Drought Blamed in Elephant Deaths

Highlights from an article in the Daily Nation
Kenya: Puzzle of 40 Elephant Deaths as Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) Blames Drought

The drought currently ravaging the country has not spared wildlife especially in Northern Kenya. In the past two months, over 40 elephants have died in Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu districts in what was initially thought to be a disease outbreak. KWS officials fear that if it does not rain soon, more may die due to malnutrition.

The affliction is mostly affecting elephants aged between two and eight years, leading to conclusions that they are unable to get enough feed. "Young elephants are unable to keep up the pace with their mothers while grazing. They are also not able to browse tall trees which are the only source of food left." An adult elephant consumes about 300kg (661 pounds) of food daily.

Laikipia has the largest number of wildlife outside national parks in the country. The animals roam freely in the plateau and compete for fodder with livestock. According to a census done by KWS last year, there are slightly over 7,000 elephants in the Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo ecosystems. In the past few months, however, the ground has been left bare by domestic animals that have been driven into the region by pastoralists migrating from Samburu and Isiolo in search of pasture. The herdsmen with over 100,000 animals are now grazing in Mt Kenya.