Growing elephant population leads to relocation effort in Kenya

The Mwea Nature Reserve is located in southern Kenya and covers an area of 16 square miles. In addition to African elephants, the park also includes Nile crocodiles, giraffes, African leopards, and warthogs.

However, in recent weeks, the reserve has become notably crowded. This is a result of the elephant population having tripled.

The reserve authorities received reports from concerned residents. "The elephants started wandering onto farms and settlements," said Rebecca Miano from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Kenya. The local population was anxious about the elephants roaming into human territories.

Therefore, at the beginning of October, the park authorities decided to relocate 50 elephants to Aberdare National Park. This special operation is being conducted with government support and presents quite a challenge, considering that an average African elephant weighs several tons.

“This exercise involves a dedicated team of 54 experts—veterinarians, species officers, pilots, drivers, and communications officers—working together with trucks, helicopters, and specialized equipment to ensure every step is executed with precision,” informed Dr. Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service.

"Now we feel relieved, especially because our children could not walk to school early in the morning for fear of running into the elephants," said one of the residents, quoted by Reuters.

The animals will also benefit, as at Aberdare National Park, they will have more space and freedom. Mwea authorities assure that the elephants are being relocated with their entire families, and each is equipped with a GPS collar.