BEISA ORYX 

The conservancy is home to the Beisa Oryx the most endangered ungulates. Unregulated hunting in the 1970s led to the decline of the population to only several thousand animals, and an increasing number of threats continue to threaten the species today. There are four types of Oryx globally[1], the Beisa Oryx species sub-species, Oryx beisa ssp. beisa[2], found in northern Kenya (Nakuprat-Gotu Conservancy) into Ethiopia is the most threatened to extinction[3], currently categorized as endangered by the IUCN Red list (2021) with a global estimate of 8,000 to 9,000 individuals. Its main threats include habitat degradation and hunting for food or cultural reasons and require localized conservation action planning[4]. Yet, rather than the Nakuprat-Gotu Community Conservancy Beisa Oryx protection program, there no evidence of other efforts protecting and stewarding the few remaining and/or no defined environment for increasing their population. Nakuprat Gotu conservancy and its surrounding areas of Shaba National Reserve, Biliqo Bulesa and Sera conservancies is the main concentration area of Beisa Oryx population in Northern Kenya. This very important population is growing steadily since the start of this ambitious program, especially with more effort by the conservancy and partners in ensuring in-situ protection.