Revisiting Tales of Community Conservation – Milking The Rhino

Back in 2007, Off the Radar covered a documentary still in the early stages of screening. Three years later, Milking the Rhino has won countless awards, including Best Nature Film at the Yosemite Film Festival and Best Documentary at both the Pan African and San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

The film documents the Massai people in Kenya and their struggle with conservation laws who have now become spokespeople for community-based conservation and the benefits they are able to reap in effect.  According to a recent update in April 2009, the establishment of Il Ngwesi Group Ranch  has provided the community with enough income to contribute to projects such as: “an HIV/ Aids program that has employed 17 people from the community, a training project to improve the quality and market-access for women’s handicrafts, upgrades to roads and the landing strip, an elephant fence around the school, renovation of teachers’ housing, a mobile bank, a new sinkhole and water pipeline repairs. “

Check out the trailer we featured in 2007 or visit their website to view other trailers and learn more about community development through conservation and other sustainable initiatives.