The ongoing drought in the country, the longest in the region’s history, according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization, has killed hundreds of elephants, wildebeests, and zebras.
According to a report released by the Ministry of Tourism, the “drought has negatively impacted on the herbivore populations and particularly wildebeest and zebra.” Kenya had just 36,000 elephants left last year, according to the ministry of tourism.
“The Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers, Community Scouts, and Research Teams counted the deaths of 205 elephants, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 51 buffalos, 49 Grevy’s zebras, and 12 giraffes in the past nine months,” the report reads in part.
According to World Food Programme, the “prolonged drought across the Horn of Africa over the past four consecutive rainy seasons has left some 18 million people affected by food shortages in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.”
The report equally notes that: “The worst-affected ecosystems are home to some of Kenya’s most-visited national parks, reserves and conservancies, including the Amboseli, Tsavo and Laikipia-Samburu areas.”
At the launch of the report, Peninah Malonza, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, said: “steps were being taken to save the lives of animals — including digging boreholes and transporting water to dried-up water pans and dams.”
“The mortalities have arisen because of depletion of food resources as well as water shortages…the drought has caused mortality of wildlife, mostly herbivore species,” she said.