There’s good news for elephants living in Kenya's Masai Mara as a recent census found the population has increased by 72%, inspite of threats from poaching and conflict with humans.
Kenya Wildlife Service conducts an aerial census every three years to track wildlife numbers, and this year took stock of the animals living in the protected areas of Masai Mara Protected Reserve and Mara Triangle, Conservancies, and nearby areas in the Mara ecosystem.
This year’s survey was done between 15 and 28 May, covering an area of more than 11,600 square kilometres.
The results mean that since 2014, there’s been a 72% increase in the number of elephants, as 2493 elephants were counted in 2017 compared to 1448 elephants back in 2014. This result has been celebrated by the wildlife service, as the Mara elephants had been under threat due to poaching and human-elephant conflicts. However, the wildlife service also notes that the high number of elephants when the survey was conducted could be due to animals migrating from Serengeti National Park.
As animal numbers increase, the wildlife service also found that there’s been an increase in human activities in and around the protected areas, such as the addition of electric and wire fences and homes that could post a threat to the habitat of wildlife.
Releasing the results at the Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters, Director General, Kitili Mbathi attributed the increase in the population to stiff penalties on poaching, increase of rangers and equipment.
“Over the past three years we have seen a serious decline in the level of poaching of elephants and rhinos and this has come about through three major factors, that includes additional rangers who are well trained, equipped and boost of the intelligence unit.”
The survey also captured that as much there is increase in the population of the elephant, human activities within and around the protected areas are gradually on the rise.
“Incidents of charcoal burning are on the rise, as well as the number of livestock in the ecosystem, both of which pose a threat to wildlife and their habitat,” Mbathi said.
An aerial count of elephants was also carried out in the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem that includes: Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Chyulu and Mkomazi National Parks as well as South Kitui National reserve, while the adjoining neighbourhoods include Taita, Kulalu and Galana Ranches.
During the census, a total of 12,866 elephants were counted, 12,843 in Tsavo Eco System and 23 in Mkomazi National Park.
Overall, the elephant population in Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem increased by 14.7pc over the last three years (2014-2017), representing an annual increase of 4.9pc over the period.
“The increase is notable, but as KWS says there are plans to carry out further investigations on elephant poaching threat levels in Galana Ranch and Tsavo East national park northern side where a high carcass ratio was found with a view of taking corrective measures,” stated Mbathi.
Credits : Lonely Planet August 30, 2017 and Capital News Kenya June 21, 2017
Kenya Wildlife Service conducts an aerial census every three years to track wildlife numbers, and this year took stock of the animals living in the protected areas of Masai Mara Protected Reserve and Mara Triangle, Conservancies, and nearby areas in the Mara ecosystem.
This year’s survey was done between 15 and 28 May, covering an area of more than 11,600 square kilometres.
The results mean that since 2014, there’s been a 72% increase in the number of elephants, as 2493 elephants were counted in 2017 compared to 1448 elephants back in 2014. This result has been celebrated by the wildlife service, as the Mara elephants had been under threat due to poaching and human-elephant conflicts. However, the wildlife service also notes that the high number of elephants when the survey was conducted could be due to animals migrating from Serengeti National Park.
As animal numbers increase, the wildlife service also found that there’s been an increase in human activities in and around the protected areas, such as the addition of electric and wire fences and homes that could post a threat to the habitat of wildlife.
Releasing the results at the Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters, Director General, Kitili Mbathi attributed the increase in the population to stiff penalties on poaching, increase of rangers and equipment.
“Over the past three years we have seen a serious decline in the level of poaching of elephants and rhinos and this has come about through three major factors, that includes additional rangers who are well trained, equipped and boost of the intelligence unit.”
The survey also captured that as much there is increase in the population of the elephant, human activities within and around the protected areas are gradually on the rise.
“Incidents of charcoal burning are on the rise, as well as the number of livestock in the ecosystem, both of which pose a threat to wildlife and their habitat,” Mbathi said.
An aerial count of elephants was also carried out in the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem that includes: Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Chyulu and Mkomazi National Parks as well as South Kitui National reserve, while the adjoining neighbourhoods include Taita, Kulalu and Galana Ranches.
During the census, a total of 12,866 elephants were counted, 12,843 in Tsavo Eco System and 23 in Mkomazi National Park.
Overall, the elephant population in Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem increased by 14.7pc over the last three years (2014-2017), representing an annual increase of 4.9pc over the period.
“The increase is notable, but as KWS says there are plans to carry out further investigations on elephant poaching threat levels in Galana Ranch and Tsavo East national park northern side where a high carcass ratio was found with a view of taking corrective measures,” stated Mbathi.
Credits : Lonely Planet August 30, 2017 and Capital News Kenya June 21, 2017
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