A powerful new documentary reveals the remarkable success and complex challenges facing Kenya's black rhino population. Tom Hardy provides the narration for this compelling look at conservation efforts in East Africa.
Kenya's Conservation Success Story
Against a backdrop of catastrophic decline across Africa, Kenya has achieved something extraordinary. While the continent has lost 1,900 rhinos to poaching in just three years, not a single rhino has been poached in Kenya during the same period. This achievement stems from protected sanctuaries called conservancies, which employ local people and create secure environments for endangered wildlife.
The world's black rhino population has plummeted to just over 6,000 animals, pushed to the brink of extinction by habitat loss and illegal hunting. Yet in Kenya's fenced conservancies, numbers are steadily growing, representing one of wildlife conservation's rare bright spots.
The Irony of Success: Rhinos Killing Rhinos
This conservation victory has created an unexpected problem. As rhino populations increase within the protected areas, competition between males has intensified dramatically. The documentary highlights the horrible irony of animals surviving poaching only to kill each other in territorial battles that can end in death.
We meet head ranger Ramson Kiloku at Borana Conservancy, a man who knows every individual rhino on his patch by their unique footprints and ear markings. His expertise becomes crucial as conservationists develop a high-risk strategy to address the overcrowding problem.
A Dangerous Relocation Mission
The film follows an ambitious plan to move 21 rhinos 100 miles away to Loisaba Conservancy, acknowledging the tremendous risks involved. A previous relocation attempt ended in tragedy when all 11 transported rhinos died. The operation faces additional challenges when Kenya experiences severe drought, devastating local communities and increasing poaching pressure as bandits terrorise farms.
Some viewers might find Hardy's narration slightly distracting as he channels David Attenborough with what one reviewer described as "a dash of 19th-century aristo-explorer." The documentary also faces criticism for not exploring the threat climate change poses to endangered species, and some soundtrack choices, including a mawkish rendition of Knocking on Heaven's Door, may not land well with all audiences.
Despite these minor flaws, Rhino presents a gripping, timely story about the complexities of modern conservation, showing that protecting endangered species involves far more than simply keeping poachers at bay.
Rhino arrives in UK cinemas from 28 November.
