Kenya is taking a bold leap into the digital age of conservation with the creation of a first-of-its-kind national wildlife data portal.
The central hub is set to transform how wildlife information is stored, shared and used for decision-making.
Wildlife Research and Training Institute director Dr Patrick Omondi confirmed that a working prototype is complete and awaiting submission to the Cabinet Secretary.
“The national wildlife data portal will bring together data and information to inform management and policy,” Omondi said.
“Once operational, wildlife data will no longer be scattered in filing cabinets or personal hard drives—it will be consolidated in one secure, accessible platform.”
The prototype already contains detailed information, including the percentage of Kenya under conservation, locations of Ramsar sites and maps showing wildlife corridors and dispersal areas.
Some of this data comes from wildlife fitted with GPS collars, which track animal movements in real time.
Such intelligence will guide infrastructure planners, ensuring that new roads, railways and developments incorporate wildlife underpasses or overpasses from the design stage.
“Before, we would only react after construction had begun, leading to public outcry,” Omondi explained.
“With this system, developers will know in advance if their project site cuts through a wildlife corridor.”
The portal will also house decades’ worth of scientific studies—some running for over 50 years—that have until now remained siloed in academic archives.
Long-term projects like the Amboseli elephant study, the Mara hyena research and baboon population monitoring will finally be accessible for practical application.
“Instead of just sitting as scientific papers, these studies will directly inform the management of national reserves, community conservancies, national parks and other habitats,” Omondi said.
WRTI has called on scientists nationwide to submit their work for inclusion in the portal.
Kenya’s biodiversity—from its elephants and rhinos to its migratory birds—faces unprecedented pressure. Between 1977 and 2013, the country lost an estimated 67 per cent of its wildlife populations, driven by rapid human population growth, habitat loss, infrastructure expansion and poaching.
In 2023, President William Ruto froze the issuance of environmental licences in key wildlife corridors, including the Athi-Kapiti, Maasai Mara and Tsavo regions, pending a national conservation policy.
The move prioritised implementing the 2016 Wildlife Corridors and Dispersal Areas Task Force report, which identified more than 100 migratory routes nationwide.
Wildlife corridors are lifelines, enabling animals to move between habitats for breeding, feeding and survival during droughts, floods, or disease outbreaks.
Connectivity conservation—linking fragmented habitats—boosts species resilience and maintains ecosystem health.
WRTI, a state corporation created under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013, is headquartered in Naivasha and operates a network of ecosystem-specific research centres across Kenya—from Tsavo’s savannahs to Malindi’s marine environments and Nyeri’s montane forests.
These centres gather and analyse ecological data tailored to Kenya’s diverse landscapes, feeding into both national policy and community-level conservation strategies.
The institute is also gearing up for the second International Wildlife Scientific Conference, scheduled for September 23–25.
Themed ‘Innovations in wildlife science and practice for sustainable biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development’, the event will bring together researchers, policymakers and conservationists to explore cutting-edge tools, policy frameworks and technologies shaping the future of biodiversity protection.
The portal is not just a database—it is a bridge between science and action.
“This will be the single source of truth for wildlife data in Kenya,” he said.
It will ensure that every decision—from a local land-use plan to a major highway—is guided by facts, not guesswork.”
by GILBERT KOECH
