18/08/2026
Remembering Baraka
On Sunday morning, Ol Pejeta said goodbye to one of the most remarkable residents we’ve ever had the privilege to know. Baraka, our beloved blind black rhino, died at the age of 31.
Born here to his mother Carol, Baraka was one of the very first black rhinos ever born on the conservancy. He grew into a strong bull who fiercely defended his territory, until a clash with another male cost him his right eye. Cataracts soon took the left, leaving him completely blind.
Rather than let him struggle in the wild, our team brought him into a protected enclosure, where he could receive round-the-clock care. His sightlessness also presented ongoing challenges, including limiting his ability to select and access food naturally, meaning his diet relied heavily on supplementation to meet his nutritional needs.
When he first arrived, ranger Esogon Ekale spent many days helping him settle in. It’s a bond we still talk about today.
Over the years, Baraka became a firm favourite with staff and visitors alike, and a living symbol of rhino resilience. Every person who met him left with a personal connection to rhinos.
Those who cared for him knew another side of Baraka too: his personality, his routines, the small quirks that made him uniquely him.
His name means ‘blessing’ in Swahili. For everyone who met him, that’s exactly what he was.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted by Ol Pejeta and vet teams to establish the cause of death.
We will miss him deeply. And we will carry his legacy forward.
Photos: Ol Pejeta
