Provisional
results from the just-concluded 2014 aerial census of elephants and other large
mammals in Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem show that the elephant population is about
11,000, compared to 12, 573 in the previous census three years ago.
This finding indicates that the elephant
population in the Tsavo ecosystem is fairly stable and has potential for
growth, according to Dr Erustus Kanga, the Kenya Wildlife Service Senior
Assistant Director for Biodiversity.
Since
1999 when systematic counts were started, the elephant population has
oscillated as follows: 1999 (9,447 elephants) 2002 (9,284), 2005 (11,742), 2008
(11,733), 2011 (12, 573), and 2014 (11,076).
This
indicates that the Tsavo elephant population in the 48,656 square kilometre
ecosystem has been stable despite numerous challenges related to poaching,
livestock incursions into protected areas, charcoal burning and general change
in land use patterns in the dispersal areas and corridors.
Going
forward it's expected that with these results, stakeholders will join hands
with Kenya Wildlife Service to actively address factors that are likely to
negate conservation gains that have been made this far
The
aerial counts have been conducted to establish the trends of elephants in the
expansive Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem and they are held every three years. Mkomazi
in Tanzania, Tsavo West, Tsavo East, Chyulu Hills national parks, South Kitui
National Reserve as well as the adjacent areas of Taita ranches and Mackinnon
area in Kwale were covered in the four days. The total aerial census counted
elephants and other large mammals.
The
census was co-funded by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the International
Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), African Elephant Fund (AEF), David Sheldrick
Wildlife Trust (DSWT) and Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE.
A
total of 15 aircraft were used in the survey that included five from KWS and 10
from conservation partners namely: DSWT (4), Tsavo Trust (1), Masai Wilderness
Conservation Trust - MWCT (1), Save The Elephants -STE - (1), William Craig
(1), Peter Zennetti (1) and Rod Evans (1).
The
15 aircraft with GPS technology comprehensively covered 48,656 square
kilometers of the ecosystem. Other animals counted besides elephants were
zebra, buffalo, giraffe, wild dogs, rhino, eland and lion as well as large
birds such as ostrich.
The
census participants numbering 130 were drawn from a multiplicity of
disciplines: pilots, ecologists, conservation managers, aircraft technicians,
GIS experts, data loggers, data analysts, security officials, radio operators,
drivers, procurement officers, accountants, conservation education officers,
workshop managers, community wildlife officers, aerial census experts (Marwell
Wildlife), database officers, communication experts, etc.
Since
this was a trans-boundary census, the Republic of Tanzania was represented by
officials from Tanzania National Parks Authority
(TANAPA)
and Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI).
Aerial
counts of the Tsavo ecosystem have been carried out since the 1960's. The
results help KWS and stakeholders to understand wildlife numbers, wildlife
distribution, trends in wildlife numbers and trends in land use changes outside
the Government protected areas. Armed with these information, policy makers and
park management are able make sound decisions on resource allocation for
operations and conflict management.
Mr
Ben Kavu, the KWS Deputy Director in charge of Devolution and Community
Wildlife Service, this morning announced the provisional results at census
tallying centre at Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge.
Sharon
C
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