The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is about to receive a very special early Christmas present. On Sunday, December 20 (tomorrow), four of the last eight known northern white rhinos will be relocated from captivity back to the wild in a last bid to save them from extinction. The species is believed to be extinct in the wild.

The animals are being moved from the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. The two females and two males who will be transferred by air to Nairobi, Kenya and by road to Ol Pejeta, are charged with the responsibility to pull back this species from the brink of extinction in a project dubbed "Last Chance to Survive", a joint effort by the Dvur Králové Zoo, Fauna & Flora International, Back to Africa, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Currently listed as the most critically endangered rhino subspecies and the most endangered mammal species in the world, the northern white rhinos used to range over parts of Uganda, Chad, Sudan, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By 1960, more than 2,000 northern white rhinos still existed, but excessive poaching for their horn has decimated the species.

The reintroduction of these four northern white rhinos to Africa presents what may very well be the last chance to save their genes.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, has been identified as the location with the most suitable habitat, climate, security and infrastructure to give the rhinos their best, and probably last chance of breeding successfully. This is certainly a testament to Kenya's commitment to rhino conservation and to Ol Pejeta's sucess as a rhino sanctuary.

To find out more about the progress of the rhinos, please visit our website, where we will be posting regular updates. If you would like to support this project, by making much-needed donations, please visit our online donations page.

We wanted to share this good news with you and from all of us on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, wanted to wish you Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your continued support throughout the years.