The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Opens Third Elephant Rehabiliation Center

Empowers Africa grantee The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has recently opened its third elephant rehabilitation center. The new center is located at Umani Springs in the Kibwezi Forest. #DSWT has worked closely with both the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Wildlife Service in implementing this third relocation unit. The Kibwezi Forest is nestled within the foothills of the Chyulu Hills National Park where DSWT has secured a concession of 18,000 acres from the KFS. DSWT and KFS have a public-private partnership to preserve and protect this unique ecosystem. The Kibwezi Forest forms one of the Trust’s Saving Habitats programs, and just four years since its inception tangible success is evident, revealing that wildlife numbers have soared and illegal activity has been heavily reduced while poaching has been eradicated.
Protection programs have been put in place, and the community is benefiting from an end to human-wildlife conflict, increased employment, varied outreach initiatives and increased rainfall due to the rapid recovery of the forest. The forest is protected by 42 kilometers of electrical fence erected by DSWT. The area has plenty of food and is filled with a healthy variety of wildlife, including many wild elephants. For more information, follow this link: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/.