Suyian Conservancy is a spectacular and critical unfenced wildlife habitat located in the heart of Kenya’s famed Laikipia Plateau. The conservancy is a 17,806-hectare (44,000-acre) expanse of untouched grassland, savannah, striking rock kopjes, and acacia woodland, along with more than 16 km (10 mi) of Ewaso Narok River frontage. The conservancy is part of the wider Laikipia-Ewaso ecosystem, which holds the highest diversity of large mammal species of any ecosystem of its size in the world..
Holistically managed for decades as a working cattle ranch with conservation at its core, today, Suyian provides a sanctuary for wildlife and critical support for local communities. It is home to over 100 mammals, including a number of endangered species such as Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, lion, cheetah, and African wild dog as well as supporting a significant elephant population plus 325 bird species and approximately 700 known plant species.
Situated along a vital wildlife movement corridor between Laikipia and the northern community conservancies of Samburu, Suyian ensures wilderness connectivity within a vast, 40,000 km2 (15,444 mi2) landscape, allowing elephants and other wildlife to move freely with the rain.
In 2022, through the generosity of the Powys family and a transformational gift by American philanthropist Louis Bacon, Space for Giants were able to support the transition of ownership of Suyian Ranch to the Suyian Conservancy Trust, a Kenyan not-for-profit, ensuring Suyian and its wildlife are protected in perpetuity for the benefit of Kenyans and, indeed, the world.
Suyian Conservancy aims to achieve its mission of best-in-class adaptive management underpinned by the use of applied conservation research and monitoring. This will result in the optimum levels of diversity and abundance of wildlife, carbon sequestration, free-range livestock husbandry and value creation for local citizens and the nation. We will scale up our impact in the neighbourhood by providing a hub for collaboration and cooperation among conservancies in Laikipia, whilst achieving continental and global impact by housing the Space for Giants’ conservation initiatives.
In 2023, Suyian took a major step forward in achieving its conservation objectives and long term financial viability through the establishment of an exclusive partnership with &Beyond to develop and operate high-end tourism facilities on the Conservancy. &Beyond will not only be Suyian’s exclusive tourism partner but also a major partner in our conservation work too, through an institutional seat on the Conservancy Board.
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