KWS translocates Elephants from Kibwezi West on June 18 /SCREENGRAB
Farmers in Kamboo, Kibwezi West, are breathing a sigh of relief after three elephants that had been causing repeated human–wildlife conflict were successfully captured and translocated in a coordinated conservation operation.
For months, residents lived with constant anxiety as the elephants frequently raided farms, destroying crops and threatening livelihoods.
Many farmers resorted to spending nights guarding their fields in a bid to protect their harvests, which showed the struggle of coexisting with wildlife at the edge of protected areas.
“For the elephants, the move was a return to the vast Tsavo ecosystem where they can roam freely, find food and water, and thrive in a secure environment. For the community, it restored confidence that their concerns are being heard and addressed,” KWS said.
The operation was led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (Kenya Wildlife Service), working in partnership with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust) and local communities, in an effort to address the persistent conflict and restore stability in the area.
After being safely immobilised, the elephants were moved to the Intensive Protection Zone within Tsavo West National Park, where they are expected to adapt to a safer environment with adequate access to food, water, and space to roam.
KWS said the translocation is part of broader efforts to reduce human–wildlife conflict while ensuring the protection of Kenya’s iconic wildlife species.
They emphasised that such interventions are necessary in areas where expanding human settlement overlaps with traditional wildlife corridors.
Residents welcomed the intervention, saying it offers much-needed relief and renewed hope that their concerns are being addressed. They said destruction of crops had significantly affected household incomes and food security.
On Wednesday, a section of Kilifi county leaders threatened to mobilise residents of Bamba to kill elephants, citing what they say is a failure to address the growing human-wildlife conflict in the area.
Led by Senate Minority Leader and Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, the leaders said elephants have caused the deaths of several residents and inflicted extensive damage to crops and property, while they claim little action has been taken to protect affected communities.
Madzayo said the continued invasion of farms and settlements by elephants had left residents living in fear and facing significant economic losses. He spoke in Ndatani village, Kaya Fungo ward, in Kaloleni constituency.
He argued that the welfare and safety of local communities should be prioritised, adding that it was unacceptable for residents to continue suffering repeated incidents while waiting for a lasting solution.
“If these government people cannot protect their elephants, I will come and tell you to take your spears and kill them,” Madzayo said.
The senator said the elephant menace has persisted for years, with farmers losing crops season after season, leaving many families struggling to survive.
