Help us protect endangered rhinos in Kenya

Rhinos are endangered and on the brink of extinction. At the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, there are only two Northern White Rhinos left. They are the last two in the world. There are also about 100 Black Rhinos in Ol Pejeta that are endangered. Keeping track of these animals is the job of talented rangers who spend their time watching over and protecting them. They operate on foot and have a very large territory to cover. We visited Ol Pejeta in February 2021 and came up with an idea to introduce drones into Ol Pejeta to assist the rangers' already difficult job. On top of keeping track of animals, they also have to stop poachers, which is very challenging and dangerous. Drones will enable the rangers to monitor the rhinos more closely and efficiently. If this program is successful, it can be easily reproduced for other locations struggling with protecting other endangered animals.

 

National Geographic's Ami Vitale wrote an article that sparked this idea. She has done extensive coverage of the White Rhinos, specifically at Ol Pejeta.

 

The goal is to raise at least $5,000 to purchase a drone and training equipment, as well as officially train the rangers to become certified drone pilots.

 

We will be in Ol Pejeta in June and July 2022 to train the rangers. All donations will go toward the equipment and training of the rangers. I will work pro bono. All coverage will be done on my social media!

 

Our team includes:

Shea Stephens - A US-based licensed drone pilot and photographer - learn more about me here

John Stephens - CEO of the BOMA project (non-profit based in Kenya) and coordinator of this operation

The team at Ol Pejeta Conservancy - click here to learn more

The Nairobi-based drone training team that we will work with - KenDrone

 

Please contact us for more information! Thank you for your support.