Wildlife Works East Africa

30/07/2026

🌿 Today, we celebrate 20 years of World Ranger Day, a day to honour the courage, dedication and sacrifice of rangers on the frontlines of conservation.

We remember those who have lost their lives or been injured in the line of duty and celebrate the vital role rangers play in protecting our shared natural heritage.

In the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, more than 100 unarmed frontline conservation rangers work tirelessly to protect 200,000 hectares of dryland forest, a vital wildlife corridor connecting Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.

Every year, our rangers conduct more than 1,000 aerial and ground patrols, help prevent poaching and other illegal activities, respond to human-wildlife conflict, and engage communities on the importance of protecting nature.

From tackling poaching and illegal charcoal burning to addressing destructive slash-and-burn agriculture, they are on the frontline every day, helping safeguard wildlife, forests and the communities that depend on them.

Today, we salute their courage, commitment and service. 💚

Happy World Ranger Day to all the rangers protecting our planet, one patrol at a time. 🦏🌍

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17/07/2026

Rising dramatically from the vast plains of Tsavo, Mount Kasigau stands like an island in the sky.

Cloaked in ancient forest and towering more than 1,600 metres above sea level, this remarkable mountain is part of the globally significant Eastern Arc Mountains biodiversity hotspot.

This sanctuary has sheltered unique plants and animals for thousands of years, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

In this powerful and insightful blog, Wildlife Works Senior Research Scientist Mwangi Wambugu and Research Scientist Bernard Amakobe explore why Mount Kasigau matters not only to Kenya’s wildlife, but to global biodiversity conservation.

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https://www.wildlifeworks.com/post/biodiversity-monitoring-at-kasigau-corridor-redd-project

What 15 Years of Bird Monitoring on Mount Kasigau Tell Us About Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation

06/07/2026

After being spotted with a poisoned arrow by our rangers in Taita ranch, this elephant received urgent care thanks to the coordinated efforts of our aerial and ground teams, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Great job to those involved.

23/06/2026

From June 23 to June 30, we join the global conservation community in celebrating World Female Ranger Week and recognizing the remarkable contributions of women rangers who are helping safeguard our planet's biodiversity.

Since 2011, when Wildlife Works opened its doors to its first female rangers at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya, they have demonstrated daily that conservation knows no gender. Today, these pioneering women are part of a 100+ ranger team working across more than 500,000 acres of dryland forest, where they serve as dedicated and unarmed frontline conservationists playing a crucial role in protecting one of Kenya's most important wildlife landscapes from poachers and other illegal activities.

To date, we have 11 female rangers at Kasigau whose work involves combating illegal charcoal production, preventing destructive slash-and-burn agriculture, and disrupting the illegal ivory and commercial bushmeat trades that threaten wildlife populations and ecosystems. They also help manage human-wildlife conflict, promoting coexistence between local communities and the wildlife that calls the Kasigau landscape home.

Despite the challenges they face, these courageous women continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, professionalism, and commitment. Their efforts not only protect endangered species and critical habitats but also inspire future generations to become champions for conservation and sustainable development.

This World Female Ranger Week, we celebrate their courage, honor their service, and recognize their indispensable role in securing a future where people and nature thrive together.

To all female rangers at Kasigau and around the world, we say thank you for your dedication, sacrifice, and leadership in protecting our shared natural heritage.
The photos feature our female rangers, including Constance Mwandaa, our Head of Training.

The photos feature our 11 female rangers, including Constance Mwandaa, our Head of Training. The group photo features the drone team, including Ruth Mwatela, Grace Mwalumba, Jane Mwaingati, Florence Wakio, Ruth Mathitu, and Muna Kalutu. Individual photos also feature Agneter Katui, Tabitha Kingori, Judith Wakio, and Florence Ndoro.

05/06/2026

Mother Nature is sending us a clear signal, and we cannot afford to ignore it!

Did you know that last year was one of the warmest years ever recorded? Combined with record-breaking greenhouse gas levels, this makes it now virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C without temporarily overshooting that target, meaning the window to act is closing fast!

According to the 2025 World Meteorological Organization's Global Climate Update, Africa is warming at a rate above the global average. To stay within safe limits, global emissions must be cut by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
As we mark the , under the theme "Climate Action", Mother Nature is reminding us that we need to change the course before it's too late! As individuals, communities, corporations, and governments across the globe, we share a collective responsibility to confront climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, and build economies that work in harmony with nature.

Here in Kenya, that responsibility is already being answered. The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project stands as a powerful, proven model of what locally led climate action looks like in practice. Launched in 2005 and expanded across the wider Kasigau landscape in 2010, it is one of the world's longest-running and most impactful community-centered forest carbon projects.

For over two decades, the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ model has safeguarded biodiversity while partnering with local communities to build climate-resilient livelihoods. Through this approach, it has financed education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, while also supporting vital community-led adaptation measures.

This is proof that climate action and community empowerment are not in conflict; they go hand in hand.
The question is no longer whether we can act urgently as a world. The question is whether we will choose to.

25/05/2026

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project (KCRP) is committed to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by providing community outreach training focused on youth and women's groups. To date, we have reached over 1,600 community members.

GBV, a pervasive crisis rooted in deep-seated socio-cultural norms, unequal power dynamics, and economic disparities, manifests as physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse directed at individuals because of their gender, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and marginalized populations.

GBV continues to be a global concern, with reports showing that at least one out of every three women has experienced GBV in her lifetime. According to media reports, more than 129 women were reportedly killed in the first quarter of 2025, while 71% of girls aged between 20 and 25 years who sought women and children’s support services reported a history of Female Ge***al Mutilation.

Research further shows that most violence occurs within homes, making it difficult for survivors to report such cases.

