Morale in a Mug: How Home Comforts Strengthen Rhino Conservation

Set in the heart of Kenya’s Laikipia County, Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy covers 58,000 acres of vast grasslands, scattered acacia trees, rolling hills, and dramatic rocky outcrops known as kopjes that loom over the plains. These extraordinary landscapes are home to a vast array of wildlife, including Key 2 populations of eastern black (Diceros bicornis michaeli) and southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum), as well as 22 species of ungulates, five large carnivore species, three primate species, and more than 400 species of birds. 

Established more than 40 years ago as Kenya’s second privately-owned rhino sanctuary, Ol Jogi is now revered as a stronghold for the Critically Endangered eastern black rhino. The Conservancy has spent decades perfecting a conservation model that utilises cutting-edge protection measures including a K9 Unit, aerial surveillance, and digital wildlife tracking. 

Kenya is one of the few remaining African countries where wildlife is minimally constrained by fences and free to roam, and Ol Jogi is no different. Monitored and studied using remote-sensing camera traps, 18 specially designed rhino-proof wildlife corridors allow all species bar rhinos to move freely across the landscape, reducing strains on natural resources. This comprehensive conservation strategy has enabled the Conservancy to make huge strides with its rhino population, maintaining a zero-rhino-poaching record since March 2015. This is a huge achievement, especially considering the immense challenges faced by rangers. 

More than 100 rangers provide the foundation for Ol Jogi’s conservation successes, but life in such a role is far from easy. Patrols often stretch across vast distances, through thick bush and up steep escarpments, under the glare of the equatorial sun. Days often start long before the sun rises and can finish long after dark, as teams track and monitor wildlife movements and behaviours, and keep watch over high-risk areas where the threat of poaching lingers. It’s work that demands endurance, focus, and an unwavering sense of duty. 

Ensuring the health, motivation, and morale of the rangers is paramount to their success, making the ForRangers-funded ration packs so important. During a difficult period when the Conservancy faced funding shortfalls, ForRangers has been instrumental in helping to bridge this gap. During a 7-month period, more than 80 rangers received monthly food rations, including the likes of beef and mutton, a variety of vegetables and fruits, and some tasty snacks. Small home comforts such as a simple mug of tea and some biscuits can make all the difference; rangers reported feeling not only physically stronger, but also more motivated. The knowledge that their wellbeing matters has continued to lift spirits across the teams, creating a renewed sense of unity and pride in their work. Supervisors have noted improved morale and job satisfaction, as well as more consistent patrol coverage across the Conservancy. These weren’t abstract improvements, they translated directly into better field performance, sharper focus, and a stronger, safer presence across the Conservancy. 

For Joseph Nangole, a Senior National Police Reservist at Ol Jogi, this support arrived at a crucial moment: 

“These rations helped keep us going through tough months. When the other support was cut, it felt like we’d been forgotten, but this showed us [that] someone still had our backs”. 

This morale boost has had a ripple effect across the Conservancy. Throughout 2025, patrols remained consistent and proactive, with data from EarthRanger^TM, the Conservancy’s digital monitoring system, tracking steady field coverage and activities in key rhino habitats. Encouragingly, both black and white rhino populations have grown during 2025, with every new calf a small but vital victory and a sign that the protection provided by Ol Jogi’s rangers continues to pay off. 

When rangers are well fed and motivated, they can perform at their best. Their energy directly translates into secure habitats, safer wildlife, and a more resilient ecosystem. The grant from ForRangers has been instrumental to this stability. It has kept patrols moving, maintained security, and ensured that every ranger, whether they are positioned on a remote hilltop or behind a desk analysing camera trap images, has the strength and energy to carry out their work. Thank you.