25/11/2025
๐ฟ A Powerful Day for Hirola Conservation in Bura East!
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20th November 2025 โ Fafi, Garissa County
GSA spent the day with 40 dedicated participants, board members, rangers, local administration, and community representatives, exploring how natural resources are used, where Hirola live and graze, and how people and wildlife can coexist peacefully.
The Hirola, found only in Garissa Kenya and parts of Somalia, is often called โthe worldโs rarest antelope.โ With fewer than 500 left in the wild, every community effort matters, and today, Bura East showed incredible commitment to protecting this iconic species.
From the first introductions, the atmosphere was lively and engaging. Participants shared stories, asked questions, and even drew community maps showing rivers, grazing areas, settlements, and Hirola zones. The discussions were honest and eye-opening, especially when imagining what Bura East could look like in 10 years with better conservation practices.
Our facilitators, Evans Ndemo Masese (GSA) and Mohamed Ibar, guided the group through visioning, resource mapping, and dialogue on threats like overgrazing, insecurity, and increasing bushmeat trade.
By the end of the meeting, participants committed to real action:
๐ฑ Establishing community-managed grazing zones
๐ฑ Reseeding and restoring degraded rangelands
๐ฑ Running anti-poaching awareness campaigns
๐ฑ Forming local wildlife monitoring groups
The unity, passion, and hope shared today showed just how much the community cares about its land โ and its Hirola.
Together, we're building a future where people and wildlife thrive side by side.