The population of Jackson’s hartebeest in Laikipia County has declined by more than 60 per cent over the past decade, leaving an estimated 700 to 1,000 individuals remaining in the region.
According to a March newsletter by Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about 14 per cent of the remaining hartebeest population is found within the conservancy, highlighting its critical role in the species’ survival.
Ol Pejeta Chief Executive Officer Justin Heath noted that since 2008, the conservancy’s Research and Ecological Monitoring Unit has recorded 127 hartebeest deaths, most of them attributed to predation. Lions were responsible for more than half of these cases.
“The majority were the result of predation, with lions responsible for more than half of those cases. It is a sobering picture, and one that has driven us to act,” said Heath.
He said the conservancy is part of the Laikipia Hartebeest Conservation Project, led by PhD researcher Annabella Helman in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and supported by Wild Landscapes International.
The project combines technology and field research to better understand hartebeest movement and survival patterns.
Heath explained that veterinary teams have played a key role in the initiative, safely tagging hartebeest and fitting collars on lions and cattle to track movement patterns.
By analysing how predators, livestock, and hartebeests overlap across the landscape, researchers aim to close critical knowledge gaps that have hindered conservation efforts for the species.
The CEO also highlighted ongoing elephant movements within the conservancy, noting that while they are not permanent residents, many migratory herds and calves frequently use Ol Pejeta Conservancy as a safe habitat.
He added that on March 30, the conservancy launched the “A Giant’s Journey” fundraising campaign aimed at improving wildlife corridors and ensuring reliable water sources for elephants during dry seasons.
Heath also reflected on the eighth anniversary of the death of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, describing his absence as deeply felt across the conservancy.
“His story is one we carry with us every day,” he said, noting that his legacy continues to inspire conservation work at Ol Pejeta.
He further pointed to ongoing efforts by the BioRescue Project consortium, which is advancing assisted reproduction technologies while protecting the two remaining northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu.
“Our work on the ground continues—protecting habitats, safeguarding the last northern white rhinos, and building a conservation model designed to last,” he said.
By Kimani Tirus
