Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus | CR | resident (2010) | present | A1 |
| Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli | CR | resident (2010) | present | A1 |
| Grey-crested Helmetshrike Prionops poliolophus | NT | resident (2010) | present | A1, A2 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2023 | unfavourable | very high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Savanna | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Energy production and mining | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Geological events | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Hell's Gate | National Park (II) | 32 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | major (>10) | Bushland & thicket - evergreen |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | minor (<10) | Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs; Scree, boulders & bare rock |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | major (>10) |
| tourism/recreation | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hell's Gate National Park (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hells-gate-national-park-iba-kenya on 13/01/2025.