The ministry warned that the continued shortage in Tsavo East and West national parks posed a major threat to the future of the animals.
This came as the ministry published a proposal to establish water sources in the two parks, mapping of existing water sources and identifying new water sources.
The request also seeks measures like de-silting, expansion and repairs to be undertaken to the current water sources so as to reduce the continued suffering of the animals.
Since last year, close to 100 elephants have died in the two national parks, with the recent drought blamed for the deaths and displacement of tens of others.
While calling for a comprehensive analysis of wildlife water requirements, Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya said that every year water sources in the Tsavo were drying up, forcing the wildlife to migrate.
“With the decreasing rainfall, creeping desertification and changing land use patterns the survival prospects of these elephants look grim if alternative watering points are not provided,” she said.
In the proposal, Museiya added that over the years, many of the water points had dried up due to siltation, further worsening the situation and the suffering of the animals.
“The four permanent boreholes which are placed far from each other are not adequate to sustain the increasing and confined population of wildlife.”
The PS said that the survival rates of elephants and other animals in the park were linked to water as residents moved in to protect their water points from the marauding wildlife.
“If the competition for water continues, the problem of human-wildlife conflicts will escalate leading to increased poverty levels and poor livelihoods,” she warned.
She added that the continued lack of water had pushed the animals to neighbouring community land in the process leading to loss of life and property.
To address the current conflict and contain the elephant population within the parks, the PS in the proposal added that there was a need to urgently provide permanent water sources in the parks.
According to Museiya, the cost of pumping water to both wildlife and livestock was no longer sustainable, noting that this would limit the amount of water provided.
“With the provision of water, this will encourage elephants and other wildlife to remain within the park while allowing local communities to farm and look after their animals,” she said.
