Kenya's expanded Tsavo West sanctuary gives black rhinos about 30 times more room
The final fence of the expanded Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary came down in September, opening about 3,200 square kilometers to black rhinos, roughly 30 times more space, the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion initiative and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said.
By Diego Callegari, Editor
· Kenya · 1 min read
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance / Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (PR Newswire) ↗
Black rhinos in Kenya's Tsavo West National Park now have roughly 30 times more room after the expansion of the park's rhino sanctuary, the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) initiative and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) said on 27 October. The final fence came down in September 2026.
About 3,200 square kilometers
The expanded Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary covers about 3,200 square kilometers and is described as the largest rhino sanctuary of its kind in Africa. About 200 rhinos live in Tsavo West, and nearly 70% of them have been ear-notched, a marking method that lets rangers identify individual animals. KRRE funded ranger mobility, monitoring, communications and infrastructure for the expansion.
“What we are ultimately trying to create is space.” — Jamie Gaymer, CEO, Kenya Rhino Range Expansion
A young initiative with many partners
KRRE is an operational initiative, 18 months old, that works with the Kenya Wildlife Service, communities, conservation organizations and private landowners. SDZWA provided what it calls catalytic funding to set up the team, its technical capacity and its partnerships. In central Kenya, more than ten partners have committed to opening their properties for rhino expansion, according to the release, and the Naibunga Community Conservancy is being supported by a group of organizations that includes KRRE.
“Expanding their range goes beyond giving rhinos more room to grow,” said Dr. Nadine Lamberski, chief conservation science and wildlife health officer at SDZWA. Dr. Stephen Chege, director of SDZWA-Kenya, said Kenya “has long set the global standard for community-driven conservation.”
What the release does not say
The release did not give the sanctuary's size before the expansion or Kenya's total black rhino population, and it did not say how many rhinos will move into the new space or when. Black rhinos are covered by our endangered species hub; our Red List explainer sets out what the threat categories mean.
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