The year of the rhino. The year 2020 for conservation in Kenya will be remembered as the first of the Millennium without specimens of the rarest of the 'Big 5' being killed by poachers.
In the annus horribilis of the pandemic, which has deprived tourists and reduced security in the parks and reserves, often left at the mercy of smugglers and poachers not only of ivory but also of wild meat to be sold under the table to butchers, as well as to be eaten for hunger, the Kenya Wildlife Service reports a positive fact.
KWS Director-General John Waweru noted that the successful rescue of the few rhinos was made possible by the excellent work of the field teams and management.
In a BBC report, Waweru said that the KWS had invested in highly intelligence-led operations to monitor the rhinos' whereabouts and improve their safety throughout the year.
Poaching of elephants has also hit an all-time low, with only 11 (officially) killed trying to steal the precious ivory tusks, compared to a record low of 350 in the last five years.
This is the lowest number recorded since time immemorial.
Currently, according to KWS, there are only 800 rhinos in Kenya, and the plan for their conservation is to install microchips as a weapon to track their movements and protect them from the wiles of criminals intent on the illegal trade in their horns.