In the 1970’s the Greater Lamu Eco-region used to support an elephant population of 26,000, within ten short years only 300 individuals remained.

Despite this mass slaughter, the African Elephant and a vast array of species still reside within the Lamu district. Species include Lion, huge herds of Buffalo and Reticulated Giraffe, Leopard, Hippo, Cheetah, Zebra, and a major breeding population of Coastal Topi, Waterbuck, Lesser Kudu, Desert Warthog, Spotted Hyaena and several primate species.

IUCN-listed forest dependent species within the district also include the conservation depended Harveys Duiker and Suni and the near threatened Lesser Elephant Shrew, the Somali Galago and the critically endangered Hirola (Hunter’s Hartebeest).

The critically endangered Ader’s Duiker is also very much present on Amu Ranch and the neighbouring habitats constituting a significant range extension for this species. This duiker has very specific habitat requirements found mostly in old growth forests and undisturbed tall thickets.