Drought takes its toll on Kenya's wildlife killing hundreds of animals

Around 205 Kenyan elephants, 512 wildebeest, 381 common zebra, 12 giraffes, and 51 buffalo have succumbed to the drought in the last 10 months, officials say.

East Africa is enduring its worst drought in 40 years.
Reuters

East Africa is enduring its worst drought in 40 years.

Drought in Kenya has killed 205 elephants and scores of other wildlife between February and October as much of East Africa endures its worst drought in 40 years.

Although sporadic rainfall has finally started in the region, Kenya's Meteorological Department forecast below-average rainfall for much of the country for the coming months, raising fears that the threat to Kenya's wildlife is not over.

"The drought has caused mortality of wildlife... because of the depletion of food resources as well as water shortages," Peninah Malonza, the cabinet secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, told a news conference on Friday.

Fourteen species have been affected by the drought, she said.

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

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

In September, conservation group Grevy's Zebra Trust said that 40 Grevy's had died in just a three-month period because of the drought, representing nearly 2 percent 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.

READ MORE: Kenya's largest female elephant Dida dies of old age

READ MORE: Zimbabwe says 55 elephants die from starvation after drought

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Still not in UNs' formal agenda

News of the toll on wildlife in Kenya, where tourism contributes about 10 percent of economic output and employs over 2 million people, comes just 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.

READ MORE: Botswana probes mysterious death of 12 elephants in Okavango Delta

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