Following an increase in the number of animals in the Ruma National Park which is located in the Homa Bay County, there will definitely be an improvement to the tourism services within the region. The Kenya Wildlife Service has also added on the numbers of already available animals on the list of those that will be restocked. There are a number of animals that were brought yesterday like the zebras, wildebeest and white rhinoceros although the park is commonly know for its exceptional and rare roan antelope, Roth child giraffe and the tiny oribi antelope.
According to the information from the Park warden Daniel Rono, there are over 100 zebras, two white rhinos, 10 wildebeests from conservancies in Laikipia and Kitale that were transferred to Ruma national park. Currently, there are 23 rhinos which include 21 black and two white ones however; there are plans to have more wildlife of different species introduced within the park like the ostriches. Noah Wekesa, the Forestry and Wildlife minister not so long ago was the guest of honor at the launch of the introduction of the animals and he mentioned that the government is ready to improve the tourism services within the area at the same level as it is within the other areas. He added that it is very important to improve on tourism since it is the largest source of foreign exchange in the country there fore the backbone of the nation’s economy and it generates about sh100 million every year which is about 10% of the total national budget. It is therefore necessary for people from the local communities to appreciate and protect the resource for future generations. The Western Circuit is made up of the Nyanza and Western Provinces with more exceptional animals than in any other regions in the country.
In this case therefore, Ruma National Park with the exceptional roan antelope and the highest number of Rothschild giraffe has the capacity to increase the revenue as planned so said Wekesa. The Ruma National Park is the only park in Kenya with the exceptional roan antelope, has the largest number of the Rothschild giraffe and therefore will be able to improve on its tourism by introducing other animals. It is very necessary to assertively promote the park and have it connected to other tourism sites for example the popular Thim Lich Oinga, the common Luo legend Gor Mahia, the Lake Victoria, the rich Culture of the Luo, the Homa Hills hot spring of Simbi Nyaima which are all situated within the County. This is intended to ensure the protection and maintance of the endangered types to undo the high decrease in the animal population.
