endangered species population effectively and sustainably.