Origin
The 70 km long Aberdare mountain range, located in central Kenya, is a complex, bio-diverse ecosystem that encompasses over 2,000 square kilometres of national park and forest reserve. Its highest peak, Ol Doinyo Lesatima, towers 4,000 metres above sea level. This rich habitat is home to numerous species of plants and animals that include black rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and the rare, highly endangered eastern mountain bongo antelope. The Aberdares are one of the key water catchment areas of Kenya, providing the headwaters of four of Kenya’s seven major rivers.

Over the years, the wildlife and forests of the Aberdares faced numerous threats arising from human activities, including poaching, bush-meat hunting, snaring, illegal logging, charcoal burning and encroachment. These activities, by the 1980’s had decimated the wildlife population with the black rhino, in particular, almost wiped out. At the same time, the increasing human population in the prime agricultural land surrounding the Aberdares meant that farming activity was being conducted right up to the national park and forest reserve boundary.

Regular crop damage by wildlife, especially elephant, was a major problem for the farmers, who suffered great losses. Encounters between farmers and wildlife occasionally led to human fatalities, and served to heighten tensions between humans and wildlife.

A drastic intervention was called for, and in 1988 a group of visionary conservationists stepped into the breach, forming Rhino Ark, a Kenyan Charitable Trust. The aim of Rhino Ark was to seek solutions to these challenges. The construction of a game-proof electric fence was identified as a possible solution.

In 1989, through a partnership with the Kenyan Government, Rhino Ark undertook to raise funds for and support the construction of a game proof electric fence around the part of Aberdare ecosystem with the greatest human/wildlife conflict challenges. Independent scientific study subsequently revealed the effectiveness of this solution and recommended that the fence be constructed around the entire ecosystem. Construction of the nearly 400km long fence was completed in August 2009, and Rhino Ark remains committed to supporting its long term maintenance and management.

In December 2010, Rhino Ark announced its commitment to supporting conservation of Kenya’s mountain forest ecosystems and their biodiversity. These ecosystems are the country’s water towers and are essential to the national and regional well-being. Mau Mount Eburu and Mount Kenya (a world heritage site) were identified as priority ecosystems in which Rhino Ark will initially focus, in addition to the ongoing support for conservation of the Aberdares.

Mission
Rhino Ark seeks solutions in the mountain range ecosystems of Kenya and for the benefit of Eastern Africa generally to:

• Conserve such ecologically precious indigenous forests and their total habitat
• Create a sustainable and harmonious environment for people, wildlife - indeed all flora and fauna within them.
• Mobilize stakeholders nationwide and internationally for initiatives to protect and conserve the habitat and promote managed use of forest products for the benefit of present and future generations.
• To become a service provider for creating sustainable programmes for forest edge communities across a range of ecosystem services, including but not limited to, carbon sequestration. All such programmes and projects will be targeted to create non- exploitive income generation for the communities.
• Raise funds and other forms of support to develop sound management processes over entire eco-systems.
• To create a framework where wider society and forest edge communities become involved in the management processes through public-private partnerships.
• Build mechanisms and management structures to prevent illegal exploitation of the forest habitat wherever it is threatened.

In so doing all the stakeholders will benefit and endangered species and indeed all flora and fauna will be better secured.

Rhino Ark and the Rhino Charge
The Rhino Charge event is the creation of the Rhino Ark, and is currently the principal tool by which Rhino Ark raises funds for its conservation work. The Rhino Charge is managed by a committee, whose members comprise officers of Rhino Ark and a core team of dedicated, long-term volunteers from diverse backgrounds, who provide their time, technical expertise and logistical support.

To find out more about Rhino Ark, visit the website: www.rhinoark.org