Horris Wanyama
- Project name: Population performance of black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) in two key Rhino Areas, Tsavo Conservation Area
- Project site: Tsavo West National Park, Kenya
- EDGE species: Black rhino Diceros bicornis
- Active: 2017 - 2019
Biography
Horris has been a Research Assistant with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), in partnership with ZSL, for over four years. In this role he works within Tsavo West National Park to deliver projects tackling the illegal wildlife trade. He has developed rhino conservation projects within the Tsavo Conservation Area using new technologies, such as ZSL’s SMART and Instant Detect, to tackle changing socio-economic and poaching challenges.
Horris sees the EDGE Fellowship as an opportunity to gain the skills he needs to deliver quality conservation projects for the black rhino and achieve his ambition of becoming a leader of rhino conservation in Kenya.
EDGE Project
Horris’ project incorporates the use of modern monitoring techniques, community participatory initiatives and population performance monitoring, to better inform park management decisions. KWS will draw directly on the outputs of this study to develop evidence-based management initiatives that are cost-effective, maintain an overall population growth rate of at least 5% per annum and maximise the chances of conservation success. To achieve this, Horris’ project will:
- Provide decision-makers with improved information on rhino populations to improve biological and social management decisions;
- Gather intelligence on rhino poaching to ensure rhino populations receive the best possible protection within the park;
- Train local communities, park rangers, security, and researchers in effective management of black rhino populations.
Achievements
- No poaching has been witnessed since the launch of Horris’ project.
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