• In the statistics, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 205 elephants, 49 Grevy’s zebras, and 51 buffalos have so far died.
• Most of the elephant mortality cases were recorded in Amboseli, Laikipia-Samburu, and Tsavo conservancies.
As countries around the globe prepare for this year’s United Nations conference on climate change in Egypt, COP27, Kenya has continued to bear the brunt of its devastating effects.
Apart from the human beings who are faced with starvation, wild animals have also been affected with thousands reported to have died as a result.
Urgent and immediate interventions are now being sought to help save the animals dying in various ecosystems and conservancies due to lack of water and forage.
The Wildlife Research Training Institute (WRTI), in a study, notes that in the last two seasons (October 2021 to May 2022), the country has received rainfall below average, and more than 1,000 deaths have been recorded.
The most affected species are the wildebeests, common zebras, elephants, Grevy’s zebras, and buffalos with Amboseli, Tsavo, and Laikipia-Samburu ecosystems being hard hit.
In the statistics, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 205 elephants, 49 Grevy’s zebras, and 51 buffalos have so far died.
“The Amboseli and Laikipia-Samburu ecosystems are worst affected by the drought having recorded more than 70 elephants’ deaths... the continued worsening of the drought condition could affect more rhinos in overstocked rhino sanctuaries,” reads the report.
Most of the elephant mortality cases were recorded in Amboseli, Laikipia-Samburu, and Tsavo conservancies.
The institute now says there is a need to provide water as well as salt licks in the most affected ecosystems of Amboseli.
“We recommend immediate provision of hay to Grevy’s zebra in northern Kenya should be enhanced over the next two months of November and December to cover a wider area,” it reads.
It is also calling for allocation of funds from the Treasury to support the National Wildlife Census in 2024 to establish the impact of the current drought on wildlife populations in all the affected ecosystems.
“WRTI should be supported to undertake well-structured monitoring of wildlife mortality in all protected areas to better understand the effects of the drought and recommend future action plans.”
Provision of funding to support the destocking of Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary (Tsavo West National Park) and prevent any imminent drought-related mortality of black rhinos in the sanctuary is another plan.
In seeking to mitigate the effects, President William Ruto has announced that the Kenya wildlife service will be allocated Sh200 million to support wild animals dying in huge numbers in parks and game reserves to track water.
The 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) to be held in Egypt will bring together more than 200 countries that will present their plans to reduce carbon emissions.
The nations are set to develop action plans towards achieving the world's collective climate goals as agreed under the Paris Agreement.