Kenyan Rangers Protecting Nature, One Pair of Socks at a Time!

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining fragment of dry coastal forest on Kenya’s coast. Once stretching from southern Somalia right down to northern Mozambique, this 420-square kilometre patch of forest is rich in rare wildlife found nowhere else in the world. A bird lovers’ paradise, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is home to over 230 feathered species including the endangered Clark’s weaver bird, and the Sokoke Scops owl. It also provides habitat for elephant, caracal, leopard, the endangered golden-rumped elephant shrew, and the extremely rare African golden cat.

Surrounding communities rely on the forest for essential natural services such as climate regulation and clean water. In fact, Arabuko-Sokoke’s importance has been recognised by UNESCO as an example of the critical relationship between human welfare and conservation. Rangers work tirelessly to protect this vital ecosystem that is under constant threat from poaching and illegal charcoal burning. However, like the rest of us, they can’t live without a few essential items.

With Kenya’s rainy season approaching, rangers at Arabuko-Sokoke were in desperate need of the most basic items that would allow them to conserve the forest, protect wildlife, and support local communities. Since 2018 this team of rangers has patrolled a staggering 88,000km on foot, removing more than 20,000 snares that would have otherwise killed or maimed wildlife. But a lack of funding set a very real barrier between these committed rangers and the most basic equipment they needed to work safely and effectively.