Technology Meets Conservation at Loisaba

© Caitlin de Greef

Across Loisaba Conservancy, technology is reshaping how we protect wildlife, monitor ecosystems, and work with surrounding communities. From drones and GPS trackers to real-time monitoring systems, new tools are strengthening our ability to respond to challenges on the ground and build more effective conservation strategies. By combining innovation with day-to-day fieldwork, we are making conservation efforts smarter, faster, and better equipped to meet the demands of a changing landscape.

Drones: Watching Over the Unseen

Kibou and her calf Valentine being monitored by drone © Caitlin de Greef

Black rhinos, like Kibou and her calf Valentine, prefer dense, thick bush, making them difficult to spot from the ground. Traditional monitoring methods often risk disturbing them or missing critical health signs. Today, our security teams quietly monitor these elusive animals from above using drones, allowing us to track their movements, check on their wellbeing, and respond quickly if needed—all without disrupting their habitat. Drones have become an indispensable tool in protecting some of Africa’s rarest species.

Real-Time Rhino Tracking with LoRa Technology

In 2024, we took rhino monitoring a step further by fitting a solar-powered LoRaWAN cattle ear tag on Akitam, a female black rhino. LoRa (Long Range) technology enables real-time tracking with minimal energy use, providing detailed insights into rhino movement, habitat use, and adaptation post-translocation. This data not only strengthens anti-poaching efforts but also helps refine future conservation strategies across the landscape. It’s a powerful example of how technology can support both immediate protection and long-term research.

EarthRanger: Smarter, Faster Responses

Rangers using EarthRanger © Jamie Lucas

Managing a 230 km² conservancy requires a coordinated, intelligent approach. EarthRanger, our conservation monitoring system, integrates data from foot, vehicle, and aerial patrols into one real-time platform. This allows rangers to proactively detect threats, track wildlife movements, and plan effective patrols. Thanks to EarthRanger, Loisaba achieved an average patrol coverage of 75% in 2024—ensuring that both wildlife and people are better protected every day.

Lion Collaring: Mitigating Predator Conflict

Collared Male Lion © Jamie Lucas

After a series of lion attacks on black rhinos in early 2024, Loisaba partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Lion Landscapes to collar six male lions from the Felix coalition. GPS collars allow us to monitor lion movements closely, helping us manage predator-prey interactions and reduce future conflicts. Tracking these apex predators in real-time is key to ensuring the safety of both our rhinos and the lions themselves.

Leopard Research: Expanding Knowledge, Strengthening Protection

Black leopard pictured on a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance camera trap ©SDZWA

Through our partnership with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, we are leading research into one of Africa’s most elusive big cats: the leopard. Advanced camera traps and GPS collars provide critical insights into leopard populations, behaviours, and habitat use. Despite technical challenges—including elephants damaging equipment—our commitment to data collection remains strong. This work not only informs conservation strategies at Loisaba but also contributes to broader efforts across Laikipia.

Community-Led Monitoring: Turning Wildlife into an Asset

Technology isn’t just helping wildlife; it’s helping people too. Through the  Community Camera Trapping programme led by Lion Landscapes, and implemented in partnership with Loisaba Conservancy, local communities install camera traps and earn points for every wildlife photo captured. These points are converted into tangible community benefits such as funding for education, water access, and other vital services. By linking conservation directly to community benefits, technology is helping shift perceptions of wildlife from a challenge to a shared opportunity.

Building Safer Communities Through Technology

Human-wildlife conflict remains one of the greatest challenges facing conservation. In 2024, Loisaba expanded its use of predator-proof bomas—reinforced livestock enclosures fitted with lights—to protect herders’ livelihoods from nocturnal predators. Community training programs also incorporated GPS mapping of school routes to reduce human-elephant conflict, with scouts trained to escort children safely through known elephant corridors.

At Loisaba, technology is not an add-on—it is embedded in how we protect wildlife, manage conflict, and work with local communities. From real-time tracking to community-based monitoring, these tools are helping us respond faster, learn more, and build conservation strategies that are informed by evidence, not guesswork. As we look ahead, we are focused on deepening this integration, ensuring that every innovation directly supports both biodiversity and the people who share the landscape.