Wildlife tourism is creating jobs and supporting livelihoods in northern Kenya, with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary linking elephant conservation to income for local women, employment and funding for education and healthcare.
Established in 2016 through an initiative led by the local Samburu community, the sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates and prepares orphaned elephants for eventual release into the wild.
The facility currently cares for 52 young elephants and has successfully released 23 back into the wild, according to Russia Lenanyoike, an elephant keeper at the sanctuary.
Beyond conservation, Reteti has created a market for goat milk supplied by local women, which is used to feed the orphaned elephants.
The sanctuary purchases more than 1,000 litres of goat milk daily, supporting approximately 1,250 women who supply the facility.
Lenanyoike, identified as a guest relations officer in another account of the sanctuary's operations, said the facility pays local suppliers about Sh6.4 million. However, the period covered by the figure was not specified.
The income provides women in remote villages with an additional source of earnings in a region where prolonged drought frequently threatens pastoralist livelihoods.
The sanctuary also employs 140 keepers, creating further job opportunities for the surrounding community.
Tourism provides another source of income. Reteti receives an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 visitors annually, with international tourists accounting for the larger share.
Rasha, who was identified by a single name in the information provided, said 60 per cent of the sanctuary's tourism revenue is channelled to the local community, while the remaining 40 per cent supports its operations.
The community share helps finance school bursaries and hospital bills, extending the benefits of tourism beyond wildlife conservation.
Reteti operates in a region where prolonged drought, dwindling water sources and human-wildlife conflict threaten elephant populations.
Some young elephants fall into deep, rocky wells dug along seasonal riverbeds to provide water for communities. Others are orphaned after their mothers die or following conflicts involving people.
“Each elephant has a different story, how they were rescued and how they lost their mothers,” said Patricia Parkeri, an operations officer at the sanctuary.
When a rescued calf cannot be reunited with its mother within 72 hours, it is brought to Reteti for rehabilitation.
The elephants receive medical attention and care before being gradually integrated into groups that help prepare them for eventual release into the wild.
Keepers also sing traditional Samburu songs while feeding the elephants, incorporating local cultural practices into their daily care.
The sanctuary's work extends beyond elephants, with the facility also caring for giraffes, zebras, kudu, gerenuk and a young buffalo.
Despite its conservation and economic contributions, Reteti faces challenges linked to poor roads, its remote location and inadequate airstrips, which make access difficult for visitors.
Improved transport infrastructure could make the sanctuary more accessible to tourists, potentially increasing visitor numbers and expanding the economic benefits for surrounding communities.
The sanctuary's model also aligns with the Kenya Tourism Board's efforts to develop the Northern Kenya tourism circuit and encourage domestic travellers to explore destinations beyond the country's established safari routes.
By linking wildlife conservation with local employment, small-scale enterprise and community services, Reteti illustrates how tourism can help protect wildlife while creating economic opportunities for communities living alongside it.