How KWS ensured animal safety during two-day Hell's gate biking festival

The Hell’s Gate Biking Festival,  held this past weekend at Hell’s Gate National Park, was not only a celebration of adrenaline and entertainment but also a demonstration of how sporting events can coexist with environmental conservation.

According to Nancy Akinyi, the park’s in-charge, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) put in place several measures to ensure that the two-day event did not compromise the park’s delicate ecosystem. 

One of the key strategies was deploying a dedicated team to collect litter throughout the event who made sure the litter was dumped in the right place.

“So far, it’s so good, the litter has been contained,” Akinyi notes, adding that most vendors provided designated dustbins at their tents and vehicles, which helped maintain cleanliness across the grounds.

She notes that the security for visitors was also a top priority. KWS rangers were stationed around the park, particularly in camping zones, to safeguard participants at night. 

When a troop of baboons came to the exhibition during the second day a game ranger and the security guards were seen chasing them away.

Akinyi points out that wildlife-human conflict was minimal, as most of the park’s animals are relatively calm and no incidents of attacks were reported.

“Another important policy enforced was the restriction on single-use plastic bottles, in line with KWS’s broader conservation efforts across all national parks,” Akinyi adds. 

She says that although the policy is still gaining traction at Hell’s Gate, organizers ensured that any bottles brought on-site were collected and disposed of properly.

On the noise levels, often a concern during large gatherings, they were closely monitored as well where Akinyi notes that organizers were instructed to keep sound at a minimum, particularly at night, to avoid disrupting wildlife. 

"This helped preserve the natural rhythm of the park while still allowing festivities to continue," she says. 

Akinyi emphasizes that conservation is not just the responsibility of authorities but also of individuals urging participants and visitors to practice self-regulation, by properly disposing of trash and minimizing their environmental footprint.

She notes that it is through these coordinated efforts that the festival is able to showcase not only the thrill of adventure sports but also a commitment to protecting the environment in the park.