This archive report was first published on 7 July 2021.
On June 27, 2021, the WRC Safari Rally Kenya took place in Naivasha, where drivers encountered a variety of wildlife, including giraffes, lions, leopards, antelopes, and buffalos.
The Government of Kenya has encouraged World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers to adopt local animals to boost the country's environmental and tourism sectors.
According to Wildlife Research and Training Institute Chief Executive Officer Patrick Omondi, the adoption will improve Kenya's wildlife conservation effort as some of the animals are threatened by trophy hunting, climatic changes, and human encroachment.
"The funds received will be used by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to protect endangered species like the Rothschild giraffes," Omondi said.
Drivers who adopt animals will join the likes of Jamaican former sprinter Usain Bolt, who acquired a three-month-old cheetah when he visited Kenya in 2009. Bolt paid USD 13,700 (Sh1.5m) for the cub and a further USD 3,000 (Sh300,000) annual fee to care for it.
Hyundai driver, Thierry Neuville, and Estonian speedster Ott Tanak, were among the drivers who marveled at the wildlife during the rally.
Ahead of the rally, a joint task force between the WRC Safari Rally and the KWS was formed to manage the environmental impact of the championship, which attracted over 845 million viewers across the globe.
"We did a pre-survey on all the 11 rally routes. We put mitigation measures on the animal crossing areas, which were properly mapped," Omondi said.
After the rally, Omondi gave the competition a clean bill of health, stating that there was no negative impact on the environment, and that wastes were properly managed and disposed of.
