Solio Ranch
Encyclopedia
Solio Ranch or Solio Game Reserve is a privately owned wildlife conservancy located in Kenya's
Rift Valley Province.
The ranch is a fenced, privately-owned protected area geared toward rhino
conservation. The 17,500-acre reserve, 22 km north of Nyeri Town, plays a major part in the protection and breeding black rhinos in Kenya
. The rhino is a member of the ‘Big-Five’, which are a key tourist attraction. Solio Ranch is recognised as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in Kenya. The animals live in harmony with other wildlife, including the buffalo
, zebra
, giraffe
and plains game such as eland
, oryx
, impala
, waterbuck
, Thompson's gazelle and warthog
. By the end of 2009, Kenya had 635 black rhinos and 353 white rhinos in various conservation areas around the country.
From 1970 through to 2003, the world population of the African black rhinoceros declined from about 65,000 to an estimated 3,725. It was estimated that in Kenya, the population dropped from 18,000 to 1500 in 1980 and only 400 in 1990. In percentage terms the population dropped from 28% to a mere 12% of the world population.
This sharp decline was caused by poaching in all areas during the 1970s and the early 1980s, both inside and outside of the national parks and reserves, with few controls and little enforcement.
One outcome of the intensive killing was to leave small remnant populations, sometimes just a single individual, scattered across the country with no hope of long-term survival and often endangering nearby human settlements while still under threat from poaching.
Kenya’s Wildlife and Conservation Management Department approached Mr Courtland Parfet, owner of the Solio cattle ranch located on the Laikipia plateau in central Kenya, for assistance. With a commitment to conservation, a 13,500 acre area of the ranch had already been fenced off to protect indigenous wildlife and allow them to live their natural life without interference or threat from humans. The Solio Game Reserve was home to many buffalos, zebras, gazelles and leopards but there were no rhinos.
The Wildlife and Conservation Management Department, the forerunner of today’s Kenya Wildlife Service, requested Solio to take in some remnant black rhinos while a permanent home was found for them. The first five individuals were moved in from Kiboko in the south-east of Kenya in 1970 and the country’s first sanctuary for rhinos was established. With no other secure areas available, over the next 10 years the department continued to move in more rhinos. By 1980, 23 founders from nine different areas had been introduced into Solio Game Reserve.
With excellent habitat and securely hidden from view, this new group of rhinos bred and prospered, and the reserve had to be extended to 17,000 acres in 1991. In the meantime other areas in Kenya in national parks and private ranches were made sufficiently secure to take in rhinos, and Solio became the prime founder source for many populations.
By 1992 there were 66 black rhinos in the reserve, and this after some 30 individuals had been moved out to help form nucleus populations in other new reserves including Nakuru National Park, Sweetwaters Game Reserve, Lewa Downs Conservancy and Ol Jogi. The rhinos continued to thrive, and by the end of 2005 there had been 67 translocations to other areas. However, at the start of 2000 the reserve became a major target for professional poachers and in a five-year period nine black rhinos were either shot or caught in snares.
The specific goal of the KWS strategy was to increase the black rhino numbers by at least 5% per annum and reach a confirmed total of 500 rhinos by 2005, 650 rhinos by 2010 and 1000 by 2020.
In 2005 a monitoring scheme was started. The game reserve was organised in sectors and a photographic database was created of the rhino population. Ranchers were trained to observe and identify individual animals using the photographic database. The location of the animal and time of day would be recorded.After the first year of monitoring 5947 sightings had been made. From the systematically collected data, they concluded that the park contained about 87 rhino, 46 males, 38 females and 3 calves of unknown sex. The age profile of the rhino population was found to be:-
Results from the first year of monitoring showed that the population density of the rhino was high with 1.2 rhino/km². Also the population growth rate during the year was below the 5% growth target set by the KWS. It was concluded that the Solio Game Reserve was over stocked and a reduction of between 45 and 55 individuals would be required.
Thirty individuals were selected using the age and sex profiles collected. The selection had to ensure that balanced populations should remain and be created after trans-location.
