The Return Of Rukinga's Wildlife

When Wildlife Works first acquired Rukinga, we did three things to transform this failing cattle ranch into a wildlife sanctuary:

  • Began unarmed patrols to remove any snares set for wildlife

  • Removed the cattle from the land

  • Worked with the community to peaceably move the sanctuary's illegal squatters onto farm land located outside of the wildlife corridor

The elephants returned first, followed by the ungulates and then the predators. After just a few seasons we now have a very balanced eco-system, with 47 large mammal species, including four endangered species, African elephants, Grevy's zebras, cheetah and African hunting dogs. There are hundreds of bird species on Rukinga, dozens of reptiles and amphibians and thousands of insect species.


 

As many as 450 elephants now call Rukinga home, but their numbers can swell to an estimated 1,000 towards the end of the dry seasons in October and March, when it's not uncommon to see elephants and other wildlife congregating around Rukinga's numerous water holes and tanks.



Rukinga's Wildlife

 
< back to main map

 

Got Water?
Located just two degrees south of the equator, Rukinga receives nearly 365 days of scorching sun each year. So, when the natural water holes on Rukinga dry up, as they often do, we provide water in the old cattle tanks. We provide water in our tanks when we have to, because a single elephant can drink 50 gallons a day, and will continue to search for water until it finds some - even if this means tearing up water pipes or barging into the surrounding communities where they get into all kinds of trouble!
customer service | store locator | investor relations | retail partners | affiliate program | privacy policy
© Wildlife Works 2008 All Rights Reserved