Kenya Wildlife Service

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was established in 1990. It manages the biodiversity of the country, protecting and conserving the flora and fauna [http://www.kws.org/ Kenya Wildlife Service] ] .

KWS manages the National Parks and Reserves in Kenya. The money collected as entrance fees in the parks is used to help the conservation of the plants and animals within the parks.

National Parks and Reserves

Kenya has 35 designated national parks and reserves:
*Aberdare National Park
*Amboseli National Park
*Arabuko Sokoke National Park
*Arawale National Reserve
*Bisanadi National Reserve
*Boni National Reserve
*Central Island National Park
*Chyulu Hills National Park
*Hell's Gate National Park
*Kakamega Forest Reserve
*Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
*Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
*Kora National Park
*Lake Nakuru National Park
*Losai National Reserve
*Malindi Marine National Park
*Malka Mari National Park
*Marsabit National Reserve
*Meru National Park
*Mombasa Marine Park
*Mount Elgon National Park
*Mount Kenya National Park
*Mount Longonot National Park
*Mwea National Reserve
*Nairobi National Park
*Ndere Island National Reserve
*Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
*Ruma National Park
*Saiwa Swamp National Park
*Samburu National Reserve
*Shaba National Reserve
*Shimba Hills National Reserve
*Sibiloi National Park
*Tana River Primate Reserve
*Tsavo East National Park
*Tsavo West National Park
*Watamu Marine National Park

Conservation Programmes

KWS runs specific programmes to assist Kenyan species and habitats that are in particular danger. They have forest and wetland conservation programmes, as well as specific elephant and rhino projects to help them recover from poaching. The hirola, which is in danger of extinction, is also being monitored.

Within KWS there are several services, each responsible for a different area of work:

Community Wildlife Service

This branch of the KWS work outside the national parks. They work instead in areas such as wildlife corridors, and teach the communities living there to encourage conservation and look after their resources.

ecurity Services

The job of this service is to eliminate poaching in the national parks, and stop illegal trade.

Veterinary Services

This service ensures that healthy breeding populations of species are maintained throughout the country.

Training

KWS has a training centre based in Naivasha. KWS staff are taught here, and courses are also run for outside students in ecology and tourism.

Education

KWS run several education centres:
*Nairobi Safari Walk
*Nairobi Education Centre
*Lake Nakuru Education Centre
*Tsavo East Education Centre
*Tsavo West Education CentreThese are located inside National Parks, and run programs to encourage people to care for their environment. It is aimed at local people, particularly school groups, but is open to anyone.

See also

* List of national parks of Kenya

References

External links

* [http://www.kws.org/ Kenya Wildlife Service]