In February 2011, 8 Rothschild’s giraffe were translocated from Soysambu Farm to Ruko Conservancy as the first step in the re-establishment of a population that was once endemic to the Lake Baringo region. Prior to this move, a herd of 33 impala were also taken to the conservancy to boost wildlife populations, attract visitors to the area and generate tourism revenue for the local community. With high water levels in Lake Baringo currently the
sanctuary set aside by the community within Ruko conservancy, Longicharo, is now an island instead of a peninsula. The sanctuary serves as a release site for the translocated animals. All 8 giraffe are within Longicharo,
along with a herd of 13 impala. The remainder of the translocated impala escaped through the sanctuary fencing at the time of release, and although harder to monitor, it is thought that they have integrated with resident herds of impala on the mainland.
The giraffe have settled well in Longicharo and post-release monitoring is carried out daily by conservancy rangers who monitor their associations, behavior and condition. Giraffe Conservation Foundation scientist, Zoe Muller, provided initial support to Ruko with data collection methods for post-release monitoring and individual identification photos. Each giraffe has an individual ID and is recognizable from the unique coat pattern (Annex 1). Habitat condition within the sanctuary is good with plentiful browse for the giraffe. Scouts have reported some observations of de-barking by giraffe, however, no tree damage was visible when NRT researchers visited Ruko in July 2011. This will continue to be monitored to ensure tree damage from de-barking does not become a constraint to habitat and browse availability in future.
The impala herd within Longicharo has settled well and a cohesive herd of one adult male, 11 adult females and one sub-adult male are observed on a daily basis. Six births were recorded in 2010 and five in 2011 to date (midJuly). Although breeding is successful there is a high mortality rate of juveniles (73%): five to predation by pythons, two killed by the male impala (both in July 2011), and one recent report (25th July 2011) that the juvenile is missing but carcass not found (likely predation again by a python). NRT is recommending the male impala is dehorned as an interim measure until additional males can be translocated to the sanctuary. With the permission of KWS, two large pythons (approximately 40kg) have been removed from the sanctuary and translocated to the mainland of the conservancy, with the hope of reducing predation pressure on the juvenile impalas.