Enhancing Climate Resilience: People and Wildlife

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, we want to share a vital update on the Enhancing Climate Resilience campaign.

The start of this year has been a stark reminder of why your support is so critical. While our current infrastructure is holding steady, the weather patterns across Kenya are becoming increasingly erratic. In December, we saw rainfall ~48% higher than in November and nearly four times higher than this time last year. These "flip-flop" cycles—from harrowing drought to concentrated deluges—are the new reality of climate change. Our goal now is to ensure our systems are resilient before the next extreme event puts them under debilitating pressure.

The surge in rain has transformed the landscape, leading to some incredible sightings and promising data from our recent census: We’ve welcomed a "baby boom" of warthog piglets and jackal pups emerging from their dens earlier this month and as we completed our second aerial wildlife census. The results show a thriving ecosystem of 9,067 animals recorded (a 5% increase since March 2025).

While our roads and dams are currently functional, we know that as climate change intensifies, so does the risk of washed-away roads, burst dam banks, and failing pipelines.

Your support is the final piece of the puzzle in building a world where people and wildlife co-exist harmoniously, regardless of what the clouds bring.

While this project is fundamentally focused on mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change on wildlife and human communities in Laikipia, we are thrilled to share some encouraging news that illustrates the success of a thriving, resilient ecosystem.

Seasons in Kenya are typically defined by two periods of rain: the long rains and the short rains. We are currently in the short rains period (October to December), and we are witnessing its effects on the land.

Earlier this year, we were fortunate to experience unseasonal rains which brought much-needed relief. Critically, the northern sector of Laikipia has seen great moisture. The average rainfall in September measured approximately 69mm, which, while 35mm less than August, was still 4.5 times higher than the same period in 2024.

To witness such abundant green is a true joy, and the immediate positive impact on the wildlife here cannot be overstated.The intrinsic link between robust rainfall and a thriving rhino population is instrumental to conservation success.

A predictable rainfall pattern ensures that wildlife can safely move across the larger landscape, strengthening the collective effort between communities and conservancies.

While we celebrate the recent abundance of rain, the threat posed by unpredictable rainfall patterns due to climate change remains the central focus of the this project. Fluctuating conditions make it harder to predict and manage resources. Periods of drought lead to resource scarcity, forcing rhinos and other wildlife into closer proximity with human settlements, increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict.

Your commitment ensures that we can continue to invest in vital infrastructure—like supplementary water sources and community conflict resolution programs—that provide stability and resilience when the rains fail. This commitment is a year-round necessity.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in building a resilient future for both people and