Anger over translocation of wild animals from Naivasha

The landowners have accused KWS of working behind their backs in the exercise that has already seen many wild animals transferred to various conservancies in Laikipia.

The Kenya Wildlife Service has however defended the exercise that is targeting zebras, impalas, waterbucks and gazelles, saying that all players were involved.

The outcry comes barely a month after the landowners opposed the transfer of over 30 giraffes from the area to the Coast allegedly without their consent.

They wondered why KWS officers were keen to relocate the animals from Naivasha yet there were many giraffes in nearby Tsavo National Park.

According to one of the landowners, Ronaldo Retief, the ongoing exercise is marred with controversy, confusion and misinformation.

He said the majority of wild animals in the area were located in game ranches owned by the landowners who for years have fed and watered them.

“We are deeply perturbed by the ongoing translocation of a particular set of wild animals from Naivasha to Laikipia as KWS has kept us in the dark,” the conservationist said.

He said the landowners had written to wildlife agency over the exercise but had not received any reply, raising more questions as more animals were transferred.

Retief added that the recent transfers of giraffes was shrouded in mystery with KWS officers using the names of senior government officers to threaten those opposed to the exercise.

But KWS assistant director Joseph Dadacha said the exercise followed the change of land use by several landowners in Naivasha.

He said the total number of animals relocated would be known once the exercise was over in the coming weeks.

He said some of the landowners had opted for farming and other commercial activities, forcing KWS to move in and transfer the animals.

“The translocation process targeting several species like zebras and antelopes has kicked off from Naivasha to some conservancies in Laikipia,” he said.

Dadacha noted that the number of wild animals in the lakeside town had risen sharply, leading to an increase in cases of human-wildlife conflict.

 “Apart from decongesting Naivasha, this exercise will also help in addressing the issue of human-wildlife conflict that has been on the rise.”