SAN DIEGO (June 8, 2026) – Conservation stakeholders gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Laboratory in Northern Kenya (LiNK), an all-new veterinary diagnostic lab designed to fill a critical need for accessible diagnostic infrastructure in the remote region. The creation of the lab will improve conservation-led veterinary medicine in an area that is rich in wildlife biodiversity. LiNK was established through a highly collaborative partnership between Kenya Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Northern Rangelands Trust, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance-Kenya, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
LiNK is a Kenya Wildlife Service satellite laboratory strategically positioned at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to serve the wider northern Kenya landscape. The veterinarians and rangers—first responders for wildlife—working across the savanna ecosystem respond daily to serious health concerns including injuries, entanglements and disease outbreaks in wildlife and livestock. Often, teams need to obtain and analyze biological samples like blood, feces, or biopsy tissue to identify and treat the ailment. Prior to the establishment of LiNK, these necessary samples had to travel long distances for diagnoses. Placement of the lab at Lewa makes it an accessible resource to quickly receive, test and store biological samples from farther reaches of Kenya.
“The establishment of the Laboratory in Northern Kenya (LiNK) marks a significant milestone in strengthening Kenya’s national wildlife health and conservation infrastructure,” said Prof. Erustus Kanga, Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service. “As Kenya Wildlife Service, our mandate is to conserve and protect wildlife and their habitats, and this facility enhances our capacity to respond swiftly to emerging wildlife health threats through science, innovation and strategic partnerships. LiNK will play a critical role in safeguarding biodiversity, strengthening ecosystem resilience, and supporting the coexistence of wildlife, livestock and communities across northern Kenya and beyond.”
LiNK is staffed by a specialized team responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing, and securely storing biological samples. They will work closely with Kenya Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute to ensure the laboratory meets all national veterinary and scientific standards and certification requirements. With the team and equipment now in place, the lab will ensure all partners can quickly diagnose diseases and health conditions so that veterinarians can rapidly deploy treatment.
“Northern Kenya is home to rich biodiversity found nowhere else in the world, but wherever there are animals, there is a need for veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Isaac Lekolool, Head of Veterinary and Capture Services, Kenya Wildlife Service. “The remoteness of these landscapes has historically limited timely access to veterinary diagnostics, often delaying treatment decisions and coordinated wildlife health responses. LiNK strengthens our national wildlife health infrastructure by bringing diagnostic capacity closer to the field, enabling faster response, stronger disease surveillance and improved protection for wildlife, livestock and communities alike.”
Additionally, LiNK will serve as a transitional repository for biodiversity banking materials that will then go onward to a national biobanking facility to be situated at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Naivasha. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working closely with the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, and Kenya Wildlife Service to establish a biobanking network in the region, further linking rangers, veterinarians and scientists who support some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. Expanding biobanking capacity across Africa is increasingly critical to strengthening biodiversity conservation, wildlife disease research, and long-term ecosystem resilience.
“Strengthening wildlife health systems is critical for safeguarding biodiversity, supporting ecosystem resilience, and enhancing preparedness against emerging infectious diseases that affect wildlife, livestock, and human populations,” Dr. Francis Gakuya, Senior Principal Research Scientist and Head, Wildlife Health and Laboratories, Wildlife Research and Training Institute. “The establishment of LiNK demonstrates the importance of partnerships in addressing complex conservation and health challenges through science, innovation, and coordinated action.”
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