The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) is a non-profit organization who are dedicating themselves especially
to the protection of rhinos and Grévy zebras. Founded on April 1, 1993 and registered as an official
national park by the Kenyan government in 1995, the LWC has become a significant organization for the
conservation of nature.
The nature reserve pertaining to it is situated about 4 hours' drive north-west of Nairobi, at the
foothills of Mount Kenya. Already some 25 years ago, Ann Merz had the vision of a park that would
allow a peaceful coexistence of men/women and wild animals. It is thanks to the dogged will and
application of this educated Englishwoman and Swiss of her own free choice that this vision today
has become reality. But just as important for the success is the willingness of the Craig family to
join in this project. The Craigs owned the greatest part of these grounds and were willing to put
land at disposal and cede it to the LWC. The total area today has a size of approximately 225 square
kilometers.
The fact that the protection of rhinos is a matter of concern at Lewa makes out of this project a
particularly expensive and costly one. As always, there is still great want for rhinos among poachers
and foreign business dealers. This means that special attention has to be paid to the safety aspect.
Safety in this case means the financing of gameguards and gamekeepers (wages, uniforms, arms, radio
equipment, binoculars), the purchase and the running of expensive cars suitable for cross-country
work, the maintenance of paths and roads (roadmasters' wages, tools, clothing) and the provision of
the infrastructure in the headquarters (residential buildings, workshops, offices and other things).
Have to be added structural measures in the open country, for instance walls built of stone blocks at
exposed places which protect the fine animals from falling down.
Also the running of small planes that are put into service for periodic gamecounts are crucial.
For a professional management taking into account the ecological interrelations it is important to
know how many animals of a species are staying at what places in the territory.
But those responsibles of the LWC are not only concerned about the rhinos. Just as important for
them is the protection of the Grévy zebras. These animals are actually more threatened than the
rhinos because they are to be found almost only in this region.
At the moment, scientific investigations are being made in the area if and to what extent
Grévy-zebras and the less threatened priairie-zebras are mutually competing in the zone.
This also demonstrates that the LWC are engaged in active research and give right to hospitality
to numerous teams of zoologists, botanists and ecologists.
In the meantime, the LWC have advanced to the status of being one of the biggest employers in
Northern Kenya. It just goes to show that only in accord with the local residents nature conservancy
has a chance of success and lastingness.
Ever since 1990, the Zurich Animal Protection Society are supporting the LWC on a regular basis and
rank among the most important sponsors. Thanks to this support, the LWC have developed into a
successful nature conservancy oganization which already now are an example for similar nature
reserves in Africa or other countries.
We shall make sure that your donation will be used properly and will be
of benefit to a professionally managed project . We also have the possibility to look at the books
and are in regular contact with the auditors of the LWC.
We are at present planning a trip to Kenia for our members where, among other things, also this wildlife sanctuary can be visited. Announcements will be sent out shortly.
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The protection of these grey giants, here a "pointed mouth rhino", is very costly.
Trail watchdogs are brought into action in the fight against poachers. The harmony between "Bonnie" and her leaders is indispensable for it.
Professional wildlife management thanks to the use of expensive cars suitable for cross-country work.
In exposed places, stone walls have been erected to protect the big game.
In Lewa Downs a socialization of prairie-zebras with Grévy-zebras can be observed locally. The striped animals are the object of intensive eco-ethological research.
The game preserve gives shelter to a great number of net giraffes. Their continued existence must be regulated by resettlement.
Thanks to the initiative and the foresight of Ann Merz, the LWC today is a venture with very satisfactory future prospects. The rhino lady "Samia" , who as an abandoned baby came in Ann's care, contributed a great deal to this positive development.
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