The translocation was carried out over a 14-day period in February 2007 during which time 30 rhinos were caught, of which one died on site (shown post-mortem to have had an enlarged heart), one was released due to anesthesia complications and one was
released following incorrect in-field identification. The remaining rhino were trans-located to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
.
After trans-location, monitoring of the rhino continued, showing a strong increase in population growth rate. After the trans-location the population profile had changed to
planned to move 600 buffaloes from Solio Ranch to the Aberdare National Park
and other locations. Solio Ranch is one of Kenya’s critical rhino habitats that has suffered adverse effects from the prolonged drought requiring immediate action to protect the rhinos from suffering the consequences.
Solio Ranch Settlement Scheme=
Solio Ranch was originally much larger and had served also as a cattle ranch. In 2007 the Kenyan Government purchased through the Settlement Trustee Fund approximately 15,000 acres from Solio Ranch.
Most of the land acquired lies within Laikipia East District in the Rift Valley Province. A smaller portion lies within the Kieni West District close to the Nyeri
- Nyahururu
road.
The Government was criticised widely that the land had been overpriced.
, BelleVue in Kieni West, Ndathi
in Kieni East, Witima in Othaya
and Zauna\Kabage in Tetu
.
The scheme consists of seven residential villages of half-acre plots surrounded by four-acre agricultural plots, allowing for the easy provision of infrastructure such as water, schools etc. The first village has 420 plots; Village Two, 587 plots; Village Three, 517 plots; Village Four, 511 plots; Village Five, 226 plots; Village Six, 428 plots; Village Seven, 295 plots.
(KWS), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy started a process of translocation of over 3000 animals to various conservancies and parks as shown in the table below.
A prolonged drought changed the land from undeveloped and fertile to an arid wasteland, and it was becoming very difficult to successfully grow anything. A constant strong wind added to the problems, with topsoil being blown off. Living conditions were awful as so many people were forced to live with no permanent structures at all. After two years the tents were ragged and holed. Children were being taught ad hoc in classes of up to 100 children under canvas with no furniture or books. In many respects the settlers had simply been forgotten. In 2009 the NGO, Moving Mountains, started a strategic program to provide housing and schools for the settlers, and since the Kenyan Government has also assisted.
, touched by the plight of squatters who had for years been residing on a roadside in Kagochi area of Nyeri East District. These squatters had been evicted from Mount Kenya
and Aberdare
forests. Lady Lucy Kibaki approached Central Provincial Commissioner, Jaspher Rugut to find suitable land for the resettlement of these squatters.
It is claimed that the Government overpaid 500,000,000 KES for the land. It is also claimed that there were irregularities in allocation of land, with accusations of some land instead being allocated to influential politicians, civil servants and their families.
It is speculated that Ephraim Maina, Minister of Parliament for Mathira, owns or is one of the owners of Solio Ranch and has unjustly gained from the transaction.
There are also complaints that the transaction was not opened up to allow others to tender for the land.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
Rift Valley Province.
The ranch is a fenced, privately-owned protected area geared toward rhino
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
conservation. The 17,500-acre reserve, 22 km north of Nyeri Town, plays a major part in the protection and breeding black rhinos in Kenya
. The rhino is a member of the ‘Big-Five’, which are a key tourist attraction. Solio Ranch is recognised as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in Kenya. The animals live in harmony with other wildlife, including the buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
, zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
, giraffe
Giraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
and plains game such as eland
Common Eland
The common eland , also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the largest antelope in the African continent...
, oryx
Oryx
Oryx is one of four large antelope species of the genus Oryx. Three of the species are native to arid parts of Africa, with a fourth native to the Arabian Peninsula. Their pelage is pale with contrasing dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight...
, impala
Impala
An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...
, waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
, Thompson's gazelle and warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
. By the end of 2009, Kenya had 635 black rhinos and 353 white rhinos in various conservation areas around the country.
