National carrier (KQ) and Born Free Boost the Fight Against Rhino Poaching

Mr. Tim Oloo, Kenya Country Manager, Born Free Foundation hands over Binoculars and GPS equipment for rhino units in Nakuru and Nairobi to Mr. Julius Kimani, KWS Deputy Director Parks and Reserves . Looking on are KQ Customer Service staff.

National carrier, Kenya Airways and international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation have boosted the fight against rhino poaching in Kenya with a donation of surveillance equipment and funds for training to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The donated equipment include tents, GPS trackers and binoculars. This is in addition to a KSh350,000 cheque that will go towards training rangers in the KWS Rhino Monitoring Team.

Speaking during the handover of the equipment and the cheque at KWS Headquarters, Kenya Airways’ Marketing Director Chris Diaz said the donation demonstrated commitment by the airline, and its partner, Born Free Foundation, to support conservation of wildlife.

“The fight against wildlife poaching requires concerted efforts from all of us. This is the reason Kenya Airways has chosen to get involved in supporting KWS to fight this vice through skills improvement and equipment,” Mr Diaz added.

On his part, the Kenya Country Manager of Born Free Foundation, Tim Oloo said: "Working together is the only way to succeed in our joint mission to protect and conserve Kenya's – and indeed the world's– wildlife heritage for future generations. Rhinos are symbolic of that heritage - an ancient species whose current plight is entirely as a result of human greed, superstition and ignorance. It is our responsibility and duty to ensure that this amazing creature is not lost on our watch. That is why, in partnership with our good friends at Kenya Airways, and as part of the “Change Brings Change” programme, we are delighted to be making this strategic contribution to the professional efforts of the dedicated KWS rhino team to enable them to carry out their live-saving job to the very best of their ability”.

The donation was received by Julius Kimani, the deputy director of KWS, who lauded the two organizations for the support.

Mr Kimani added: “This equipment and training for rangers will greatly support the conservation of rhinos, which presently face a huge threat from poachers, who are after their horns. Last year, we lost 59 rhinos to poachers; and 26 rhinos so far this year. This challenge is surmountable with this kind of support from Kenya Airways and the Born Free Foundation”.

Conservation and management strategy for black rhinos in Kenya overall goal is that black rhinos are projected to increase by at least 5% pa to reach a confirmed total of 750 rhinos by end of 2016.

In October 2013, Kenya Airways and the Born Free Foundation unveiled a new initiative to raise funds for wildlife conservation causes throughout the world dubbed ‘Change Brings Change’.

This boost comes at a time when Kenya is holding its second Legal Standards and Forensics workshop aiming to police crimes against wildlife such as poaching. Like the first training, the workshop aims to get a better understanding of the scientific processes that wildlife species' samples have to go through in order to provide a validated outcome for illegal poaching cases in court. The training is from 7th-10th December, 2014.