State releases over Sh200m to victims of wildlife attacks

Mwadime said the local community that hosts the wild animals had been demanding to be allowed to graze and cultivate in the Park because little was being ploughed back for rural development. "A total of 62 per cent of the total land area in the region is occupied by Tsavo, but the proceeds from the ecosystem do not benefit the local community in areas of wealth creation for poverty and unemployment alleviation. The local community is also angered by the long delays in compensation for people killed and crops destroyed by wild animals."

As an intervention measure, Captain Ochieng said KWS's rapid response team had been deployed, with reinforcement from the air support, to effectively deal with the wildlife menace. "As a short-term measure, we have deployed a rapid response team on the ground with a backup of a mobile and reinforcement with air support teams to minimize persistent wildlife conflicts in hot spots areas," Captain Ochieng said.