Drought has killed 205 Kenyan elephants in 10 months, minister says

Drought in Kenya killed 205 elephants and scores of other wildlife between February and October as much of East Africa endures its worst drought in 40 years, tourism minister Peninah Malonza said on Friday.

Though sporadic rainfall has started in the region, Kenya's meteorological department is forecasting below-average rainfall for much of the country for the coming months, raising fears that the threat is not over.

“The drought has caused mortality of wildlife ... because of the depletion of food resources as well as water shortages,” said Malonza, the cabinet secretary for tourism, wildlife and heritage.

Fourteen species have been affected, she said.

In addition to the dead elephants, 512 wildebeest, 381 common zebra, 12 giraffe, and 51 buffalo succumbed to the drought over the same period — some in the national parks that are a main tourist draw for the country.

There have also been 49 deaths of the rare and endangered Grévy's  zebra.

In September, conservation group Grévy's Zebra Trust said 40 Grévy's had died in a three-month period because of the drought, representing nearly 2% of the species population.

While a first step in accounting for the losses, the figures released on Friday are likely far from comprehensive, the ministry warned in a report, saying carnivores could have devoured some carcasses.

“Thus there is a possibility of higher mortality,” the report said.

News of the toll on wildlife in Kenya, where tourism contributes about 10% of economic output and employs more than 2-million people, comes days before the start of the UN climate conference COP27.

Host Egypt has made the issue of “loss and damage”, compensation for losses from climate-related disasters, a focus of the talks. Debated for years, the issue has never been part of the UN talks' formal agenda, as wealthy countries have resisted creating a funding mechanism that could suggest liability for historic climate damages.

The areas to the north and south of Kenya are most affected by the drought and are also home to the bulk of Kenya's elephant population.

Last month, charity Save the Elephants said that one famed calf, well-known for being a twin, a rarity for elephants, died during the drought.

The ministry recommended providing vulnerable wildlife groups with water, salt licks and food and to increase monitoring and data collection.

Reuters