the lewa wildlife conservancy is relatively close to historically volatile areas of northern kenya, where banditry, poaching and illegal firearms were once prolific. the threat to lewa's wildlife and, in particular, its rhinos is ever present, although with improved security throughout northern kenya and increasingly good relations with its neighbours, the situation has improved in recent years. the rhinoceros population requires constant monitoring and protection due to their threatened status, continued pressure and the recent occurrence of rhino poaching elsewhere in the country.