SHOTLIST LAIKIPIA, KENYA (MAY 24, 2025) (ANADOLU-ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE SHOT OF WILDLIFE PARK DURING SUNRISE 2. KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE (KWS) EMPLOYEES STANDING (2 SHOTS) 3. WIDE SHOT OF TRUCKS PARKED AT PARK 4. VARIOUS OF SECURITY OFFICERS PREPARING FOR RELOCATION OF RARE BLACK RHINO 5. VEHICLES PARKED IN LINE AT PARK 6. VARIOUS OF EMPLOYEES AROUND BLACK RHINO TIED WITH ROPES, PREPARING IT FOR TRANSPORT 7. VARIOUS OF CONTAINER LOADED WITH RHINO BEING LIFTED ON TRUCK 8. VARIOUS OF TRUCKS CARRYING CONTAINERS SETTING OUT AS VEHICLES FOLLOW THEM LAIKIPIA, KENYA - MAY 24: Kenya has embarked on a landmark wildlife conservation initiative, relocating 21 critically endangered eastern black rhinos from Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Segera Conservancy. The translocation, spearheaded by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), aims to alleviate overcrowding in existing sanctuaries and establish a new secure habitat for the species' breeding and recovery. The operation was officially launched on Saturday, May 24, by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, alongside senior KWS officials, conservation partners, and stakeholders. In a statement KWS said the 18-day translocation process will see rhinos moved in groups of three, with scheduled breaks between phases to allow the animals to acclimatize and reduce stress. Veterinary teams will closely monitor each rhino throughout the journey to ensure their safety. This strategic move comes as Kenya, home to over 80% of the world’s remaining eastern black rhino population, faces the challenge of limited space in key protected areas such as Ol Pejeta, Lewa, and Lake Nakuru. By expanding the rhinos' range to Segera Conservancy in northern Kenya, authorities hope to create a more balanced ecosystem and enhance breeding success for the species, which currently numbers fewer than 1,000 individuals in the wild. The translocation has been made possible through collaboration between KWS, the Zeitz Foundation, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and local community conservancies. KWS emphasized the importance of such partnerships, declaring, “Extinction is not an option. Together, we are ensuring that Kenya’s rhinos not only survive but thrive.” Kenya’s black rhino population has more than doubled – from fewer than 400 in the 1980s to over 1,000 today – according to new figures from the KWS. The iconic species has faced relentless threats to their survival from poaching, habitat loss and increased frequency of droughts driven by climate change and is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Writing by Sibel Uygun