IN THE AIR
The Kasigau Wildlife Corridor is located between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park and covers 2,000 square kilometers. The 14 group ranches that collectively make up this corridor provide an important habitat and dispersal area for wildlife between these two protected areas. There are approximately 11,000 elephants in the Tsavo ecosystem and roughly 2,000 of them that rely on the corridor as part of their movements in search for water between the two national parks.
Aerial surveillance is one of the most effective means of reducing wildlife crime, and is needed now more than ever in an effort to curb elephant poaching. It is a vital tool in the effective prevention of illegal activities, whilst increasing security and providing essential data needed to protect such expansive areas of land. Furthermore, aerial support also helps in identifying and deterring other illegal activities from the air, such as illegal charcoal burning, trespassing, illegal grazers and logging, which poses a great threat to the Kasigau Corridor and the future of the environment. Our daily aerial patrols are conducted with Gyrocopters, and we have seen a major impact with their presence.
Meet the Team
Keith Hellyer: Safari Guide to Chief Pilot.
Keith Hellyer is a Canadian conservationist and gyrocopter pilot whose passion for African wildlife began at a young age. He first visited Kenya as a child and later returned to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, working as a safari guide in the Maasai Mara before turning his skills to aerial conservation. After learning to fly a gyrocopter initially as a hobby, Keith recognised its potential as an economical and highly effective tool for wildlife surveillance.
Today, as Wildlife Works’ Chief anti-poaching pilot, Keith conducts regular aerial patrols over the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor in the Tsavo ecosystem. Working closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as an Honorary Warden, Keith monitors elephant herds, patrols conflict fences, and reports on potential human-wildlife conflict hotspots. His aerial surveillance also contributes to the monitoring and rescue of animals in distress, in partnership with the KWS and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. As part of his work, Keith also works with the ground teams to respond to community search-and-rescue cases, response to wildfires, and monitoring of collared elephants for research purposes with Save the Elephants.
Daniel Zuma: Poacher's son to Conservationist.
Daniel Zuma grew up in the Tsavo area and, from a young age, developed a deep connection to wildlife, ultimately choosing to dedicate his life to its protection.
With the support of the late Vice President of African Operations, Rob Dodson, and conservationist Alice Owen, Daniel pursued his dream of becoming the first gyrocopter pilot from his community to fly solo over the Tsavo Conservation Area. Following the sudden loss of his mentor in 2017, Alice led fundraising efforts that enabled him to complete his gyrocopter training in England later that year.
Daniel returned to Kenya with his dream realized and now serves as a gyrocopter pilot with the Wildlife Works Elephant Protection Trust, supporting aerial conservation efforts as part of the airwing team. His work includes conducting aerial surveillance, supporting ground teams by locating wildlife such as elephant herds, identifying carcasses, strengthening rapid response and ranger safety, and detecting illegal activities including charcoal burning and logging.
His inspiring journey has been internationally recognized, including a feature on Al Jazeera.
Simon Kipsang: from Ranger to Pilot.
Simon Kipsang, part of the Aerial Surveillance team, has been with Wildlife Works since 2010. His journey began from a young boy in Nakuru County, who only knew wildlife through textbooks, to now becoming a skilled gyrocopter pilot.
After joining Wildlife Works as a ranger, Simon’s dedication on ground patrols earned him a place on the aerial team as a co-pilot, where he supported critical conservation efforts across the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project. Over the years, Simon has played a key role in aerial operations, supporting ground teams by tracking elephant herds, detecting carcasses, strengthening rapid response and ranger safety, and identifying illegal activities such as charcoal production and logging within the project area. Through aerial surveys, he also supported the collection of vital data on wildlife populations and the monitoring of threats, including charcoal burning, unauthorized grazing, and habitat destruction. In addition, he has contributed to Kenya’s national aerial wildlife counts as a spotter.
After rigorous training, Simon achieved a major milestone by earning his Private Pilot License (PPL) in 2024, and then became a fully qualified gyrocopter pilot. Today, he leads aerial missions that are vital to protecting wildlife and supporting ranger teams on the ground.