History
The world's first private rhino sanctuary, Solio Game Reserve was started in 1970 when Courtland Parfet, the owner of Solio cattle ranch, fenced off a large section of land and dedicated it to conservation; since then, breeding has been so successful that rhino from Solio have stocked game reserves all over Africa.From 1970 through to 2003, the world population of the African black rhinoceros declined from about 65,000 to an estimated 3,725. It was estimated that in Kenya, the population dropped from 18,000 to 1500 in 1980 and only 400 in 1990. In percentage terms the population dropped from 28% to a mere 12% of the world population.
This sharp decline was caused by poaching in all areas during the 1970s and the early 1980s, both inside and outside of the national parks and reserves, with few controls and little enforcement.
One outcome of the intensive killing was to leave small remnant populations, sometimes just a single individual, scattered across the country with no hope of long-term survival and often endangering nearby human settlements while still under threat from poaching.
Kenya’s Wildlife and Conservation Management Department approached Mr Courtland Parfet, owner of the Solio cattle ranch located on the Laikipia plateau in central Kenya, for assistance. With a commitment to conservation, a 13,500 acre area of the ranch had already been fenced off to protect indigenous wildlife and allow them to live their natural life without interference or threat from humans. The Solio Game Reserve was home to many buffalos, zebras, gazelles and leopards but there were no rhinos.
The Wildlife and Conservation Management Department, the forerunner of today’s Kenya Wildlife Service, requested Solio to take in some remnant black rhinos while a permanent home was found for them. The first five individuals were moved in from Kiboko in the south-east of Kenya in 1970 and the country’s first sanctuary for rhinos was established. With no other secure areas available, over the next 10 years the department continued to move in more rhinos. By 1980, 23 founders from nine different areas had been introduced into Solio Game Reserve.
With excellent habitat and securely hidden from view, this new group of rhinos bred and prospered, and the reserve had to be extended to 17,000 acres in 1991. In the meantime other areas in Kenya in national parks and private ranches were made sufficiently secure to take in rhinos, and Solio became the prime founder source for many populations.
By 1992 there were 66 black rhinos in the reserve, and this after some 30 individuals had been moved out to help form nucleus populations in other new reserves including Nakuru National Park, Sweetwaters Game Reserve, Lewa Downs Conservancy and Ol Jogi. The rhinos continued to thrive, and by the end of 2005 there had been 67 translocations to other areas. However, at the start of 2000 the reserve became a major target for professional poachers and in a five-year period nine black rhinos were either shot or caught in snares.
Rhino Conservation
In March 2003, the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) adopted a new management plan for black rhino conservation in Kenya. Surplus rhinos from both private land and national parks and reserves were to continue being used to complete the stocking of new sanctuaries in both sectors. Kenya Wildlife Service reported that there was an urgent need to maintain a sustainable and high annual growth rate in population to develop and conserve a genetically viable population of black rhinos of the East African race or subspecies (diceros bicornis michaeli) in their natural habitats in Kenya. This was to be accomplished through increased attention to biological management and law enforcement.The specific goal of the KWS strategy was to increase the black rhino numbers by at least 5% per annum and reach a confirmed total of 500 rhinos by 2005, 650 rhinos by 2010 and 1000 by 2020.
Rhino Monitoring Scheme
In 1990 a fire at the ranch had destroyed records and numbers of rhino in the game reserve were based on estimates. In 1992 there were estimated to be 66 black rhino, but in 2005 after increased poaching the estimate had dropped to 55 animals. A large part of the park consists of bush, making it difficult to observe and track the rhino populations. Also identification of individuals is difficult and prone to error.In 2005 a monitoring scheme was started. The game reserve was organised in sectors and a photographic database was created of the rhino population. Ranchers were trained to observe and identify individual animals using the photographic database. The location of the animal and time of day would be recorded.After the first year of monitoring 5947 sightings had been made. From the systematically collected data, they concluded that the park contained about 87 rhino, 46 males, 38 females and 3 calves of unknown sex. The age profile of the rhino population was found to be:-
- 17 calves
- 1 aged 3.5–7 years
- 6 aged 7–10 years
- 10 aged 10–15 years
- 16 aged < 20 years
- 23 aged > 20 years
- 9 > 30 years.
