The Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary is a

community-based conservation Community-based conservation is a conservation movement that emerged in the 1980s, in response to escalating protests and subsequent dialogue with local communities affected by international attempts to protect the biodiversity of the earth. These ...

and

natural resource management Natural resource management (NRM) is the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations (stewardship) ...

initiative. The sanctuary is located in

Garissa County Garissa County is an administrative county in Kenya. Its capital and largest urban area is Garissa. The county had a population of 841,353 at the 2019 Census, and a land area of about .2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume 2. Demogra ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

, in the area surrounding the village of Bour-Algi, 5 km south of Garissa town. The sanctuary covers an area of around 125 km² and borders the Tana River to the south-west. Its name stems from the large presence of

giraffes The giraffe is a large African hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa''. It is the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were thought to be one species, '' Giraffa camelopardal ...

attracted by the abundant acacia trees. Estimates state almost 1000 giraffes living in the outskirts of the Bour-Algi village.Githuru, M. et al. (2007
Wild Herbivores in Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Kenya: Abundance, habitat use and interactions with humans
. National Museums of Kenya.

History

In 1995, a group of volunteers from the Bour-Algi village initiated a self-help group to protect and preserve the wildlife present in the area. They embarked on various activities, including regular wildlife patrols and desnaring sweeps. As more and more villagers joined the conservation effort, the group’s action expanded to cover a broader area. In 2000, the local authorities of the Garissa District recognized the area as a giraffe sanctuary and began supporting the community’s activities. The

Kenya Wildlife Service Kenya Wildlife Service is a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife established by an act of Parliament; Wildlife Conservation and Management Act CAP 376, of 1989, now repealed and replaced by the Wildlife Conservation and Ma ...

followed suit and appointed an Honorary Warden to support the initiative. With support of Terra Nuova and the Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMPArid Lands Resource Management Project
), the community has been seeking formal status for its conservancy.

Wildlife

The most common herbivores in the sanctuary are giraffe and

gerenuk The gerenuk (; so, garanuug; ''Litocranius walleri''), also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope found in parts of East Africa. The sole member of the genus ''Litocranius'', the gerenuk was first described by the naturalist ...

. Other herbivores sighted in the area are

Kirk's dik-dik Kirk's dik-dik (''Madoqua kirkii'') is a small antelope native to Eastern Africa and one of four species of dik-dik antelope. It is believed to have six subspecies and possibly a seventh existing in southwest Africa. Dik-diks are herbivores, typ ...

Lesser Kudu The lesser kudu (''Tragelaphus imberbis'') is a bushland antelope found in East Africa. It is placed in the genus ''Tragelaphus'' and family Bovidae. It was first scientifically described by the English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1869. The head- ...

warthog ''Phacochoerus'' is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs (pronounced ''wart-hog''). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly co ...

and

waterbuck The waterbuck (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'') is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus '' Kobus'' of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies ar ...

, albeit very rare.

Notes

References

* Githuru, M. et al. (2007
Wild Herbivores in Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Kenya: Abundance, habitat use and interactions with humans
National Museums of Kenya. * Antipa, R. S, Ali, M. H. and Hussein, A. A. (2007
Assessment of the Potential of Eco/Cultural Tourism as Viable Enterprises in Southern Garissa, Ijara and Lamu Districts: A Community Conservation and Enterprise Support Initiative
National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya.

External links

Homepage of Terra Nuova

Transboundary Environmental Project (TEP) by Terra Nuova

Arid Lands Resource Management Project by the Office of the President of Kenya

National Museums of Kenya

Kenya Wildlife Service
{{authority control National parks of Kenya Wildlife sanctuaries of Kenya Garissa County