Electric fence to be built around Mt Kenya
11th September 2012
A 250-mile electric fence is reportedly going to be erected around most of Mount Kenya, in a bid to keep wild animals from straying onto nearby farm land
The huge fence will measure over six-feet high and is estimated to take five years to complete. Charity Rhino Ark is behind the project and says the aim is to protect both the farming lands surrounding Mt Kenya and the wild animals living in the region. Animals, particularly rhinos and elephants, can cause widespread damage to land and crops.
Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service are carrying out the project in collaboration with charity Rhino Ark, who will actually be building the fence. Those involved in the project have estimated the overall cost of the fence to be £7.4 million.
The fence's electrical current will not be lethal and is only aimed at shocking the animals. It's also of no danger to people if they were to accidentally make contact with it.
Mt Kenya is the second tallest peak in Africa, at 5,199m, and along with the surrounding forests, was made a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997.
Building of the fence has already started and the first 30 miles is expected to be finished in 2014. Rhino Ark has said the fence should be completed in five year's time.