Count shows sharp drop in elephants, rare zebras

By Ali Abdi

A wildlife census in the Northern Tourism Circuit shows a big drop in the population of elephants and the rare Grevy Zebra species.

After a three-day aerial survey, KWS Director William Kiprono announced the results of this year’s count at Isiolo’s Sarova Shaba Lodge.

The results show the number of elephants had dropped from 7,415 in 2008 to 6,361, while that of rare and endangered Grevy Zebra dropped to 1,870 from 2,400 over the same period.Mr Kiprono attributed the sharp reduction in numbers to increased poaching occasioned by high market demand for ivory especially in South East Asia and China.

“The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will come up with a strategic plan to acquire an advanced radio, step up operations and work closely with wananchi to counter poachers,’’ he said.

Other factors contributing to decrease in numbers include the biting drought of 2009 and 2010. In Isiolo and Samburu, road crashes along the Isiolo-Merille road greatly affected small animals like zebras. Dozens had been killed since the section of the Isiolo-Moyale road was upgraded to bitumen standard in 2010.

Kiprono said poaching has been on the increase in the last four years due to easy access to sophisticated weapons from war-torn Somalia and Ethiopia.

The newly appointed director said he would not supervise KWS as wild animals are massacred, adding he would rather resign and watch from outside.

KWS, he said, would check the menace to zero per cent tolerance of poaching, adding more rangers would be deployed to protect the wildlife and combat poachers who have also attacked and killed animals in private ranches around Laikipia.

Kiprono urged all stakeholders in wildlife conservation to work together in protecting animals.

“We urge all the stakeholders to be with us in this fight,” he said.

Kiprono said KWS and other partners would use the census data to tackle emerging challenges and come up with the right approach to their problems.

The director said the region was vital because it has the second largest population of elephants in the country and the largest of Grevy Zebra population.

The survey also gathered information on large mammals such as lions, buffaloes, giraffes, rhinos, leopards and elands, among others.

The circuit covers Laikipia, Isiolo, Meru, Samburu and Marsabit that has six game parks and dozens of private and community based wildlife sanctuaries.