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🐘 Elephant population 🦁 Lion monitoring 📊 Census 2022 🌿 Savanna biodiversity 🗺️ GIS datasets 🎓 MSc programs
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Intelligence Platform — Updated 2023

Kenya's national wildlife
intelligence platform.

Population data, biodiversity indicators, GIS maps, census intelligence, and ecological monitoring — from WRTI's national research network across 12 field centres.

Explore species data Access datasets Research permitting
National Wildlife Dashboard

Kenya's wildlife at a glance

Indicators updated from 2022–2023 census and monitoring data Download all data
🐘Elephant
36,284
▲ 12.4% since 2019
2022 National Census · Open
🦁Lion
2,489
→ Stable 2020–2022
2022 Monitoring Programme
🦏Black Rhino
1,014
▲ 8.2% since 2018
2022 Rhino Census
🐆Cheetah
912
▼ 3.1% since 2020
2022 Carnivore Survey
🦒Giraffe
44,198
▲ 6.7% since 2018
2022 National Census
🐕Wild Dog
218
▼ 11% since 2019
2022 Carnivore Survey
African Elephant — Population Trend
Kenya national population estimate · WRTI Census Programme · 2000–2023
All years
10 yr
5 yr
40K 34K 28K 22K 16K 10K 2000 2003 2006 2009 2013 2016 2019 2023 36,284 Source: WRTI National Wildlife Census Programme · Methodology: Systematic aerial and ground surveys
36,284
2023 estimate
+12.4%
Since 2019
36,284
Historical peak
Select a species All species
🐘 African Elephant 36,284 LC
🦁 African Lion 2,489 VU
🦏 Black Rhinoceros 1,014 CR
🐆 Cheetah 912 VU
🦒 Reticulated Giraffe 44,198 VU
🐕 African Wild Dog 218 EN
🐅 Leopard 1,860 VU
🦛 Common Hippopotamus 4,200 VU
🦓 Plains Zebra 406,000 NT
🐃 Blue Wildebeest 1,200,000 LC
GIS & Geospatial Intelligence

Interactive ecosystem and species map.

Download GIS layers
Map Layers
Base Layers
Wildlife Layers
Climate Layers
Download visible layers
2°N 0° 2°S 34°E 37°E 40°E Migration route Elephant range Nairobi HQ Narok Centre Amboseli Tsavo Laikipia Samburu Turkana Meru Coastal N
Scale: 1 cm ≈ 80 km · Projection: WGS84
Legend
Field research centres
Arid zone centres
Savanna ecosystem
Elephant range
Migration route
+
−
⊡
↓
Census Intelligence
National Wildlife Census results
Download CSV
2022
2019
2014
2010
Species Estimate ±Error Trend Relative
🐘African Elephant 36,284 ±1,240 ▲ 12.4%
🦒Reticulated Giraffe 44,198 ±2,100 ▲ 6.7%
🦁African Lion 2,489 ±310 → Stable
🦏Black Rhinoceros 1,014 ±88 ▲ 8.2%
🐆Cheetah 912 ±120 ▼ 3.1%
🦛Hippopotamus 4,200 ±340 ▼ 5.8%
🐕African Wild Dog 218 ±44 ▼ 11%
🦓Plains Zebra 406,000 ±18,200 → Stable
Biodiversity Intelligence
National Biodiversity Index
2023
0 50 100
72.4
National Biodiversity Index Score
▼ 2.1 points from 2021
Species richness84
Habitat integrity68
Population viability71
Ecosystem function78
Threat pressure61
Ecosystem Health

Biodiversity by ecosystem type.

View all ecosystems
Savanna & Grassland
78
Good
148 species · 580,000 km²
Montane Forest
68
Moderate
212 species · 17,000 km²
Wetland & Freshwater
62
Moderate
96 species · 14,000 km²
Arid & Semi-Arid
56
Concerning
78 species · 350,000 km²
Coastal & Marine
73
Good
164 species · 640 km coastline
Active Monitoring

National wildlife monitoring programmes.

All research programmes
🐘
Active
Large Mammal Aerial Census
Systematic aerial survey of 38 large mammal species across Kenya's protected and unprotected areas. Conducted triennially using standardised distance sampling methodology.
38
Species covered
580K
km² surveyed
2024
Next census
🦁
Active
Carnivore Monitoring Programme
Long-term GPS collar and camera trap monitoring of five large carnivore species across the Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, and Tsavo ecosystems.
5
Species tracked
124
GPS collars active
12yr
Data series
🌿
Active
Biodiversity Information System
Kenya's national wildlife biodiversity database integrating species occurrence records, habitat assessments, remote sensing outputs, and citizen science observations.
2.4M
Records held
847
Species recorded
Open
Access level
Field Research Network

12 field centres across Kenya's agro-climatic zones.

View all centres
Savanna Lowland
Narok Research Centre
📍 Narok County · Mara Ecosystem
Large mammals Carnivores Human-wildlife
3 active projects · 8 researchers
Semi-Arid Savanna
Amboseli Field Station
📍 Kajiado County · Amboseli Basin
Elephants Spatial ecology
4 active projects · 6 researchers
Dry Savanna
Tsavo Research Centre
📍 Taita-Taveta County · Tsavo Ecosystem
Elephants Rhinos Habitat
5 active projects · 10 researchers
Highland Forest
Laikipia Field Station
📍 Laikipia County · Laikipia Plateau
Primates Carnivores Genetics
3 active projects · 5 researchers
Arid & Semi-Arid
Samburu Research Centre
📍 Samburu County · Northern Rangelands
Arid species Migration
2 active projects · 4 researchers
Montane Forest
Mt Kenya Research Station
📍 Nyeri County · Mt Kenya Ecosystem
Forest species Climate
3 active projects · 6 researchers
Coastal Lowland
Coastal Research Centre
📍 Kwale County · Coastal Forests
Coastal species Marine
2 active projects · 5 researchers
Lake Basin
Kisumu Wetlands Station
📍 Kisumu County · Lake Victoria Basin
Wetlands Waterbirds Fisheries
2 active projects · 4 researchers
💾

Access WRTI's open datasets.

214 open wildlife datasets — census results, species occurrence records, GIS layers, biodiversity indices, and monitoring outputs. Freely available for research and conservation use.

Browse datasets
📋

Apply for a research permit.

Conduct wildlife research in Kenya's protected areas and national parks. WRTI manages the national research permitting process for wildlife and biodiversity research.

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Intelligence updates by email.

New census releases, biodiversity indicator updates, monitoring programme outputs, and species status changes — delivered to your inbox.