In response to such realities, the KCRP continues to conduct training programs at the grassroots level, particularly in villages where cultural beliefs and social norms significantly influence daily life.

Recently, we facilitated a training workshop for more than 50 community members in Kwa Kele village, located in Mwachabo Location, Taita Taveta County, due to a reported increase in cases of GBV cases.

The Participants had the opportunity to learn about the various forms of GBV, how to report incidents, ways to prevent GBV within families, and the psychological counseling services available for survivors.

During the session, certified counsellor Florence Mulei emphasized the significance of community awareness and collective responsibility in addressing GBV cases.

"Ending gender-based violence begins with awareness, courage, and the willingness of communities to speak up and support survivors. Through these trainings, we are empowering communities with knowledge and creating safe spaces where victims can seek help without fear,” she emphasized.

The trainings have highlighted several challenges in the fight against GBV, with the majority suffering in silence because they fear reporting incidents due to a lack of awareness about the different forms of GBV or are unfamiliar with the proper reporting channels.

Additionally, some individuals are concerned about social stigma and discrimination if they decide to come forward.

These trainings and awareness platforms, therefore, remain essential, as they provide community members with the confidence, knowledge, and support needed to report cases and seek assistance.

The KCRP continues to partner with communities and local leaders through such initiatives to promote a peaceful and conducive environment where all individuals can live free from gender-based violence.

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project initiative is supported by landowners from ranches, including Rukinga, Taita, Kasigau, Wushumbu, Dawida, Amaka, Sagalla, Jora, Maungu, Mgeno, Choke, Kutima, Wangala, and Ndara.

19/05/2026

From bursary support to serving his own community in healthcare!

Meet 27-year-old Pascal Kiboko, a recipient of the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project educational scholarship who pursued his studies in medicine.

Today, Pascal serves his community as a nurse at Bamako Dispensary in Sagala, part of the project location, under the county government bringing his skills, care, and commitment back to his own community.

His story reflects what long-term investment in education can achieve not just academic success, but a direct return of service where it is needed most.

Through community and landowner partnership, Sagala Location has received more than 48.5 million shillings in educational bursaries since 2012.

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project initiative is supported by landowners from ranches namely Rukinga, Taita, Kambanga, Washumbu, Dawida, Amaka, Sagalla, Izera, Maungu, Kasigau, Mgeno, Choke, Kutima, Wangalla and Ndara.

Read Pascal’s inspiring story in our blog here https://www.wildlifeworks.com/post/kasigau-education-scholarship-healthcare-pascal

15/05/2026

Have you received a copy of our Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project community newsletter yet?

Our Quarter 1 edition is now being shared across communities and partners within the project, bringing together stories that reflect the community partnership and the people driving it forward.

This edition highlights some powerful updates; from our female drone pilots who are breaking barriers in conservation technology, to scholarship progress supporting young learners in our communities, and climate smart agriculture initiatives that is strengthen food security while protecting the environment.

Each story highlights the power of community-led conservation and long-term investment in local economies.

Read the full newsletter here https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:918e87e1-7d98-4cd4-a902-8963d61597b7

22/04/2026

Today, we mark Earth Day 🌍, a global reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and sustain the environment. But this moment calls for more than reflection; it demands urgency.

In her latest Op-Ed carried by the People Daily, Olivia Adhiambo Ojwando, Climate Policy Director – Africa at Wildlife Works, underscores a critical reality: while the world continues to fall short in tackling climate change, Africa is steadily emerging as a leader in climate action.

“Projects such as the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project highlight both the promise and complexity of this approach,” she notes. “They show how conservation can generate carbon credits and income, but also the importance of careful implementation to ensure fairness, integrity, and long-term sustainability.”

Africa is not waiting. Communities are innovating, restoring ecosystems, and building climate resilience from the ground up. What’s needed now is scale, support, and accountability.

Read more on page 12 below and join the conversation on what real climate leadership looks like.

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https://epaper.peopledaily.digital/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=People%20Daily&pubid=2d11dca3-13c2-4add-9dc1-cee781ba2925

13/03/2026

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, in partnership with the Watamu Snake Farm that is supported by the Taylor Ashe Antivenom Foundation (TAAF), recently conducted a snake awareness training for more than 100 community members in Msharinyi Village. The initiative comes at a time when several cases of snake sightings and bites have been reported in the area.

The training, held at the Msharinyi Social Hall, aimed to educate community members on the facts and myths surrounding snakes and provide guidance on how to respond safely in the event of a snake sighting or bite.

According to Mr. Peter Godana, Education Supervisor and Senior Venomous Snake Handler at Watamu Snake Farm, snakes are among the most feared animals and are surrounded by many misconceptions.

“Snakes play an important role in the ecosystem by helping regulate rodent populations. They are also vital in the production of antivenom used to treat snake bites. In some communities, such as the Luo and parts of the Turkana community, snakes even hold cultural significance,” said Godana.

He noted that conflicts between humans and snakes often arise due to fear and lack of knowledge, which leads people to kill snakes whenever they encounter them.

“Our communities need to understand the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes. This knowledge helps people respond appropriately when they encounter a snake,” he explained.

Godana emphasized that learning how to prevent snake bites can significantly reduce the risk of conflict and save lives. He advised community members to take simple precautions such as being cautious when collecting firewood, avoiding walking in the dark without a light source, refraining from sleeping on the floor at night, clearing bushes around homesteads, and removing piles of rocks or debris that may provide hiding places for snakes.

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, in partnership with Taylor Ashe Antivenom Foundation, has also been conducting annual snake-handling training for staff. These trained staff members have played an important role in safely handling snakes both within the project area and in surrounding communities.