Results from the first year of monitoring showed that the population density of the rhino was high with 1.2 rhino/km². Also the population growth rate during the year was below the 5% growth target set by the KWS. It was concluded that the Solio Game Reserve was over stocked and a reduction of between 45 and 55 individuals would be required.
Thirty individuals were selected using the age and sex profiles collected. The selection had to ensure that balanced populations should remain and be created after trans-location.
The translocation was carried out over a 14-day period in February 2007 during which time 30 rhinos were caught, of which one died on site (shown post-mortem to have had an enlarged heart), one was released due to anesthesia complications and one was
released following incorrect in-field identification. The remaining rhino were trans-located to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in 1995. It is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest and covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black rhino, Grevy’s zebra and sitatunga...
.
After trans-location, monitoring of the rhino continued, showing a strong increase in population growth rate. After the trans-location the population profile had changed to
- 18 calves
- 10 aged 3.5–7 years
- 2 aged 7–10 years
- 3 aged 10–15 years
- 10 aged < 20 years
- 27 aged > 20 years
- 9 > 30 years.
Drought 2010
During 2010 the Kenya Wildlife ServiceKenya Wildlife Service
The Kenya Wildlife Service, otherwise known by the initialism KWS, is a Kenyan state corporation that was established in 1990 to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife...
planned to move 600 buffaloes from Solio Ranch to the Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park
- External links :* * * *...
and other locations. Solio Ranch is one of Kenya’s critical rhino habitats that has suffered adverse effects from the prolonged drought requiring immediate action to protect the rhinos from suffering the consequences.
Solio Lodge
- Solio Lodge is located on the ranch providing luxurious accommodation for guests.
Safari Tours
There are many travel operators including Solio Ranch in a safari itinerary. The main attraction is the rhino, but other game can also be found on the ranch.Solio Ranch Settlement Scheme=
Solio Ranch was originally much larger and had served also as a cattle ranch. In 2007 the Kenyan Government purchased through the Settlement Trustee Fund approximately 15,000 acres from Solio Ranch.
Most of the land acquired lies within Laikipia East District in the Rift Valley Province. A smaller portion lies within the Kieni West District close to the Nyeri
Nyeri
Nyeri is a town in situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya Kenya, which was the administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province...
- Nyahururu
Nyahururu
Nyahururu is a town in Kenya, lying east of Nakuru. It is part of Laikipia District in Rift Valley Province. Despite this, Nyahururu formerly functioned as the administrative capital of Nyandarua District, one of seven districts that constitute Central Province in Kenya, until the headquarters...
road.
Valuation of Land
According to the Kenyan Government, 85,000 KES per acre was paid for the land. The initial valuation for the land had been valued at 50,000 KES per acre, against an initial offer of 100,000 KES per acre from the owners. The land was sub-divided into three equal divisions of 5000 acres, raising the demand for each sub-division and hence increasing the valuation to 85,000KES per acre. In total the Government paid 1,275,000,000 KES.The Government was criticised widely that the land had been overpriced.
Solio Project
2,984 squatters and needy, mainly ex-forest squatters who had been evicted from Mount Kenya and Aberdare forests in the 1980s and early 1990s were settled. These squatters had been living on the roadsides in the villages of Hombe in Mathira ConstituencyMathira Constituency
Mathira Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nyeri District, Central Province.The constituency was established for the 1963 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
, BelleVue in Kieni West, Ndathi
Ndathi
Ndathi is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province....
in Kieni East, Witima in Othaya
Othaya
Othaya is a Kenyan town about 150 kilometres north of Nairobi, the capital. It has a population of 21,427, of which 4,108 are core urban ; the majority of the residents are of the Kikuyu tribe. Othaya is part of the Nyeri District. It is an agricultural area with coffee and tea as the main cash crops...
and Zauna\Kabage in Tetu
Tetu, Kenya
Tetu is an administrative division in Nyeri District, Central Province, Kenya. It is located west of adjacent Nyeri town, the provincial capital. Tetu is also name for a local electoral constituency...
