Communication is key: motorbikes and radio gear at Ol Pejeta

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 110,000-acre conservancy situated in the Ewaso-Samburu Ecosystem in central Kenya. Lying across the Equator, it is home to more than 14,000 animals, including Eastern black, Southern white and the last two known Northern white rhinos. It is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen, in a sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals that have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, and the Conservancy has one of the highest predator densities in Kenya. It still manages a successful livestock programme, but whilst its land was once prioritised for ranching cattle with little regard for wildlife, Ol Pejeta now embraces wildlife and ecosystem health as part of its ethos.

In recent decades, Ol Pejeta’s rhino population has increased, which – unfortunately – has meant that the poaching threat has grown. Other threats to Ol Pejeta include the effects of climate change, overstocking, heightened pressure on the rangelands and political incitement. To protect the landscape, and the species within it, rangers patrol and monitor wildlife 24/7. These rangers are deployed for long hours, covering vast areas and dealing with difficult situations. To respond quickly and effectively, they require the correct resources.

A grant of $5,000 (thanks to participants of the 2023 ForRangers Ultra) has equipped Ol Pejeta’s Problem Animal Unit (PAC) team with a new motorbike and radio batteries, enhancing their operational capacity. The extra equipment enables them to monitor the fence-line more regularly, more easily transport rangers from base to outposts, and reduce response times to Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) incidents in adjacent communities. The rangers can now navigate over rough terrain and travel longer distances to communities they would otherwise have faced great difficulty reaching.

The new radio batteries and motorbike complete with paint job. Photo credit: Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

From July to September 2024, the motorbike covered a total of 300km, and the team has responded to 34 HWC incidents. Even on days when the PAC Officer is not actively responding to calls, he uses the motorbike to visit neighbouring communities, which has helped prevent further HWC issues. The new radio batteries have been used to support field communications, contributing to a secure and well-connected network, and thus improving the team’s ability to divide and respond to multiple distress calls.

Isaac Kipkoech, Senior Officer PAC at Ol Pejeta Conservancy said:

“The motorbike has been a helpful addition to the PAC team. We previously only had two motorbikes, which posed a challenge in responding to the many HWC reports we receive. The additional motorbike has helped a lot in enabling our quick responses to various incidents at the same time. Also, the provision of new batteries for our radios has ensured that we are constantly able to communicate when we are out in the field and inform the radio room [about] field situations”.

Overall, this grant has had a positive impact on the PAC team, ensuring that HWC issues are dealt with effectively and quickly, improving patrols and community visits and bolstering communication between teams on the ground.  Whilst these items seem fairly small, their impact is huge, making a difference to Ol Pejeta’s team each day and supporting efforts to create a peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.