Rupi Mangat
12 October 2008
Nairobi — Rhinos have never been so much in vogue as in recent years, when almost everyone has become interested in their conservation.
Among the group is Kenya's prime minister Raila Odinga, who was at the "Cycle with the Rhinos 2008" event in September. The annual fundraiser has been running since 2003 and a challenging course for both professional and amateur cyclists.
Rhinos have been on earth for millions of years. Many species have come and gone but none so rapidly as the modern day rhino which, in a span of a century, was almost entirely wiped out, and needed the strenous efforts of conservation agencies and international pressure to save it.
As recent as 2006, at least one sub-species of the African black rhino, the West African black rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes) is feared to have become extinct in its last known habitat in northern Cameroon, largely as a result of poaching in the last two decades. In 2002, there were only 10 remaining in Cameroon.
For the Kenyan rhino, things are finally looking up after also having coming close to extinction. In the early 1900s, the indigenous black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis) was found almost everywhere in Kenya.
"Today, we have 600 rhinos in Kenya," said Noah Wekesa, the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife, at the event. "We have more rhinos than Tanzania. I hear there is only one rhino left in Rwanda."
"It's important to preserve our natural heritage," stated Raila before flagging off the cyclists on their 68km route. "Rhino numbers have diminished because of human activities," he said. "And if no measures are taken, rhinos will become extinct.
He went on to say that it was important to take measures to protect what is still there.
"Cycle with the Rhino" is an initiative to rehabilitate 74 kilometres of the 180-square kilometre Nakuru National Park. More than 50 cyclists entered, with the oldest entrant aged 71.
The only requirement was that the entrants pay a fee of Ksh50,000 ($714). Corporate and individual support came in handy. At the end, Ksh8.6 million ($122,860) was raised against a target of Ksh10 million ($142,860).
According to Kenya Wildlife Service director Julius Kipng'etich, next year's target is Ksh20 million ($285,720).
Lake Nakuru National Park is internationally renowned as a flamingo lake where, when conditions are right, the shallow alkaline lake fills with pink flamingoes.
Apart from being labelled as a bird sanctuary where almost 400 species flock, it has become a successful rhino breeding site since it was declared a rhino sanctuary in 1980, says Paul Udoto, KWS corporate communications manager.
It is not uncommon to see the bulky frame of the black rhino or the white rhino lumbering towards the alkaline lake at the point where the fresh water rivers enter it, for a drink in the presence of the flamingo.
At peak times, when the conditions in the lake are right for the algae bloom, over a million flamingoes carpet the lake in a feeding frenzy before migrating to other lakes when food supplies runs low.
This gathering of the flamingoes was the impetus to have the alkaline lake in the Great Rift Valley labelled as a Ramsar site, obliging the government to act as its custodian.
However, such a population of rhinos needs a lot of looking after, which translates into raising money for its upkeep and protection, as any slackening of security will bring the poachers running for the rhino horn, which is worth as much as gold if not more.
In the Middle East, rhino horn dagger handles are much sought after by the Arab men as a show of wealth and prestige; in traditional Chinese medicine, the rhino horn is believed to cure a myriad ailments as well as being a powerful aphrodisiac.
Yet, the main ingredient of the horn, which isn't even a true horn but tightly wound hair, is the same stuff as our nails and hair, are made of keratin.
"At this point, it costs Ksh1.3 million ($18,570) to put up just a kilometre of fence," says Sarah Tomno, general manager of Soi Safari Lodge on the shores of the fresh water Lake Baringo, about 120 kilometres from Lake Nakuru, where the flamingos fly to drink fresh water.
The first two cyclists finished the gruelling course through forest, grassland, uphill cliff stretch and the salt crusted shores of the lake in two hours.
Paul Ariko won the race, followed a few seconds later by Clifford Kamiri. The women's race was won by Seline Gombe, who heard about the race on radio and got Nakumatt to sponsor her.
In the special category, 45-year old Isaac Muthui, sponsored by Bonde Conservancy came first, while 27-year old Dedan Ireri sponsored by Flamingo Lodge, came in second.
According to Cites, the Sumatran, Javan and Black Rhino are critically endangered. The White Rhino has been saved from the brink of extinction due to conservation efforts.
The most endangered species is the Sumatran Rhino, because of its rapid decline. Of this species only 275 survive, but the Javan Rhino is even more rare, with only 50 surviving, but this population is stable. The Indian Rhino species has 2,600, the Black Rhino 3,610 and the White Rhino 14,500.
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