Elephant and Habitat Protection on Mount Kenya Supporting the Horse Patrol Team

Elephant populations are concentrated in the northern and eastern part of the Mt. Kenya ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The many habitats of this region are increasingly surrounded by human activities, establishing them as islands of wilderness amongst a sea of cultivation and therefore necessitating active protection and management. The Mount Kenya Horse Patrol Team enhances the capacity of law enforcement personnel to reduce the level of poaching and other illegal activities in the northwestern section of Mount Kenya and beyond. Supported by IEF since 2014, this project protects elephants and addresses human-elephant conflict (HEC). Members of the Horse Patrol Team come from the community, not only learning conservation action themselves but spreading the message at home as conservation ambassadors. Patrol teams also provide valuable medical treatment to injured wildlife, help fight wildfires, and destroy poacher camps.

IEF #AF1031

Project Years: 2012 – 2025

Project Partners:
Susie Weeks, Mount Kenya Trust, Kenya