.
The scheme consists of seven residential villages of half-acre plots surrounded by four-acre agricultural plots, allowing for the easy provision of infrastructure such as water, schools etc. The first village has 420 plots; Village Two, 587 plots; Village Three, 517 plots; Village Four, 511 plots; Village Five, 226 plots; Village Six, 428 plots; Village Seven, 295 plots.
Relocation of Wildlife, 2008
The sector sold for resettlement contained numerous wildlife species including Lelwel hartebeest (a rare and unique species in the District), plains zebra, impala, Thomson’s gazelle, oryx, and eland. These animals were threatened with poaching and other threats so together, the Kenya Wildlife ServiceKenya Wildlife Service
The Kenya Wildlife Service, otherwise known by the initialism KWS, is a Kenyan state corporation that was established in 1990 to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife...
(KWS), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in 1995. It is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest and covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black rhino, Grevy’s zebra and sitatunga...
and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy started a process of translocation of over 3000 animals to various conservancies and parks as shown in the table below.
| Area | Hartebeast | Zebra | Impala | Thomson's Gazelle | Oryx | Eland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdare NP Aberdare National Park - External links :* * * *... |
200 | |||||
| Mwea NR | 105 | 100 | 815 | 20 | ||
| Ruma NP | 40 | |||||
| Lewa Conservancy Lewa Wildlife Conservancy The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in 1995. It is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest and covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black rhino, Grevy’s zebra and sitatunga... |
80 | 200 | ||||
| Ol Pejeta Ranch | 65 | 200 | 110 | 800 | 36 | 21 |
| Mugie Ranch | 100 | |||||
| total | 250 | 805 | 210 | 1615 | 36 | 41 |
Early Settlement Conditions and Drought
Initially provision of houses and facilities were not honoured and the settlers were forced to live in tents provided by UNICEF. As a result for several years Solio had been a refugee camp with people living in the dust.A prolonged drought changed the land from undeveloped and fertile to an arid wasteland, and it was becoming very difficult to successfully grow anything. A constant strong wind added to the problems, with topsoil being blown off. Living conditions were awful as so many people were forced to live with no permanent structures at all. After two years the tents were ragged and holed. Children were being taught ad hoc in classes of up to 100 children under canvas with no furniture or books. In many respects the settlers had simply been forgotten. In 2009 the NGO, Moving Mountains, started a strategic program to provide housing and schools for the settlers, and since the Kenyan Government has also assisted.
Controversy and Corruption
It is reported that the Government bought the land following instructions from First Lady Lucy KibakiLucy Kibaki
Lucy Muthoni Kibaki is the wife of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, making her the First Lady of Kenya.She is a controversial figure in Kenya, due to her independent persona and her temper.-Biography:...
, touched by the plight of squatters who had for years been residing on a roadside in Kagochi area of Nyeri East District. These squatters had been evicted from Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian , Nelion and Point Lenana . Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around north-northeast of the capital Nairobi...
and Aberdare
Aberdare Range
The Aberdare Range is a 160 km long mountain range of upland, north of Kenya's capital Nairobi with an average elevation of . It is located in west central Kenya, northeast of Naivasha and Gilgil and just south of the Equator...
forests. Lady Lucy Kibaki approached Central Provincial Commissioner, Jaspher Rugut to find suitable land for the resettlement of these squatters.
It is claimed that the Government overpaid 500,000,000 KES for the land. It is also claimed that there were irregularities in allocation of land, with accusations of some land instead being allocated to influential politicians, civil servants and their families.
It is speculated that Ephraim Maina, Minister of Parliament for Mathira, owns or is one of the owners of Solio Ranch and has unjustly gained from the transaction.
There are also complaints that the transaction was not opened up to allow others to tender for the land.