Shurr Community Conservancy is a community-led conservation area located in Marsabit County, Kenya, immediately to the east of Marsabit National Park. Established in 2013, it covers a large area of 425,133 hectares. The community is predominantly Gabra, who are semi-nomadic pastoralists.
Wildlife:
The Shurr Conservancy is home to a variety of wildlife, including:
- Reticulated giraffes
- Elephants
- Beisa oryx
- Grant’s gazelles
- Gerenuk
- Grevy’s zebras
- Baboons
- Lions
- Leopards
- Greater kudu
- Buffalos
- Ostrich
- Spotted hyena
- Bat-eared fox
- African wild dogs
Conservation Focus:
The conservancy aims to:
- Develop a resilient community that peacefully coexists with wildlife and neighboring communities.
- Ensure the community significantly benefits from conservation efforts.
- Increase the diversity of wildlife species within the conservancy.
- Improve rangelands.
Community and Livelihoods:
- The Shurr community are semi-nomadic pastoralists who keep cattle, camels, goats, and sheep.
- The conservancy aims to improve services for community development, including water availability for livestock, people, and wildlife.
- Efforts are focused on building peace and security by reducing cattle rustling and highway banditry.
- There are initiatives to grow and diversify the local economy and improve livestock health.
- Informal groups, such as youth and women’s groups, engage in small-scale businesses like beadwork and running small guest houses to generate income.
Tourism:
Currently, Shurr Community Conservancy does not have visitor facilities. However, it has significant potential for tourism due to its wildlife and proximity to Marsabit National Park.
The Shurr Community Conservancy represents a significant effort in community-based conservation in Marsabit County, focusing on both wildlife protection and the well-being of the local Gabra community.
