Herd of elephants ruins Chogoria crops

A small of elephants are reported to be raiding farms near Chogoria gate of Mount Kenya National Park. The elephants have been sighted at Mwiriaani, Kibaranu and Makuri. KWS warden at the Chogoria gate, Elema Hapicha, said teams were dispatched last weekend to drive  the five elephants back to the park. “The cold weather usually makes the elephants come out of the park,” She said.

The warden said the residents expected to kill the elephants instead of driving them back. “We wanted to push the elephants back but the residents were expecting us to shoot them instead. I had to tell them we were not there to shoot the elephants. They just wanted the meat and even came ready with pangas,” Hapicha said. The warden said the operation was successful with the assistance of provincial administration. The KWS continue to face challenges of human wildlife conflict as the season and weather changes migration and feeding patterns of wildlife across the country.