The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has dismissed allegations that a posh hotel in the Maasai Mara National Reserve is impeding the famed wildebeest migration.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 27, the KWS described the claims as misleading, clarifying that the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp, which has come under a lot of criticism in recent days, sits within a designated low-use tourism investment zone, as outlined in the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan (2023–2032).
"The Ritz-Carlton safari camp is situated within a designated tourism investment low-use zone, as provided for in the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan, 2023 - 2032," KWS said in a statement.
The agency further reiterated that the wildebeest migration, being one of the most globally celebrated natural phenomena, was accorded the highest form of protection by the government.
"Our commitment is demonstrated through ongoing national initiatives, including the recent Cabinet approval to secure the Nairobi National
Park - Athi-Kapiti wildlife corridor, among others. This policy direction highlights our firm resolve to safeguard all existing wildlife corridors, including those within the wider Masai Mara ecosystem," the statement went on.
Between 1999 and 2002, the KWS says it used GPS tracking data from over 60 collared wildebeest, tracking their movements during that time. From the agency's data, the entire Maasai Mara reserve functions as a general disposal area.
To this effect, the migrating animals use the full 68-kilometre stretch of the Kenya-Tanzania border without any single preferred route.
With this in mind, the KWS reiterated that camps which have been established in different areas along the Mara, Sand and Talek rivers have negligible effects on the migration and have historically coexisted with wildlife movements without any obstructions.
The statement went on, "The Kenya Wildlife Service assures the public that all ecological, environmental, and regulatory requirements were thoroughly met and validated prior to approval of the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp. In addition, every tourism investment within parks, reserves and sanctuaries is subjected to a stringent environmental assessment to ensure alignment with conservation priorities and the integrity of Kenya's protected areas and ecosystems."
Along the Sand River alone, KWS revealed there were several permanent and seasonal camps, none of which had previously attracted accusations similar to those directed at the Ritz-Carlton camp.
On the videos of struggling wildebeest circulating online, the KWS described them as lacking proper context, attributing them to elements who stood to gain commercially by launching a campaign against some camps in the Maasai Mara.
"Therefore, we encourage the public to rely on verified and official information to ensure that the general public is not misguided," the agency reiterated.
