A new documentary placing Kenyan rangers at the centre of the country’s black rhino conservation efforts has premiered in Africa, highlighting the people and partnerships behind the species’ recovery.
RHINO, directed by Tom Martienssen and narrated by actor Tom Hardy, was screened in Nairobi on 26 September following its earlier London premiere. The screening brought together conservationists, rangers, veterinary experts, diplomats and other stakeholders.
The film follows Kenyan rangers and conservation teams over five years as they protect black rhinos and support efforts to rebuild populations of one of Africa’s most threatened species.
A major focus is the 2024 translocation of 21 black rhinos to Loisaba Conservancy, restoring the species to an area where it had been absent for decades. The operation involved multiple conservation organisations and years of planning.
The documentary shifts the focus from wildlife alone to the people working on the conservation frontline, documenting the risks faced by rangers and the roles played by communities, conservancies, scientists and veterinary teams.
Its African premiere also comes as Kenya’s conservation sector enters a new phase. Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Professor Erustus Kanga said the country’s black rhino population reached 1,147 by the end of 2025, with conservation priorities increasingly shifting towards securing additional habitat for a growing population.
At Loisaba, the 21 rhinos relocated in 2024 have since begun reproducing, with nine calves reported over the following two years, bringing the population there to 30.
For the documentary’s director, the project also highlights the importance of strengthening Kenya’s own capacity to tell conservation stories, particularly through local storytellers who understand the communities and environments at the heart of the work.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion involving Martienssen, rangers, conservation leaders and veterinary experts, examining the evolving challenges of protecting Kenya’s rhino populations.
