Why rare Sitatunga antelopes must be cursing current rains

Antelopes grazing at Nairobi National park in Nairobi. Photo by WILLIS AWANDU

A rare antelope species Sitatunga is continuously being displaced from its natural habitat as water levels increase in wetlands due to heavy rains.

The semi-aquatic antelopes found in Nandi County along the Kingwal swamp and its tributaries are emerging out of wetlands at night in search of food along riverbanks because the water volumes have submerged reeds and other vegetation the species depend on.