Lamu County is significant as it is one of the only areas in Kenya where coastal forest remains. The County, and the wider Boni-Dodori ecosystem, of which Nairobi Ranch forms an important component, is globally important for endangered species conservation, specifically small mammals, amphibians, birds, and insects. Within this valuable conservation landscape, Kipini Conservancy contains one of the only contiguous blocks of wildlife habitat that links a marine habitat with a wildlife-rich forest habitat. All five species of marine turtles occurring in Kenya’s waters are listed by the World Conservation Union as either endangered or critically endangered, and the Kipini coastal area has been identified as a key nesting area and foraging ground for rare and threatened sea turtles in Kenya.

 

Several species of whales and dolphins are found in these waters, as well as the globally threatened dugong (Dugong dugon). Often referred to as the sea cow, the dugong is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine. The shallow sea-grass along the Conservancy’s shore is a preferred habitat for the dugong which is endangered along the Kenya coast.The Conservancy bordering the Tana River Delta is a stopover and wintering habitat for many migratory bird populations. The area also provides a habitat for threatened shorebirds and seabirds.

 

Wildlife species present in the region include elephant (Loxodonta africana), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchellii), hirola (Beatragus hunteri) – the last representative of a whole genus – waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprimnus), coastal topi (Damaliscus lunatus topi), lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis), gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus), and eland (Taurotragus oryx).

During a recent study funded by the Finnish Embassy, a species that was considered virtually extinct in Kenya and whose range was thought to be limited now to Zanzibar (where it is endangered) was found in the area close to the Conservancy: the Aders’ duiker, which is the rarest of this family of mammals.

 

The presence of threatened plant species in Witu forest that neighbours the Conservancy include: Angylocalyx braunii, Camptolepis ramiflora, Canthium kilifiense, Canthium seudoverticillatum, Euphorbia tanaensis, Kraussia speciosa, Mkilua fragrans, Psychotria crassipetala, Synsepalum subverticillatum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kipini Wildlife and Botanical Conservancy Trust (KWBCT) is a vital conservation organization based in Nairobi Ranch, Lamu County, Kenya. For over three decades, KWBCT has been dedicated to protecting one of the last remaining coral rag forest areas and coastal habitats in Kenya, which is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Its 21,200-hectare surface area is considered one of the richest areas in Kenya in terms of biodiversity. KWBCT's coastal forest mosaic is a crucial habitat for elephants (Loxodonta africana), remnant lion populations (Panthera Leo), and numerous bird, plant, and insect species. Moreover, KWBCT's beach transition zone is one of the few remaining nesting areas for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Kenya.