EAST AFRICA CENTER FOR WILDLIFE HEALTH

VIEW and Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy are working together to build a Center for Wildlife Health in Laikipia, Kenya. This region is home to endangered species such as eastern black rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, and savanna elephants. As people, livestock, and wildlife increasingly share the same space, the risk of disease transmission continues to grow. These health threats put already vulnerable wildlife populations at even greater risk.

Through this collaborative wildlife health program, our goal is to create the infrastructure, veterinary capacity, and protocols needed to provide consistent, high-quality care and enable rapid emergency response. Ol Jogi has built a wildlife hospital with a surgical theater, laboratory, and digital x-ray equipment. VIEW is helping expand the hospital’s capabilities by supplying diagnostic machines and supporting mobile veterinary operations.

 

We hope to work more closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the national agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management across the country. KWS plays a vital role in protecting Kenya’s biodiversity, and strengthening veterinary support for their field teams is a key part of our long-term vision.

This site will also serve as a center for wildlife health training and research. Plans include building a dormitory for visiting trainees and hosting regular workshops for veterinarians and vet assistants. Together, we are laying the foundation to protect East Africa’s most endangered wildlife through elevating the resources needed for veterinarians to care for wildlife in situ.