Three elephants got stuck in Lake Kamnarok in Baringo North subcounty on Monday while looking for water along the Kerio valley.
Apparently, the jumbos were grazing overnight at Rimoi conservancy across Elgeyo Markwet county before trekking miles to in search of water at the diminishing lake in Baringo county.
“It took our officers and residents more than six hours to remove the elephants from the mud using ropes,” Baringo county KWS senior warden Dickson Too said.
Too lauded the locals for informing KWS urgently about the incident thus saving the animals.
The warden attributed the drying of the lake to the current drought. Cutting of trees upstream is also to blame, he said.
Three weeks ago, a female elephant collapsed after taking water at the nearby seasonal Koiser river in Barwessa ward.
Ayatya village residents said the frail animal might be among 300 jumbos which strayed from the neighboring Lake Kamnarok and Rimoi Game Reserve.
“It had just drank the water before sliding down and collapsing but we cannot tell whether it was due to sickness or hunger,” Ayatya Primary School head teacher Benson Kokwon said.
Destruction
He said stray elephants are now break into people’s farms and destroy irrigated crops and pasture.
Kokwon said the dangerous animals have caused fear among residents, epecially school children.
Too said his officers are camping at the scene to monitor the elephants closely.
Last month, residents of Barwessa threatened to kill over elephants marauding at night and destroying their farms.
“A herd of elephants invaded my acre of mangoes and bananas after cutting off my fence. They ate and destroyedg everything,” Marigat resident William Kandie said.
Ayatya assistant chief Stanley Chepcheng confirmed the incident, saying the situation is worsening every day.
Joseph Makilap said the wild beasts encroached on his 70-acre land and cleared the pasture he had preserved for his livestock.
KWS officials urged the residents to report such incidents to KWS and stop harassing the elephants as they could easily attack them.
