*Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Participates in Inaugural Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) Board Meeting* Today, the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Prof. Erustus Kanga, attended the inaugural board meeting of the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) initiative, also known as the Room to Roam Program, in Nairobi. This landmark session was chaired by Ambassador (Dr.) Monica Juma, Kenya’s National Security Advisor to the President, and honored by Ambassador Meg Whitman, former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and KRRE Advisory Board Chair. As a founding board member, KWS remains committed to expanding black rhino habitats, particularly within the Tsavo and Laikipia ecosystems. The KRRE initiative aims to address the challenges posed by overcrowded sanctuaries, territorial conflicts, and limited ecological space resulting from Kenya's successful rhino conservation efforts. By creating new, secure habitats, KRRE seeks to promote sustainable population growth, enhance genetic diversity, and ensure the long-term survival of Kenya’s black rhinos. This effort aligns with Kenya’s National Recovery Action Plan for the Black Rhino (2022–2026), which envisions a meta-population of at least 2,000 eastern black rhinos in suitable habitats by 2037, with an interim goal of 1,450 rhinos by Vision 2030. The board meeting brought together other key conservation leaders and stakeholders, including: ✔ Justin Heath, CEO, Ol Pejeta Conservancy ✔ Craig Millar, COO, Big Life Foundation ✔ Dickson ole Kaelo, CEO, Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) ✔ Dr. Patrick Omondi, CEO, Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) Beyond its ecological impact, KRRE will deliver significant socio-economic benefits through: ✅ Enhanced conservation management and security ✅ Job creation for local communities ✅ Increased revenue for conservancies and surrounding businesses ✅ Contribution to national economic growth through conservation-led initiatives This inaugural meeting laid the foundation for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to securing a thriving future for Kenya’s rhino population while reinforcing Kenya’s leadership in global wildlife conservation. ThrivingWildlifeForever #healthyhabitats #worldwildlifeday2025 #tunzamaliyako