The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has has kicked off a landmark translocation of 50 elephants from Mwea National Reserve to Aberdare National Park.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano on Mo day oversaw the capture and release of a herd of five elephants as part of the operation that kicked off two weeks ago.
The relocation was advised by overpopulation of elephants at Mwea which exceeded its capacity three times.
Ms Miano said the increase in the jumbos had led to rise in human-wildlife conflicts and degradation of the reserve.
About 44 elephants have successfully been relocated in a 17-day exercise.
“The elephant population in Mwea had risen significantly from 49 individuals in 1979 to 156 exceeding the reserves carrying capacity by a big margin.”
“This population growth has placed immense pressure on the ecosystem, causing elephants to stray into nearby settlements, damaging crops, infrastructure, and property.”
“Therefore, this translocation is critical for safeguarding both the elephants and the affected communities.” CS Miano said.
To ensure their successful integration into Aberdare National Park, the relocated elephants are being closely monitored.
Some of the bulls have also been collared with GPS trackers to follow their movements.
The translocation is being carried out by over 50 multidisciplinary and highly skilled technical experts, following IUCN guidelines and the Translocation and Immobilization Protocol for the African Elephant in Kenya (2019).
This ensures the safety and well-being of the elephants throughout the process.
“The anticipated increase in elephant numbers in Aberdare National Park is expected to boost tourism, supporting economic growth and sustainable development,” CS Miano said.
KWS Director General Dr Erustus Kanga noted that elephants as a keystone species are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems.
He however reiterated that the translocation was vital to avert their negative aspects.
“If unchecked, the population growth in confined spaces can lead to environmental degradation and escalate human-wildlife conflicts. We are dedicated to conserving these iconic animals and their habitats while ensuring the well-being of surrounding communities as envisioned in our Strategic Plan (2024-2028).” Dr Kanga said.
Due to concerted conservation efforts, Kenyans elephant population has more than doubled since 1989 from 16, 000 to a population of 36,280 in 2021.
