There are only about 1,000 Lelwel hartebeest left in Kenya. They are only found in two places:  (1) Ruma National Park, where only a few dozen animals remain. and (2) a population of approximately 1,000 individuals in Laikipia District. This Laikipia population has been shown to be genetically diverse. 75% of this population is found on Solio Ranch.

In 2008, it was announced that the entire Sector D of Solio Ranch (eastern boundary), measuring approximately 15,500 acres had been sold to the Government of Kenya’s Settlement Trustee Fund to re-settle squatters from Laikipia District. Sector D is home to 480 Lelwel hartebeest ; 600 plains zebra; 210 impala; 1,020 Thomson’s gazelle; 36 oryx; and 41 eland. These animals have co-existed with Solio livestock over the years and have not been confined to Sector D alone; rather they have seasonally moved into other sectors of the ranch, as the separating fences have been porous to both wildlife and livestock. However, a-10 strand electric fence that cuts off Sector D, from the rest of Solio Ranch was completed recently, completely restricting wildlife to that block of the ranch.

Since November 2008, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Kenya Wildlife Service have gathered funds to move the hartebeest and other wildlife from Sector D. Unless these animals are moved, they will die at the hands of poachers. So far we have been able to move 245 hartebeest; 140 plains zebra and 25 impalas.

We are running out of time and out of funds. People have already started to move onto the Ranch. There are still about 200 hartebeest that need to be moved.