The Grevy’s zebra population saw a catastrophic decline in the 1980’s and 1990’s and the species is now only found in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.
As part of the Grevy’s Zebra technical committee, Marwell has played a key role in successfully reversing the decline of the population in Kenya for the first time in over a decade.
A national survey of Grevy's zebra, undertaken in 2008, recorded at least 2,403 Grevy's zebra within Kenya, an increase from 2004 when just 2,100 were thought to exist. The increase is largely due to the establishment of community based conservancies and grass roots awareness campaigns.
In Ethiopia however, the Grevy’s zebra population is less than 100 and still declining.
Urgent action is needed to survey the outlying populations of Grevy’s in El Barta, Laisamis and the North zones of Kenya.
Research is needed to identify key threats to these remote populations and to establish any links between these groups and the decreasing Ethiopian populations.
Help fund one of our GPS Collars
Funds raised will enable us to survey these groups by fitting 12 Grevy’s zebra with GPS collars in the outlying regions. Each collar costs £2,000 and will travel around with its zebra for a period of ~24 months. In collaboration with a number of strategic camera traps, we aim to collect essential information about these populations including ranging patterns, movements and potential conflict over resources with pastoral communities, which will help to inform future conservation management.
How will your support impact on the wider communities in the region?
This project presents a unique opportunity to reduce the threats to Grevy’s zebra at the same time as strengthening community livelihoods. Information gained from this project will improve access to water, increase tourism potential through better managed Grevy’s zebra populations, provide employment opportunities, and improve capacity for wildlife management.