Man Killed as Desperate Animals Escape Kenyan Parks
© Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
August 7, 2000
By Tervil Okoko
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 7, 2000 (ENS) - The severe drought parching the range sections of Kenya is bringing wildlife into dangerous conflict with human beings.
On Friday, a 52 year old farmer was trampled to death by marauding elephants in Loitoktok, about 170 miles south of Nairobi.
While the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is doing its best to keep animals within the confines of national parks, thirsty and famished elephants, zebras, buffaloes and monkeys are breaking down fences to forage on farms in search of food and water.
The farmers, who have also been affected by hunger and drought, are now threatening to kill the wild animals unless the wildlife service keeps them off the farms. Still, wild animals are increasingly invading farms. This conflict is recurrent in Kenya, but is worse than ever at this time due to the seemingly endless drought.
Residents of Embomas on the western escarpment of the Rift Valley in Kenya's Buret District suffered losses this week when seven elephants from the neighbouring Mau forest broke into farms and destroyed over ten acres of land planted to maize (corn) and millet.
Local leader John Ruto said the animals invaded the area late Saturday. The damage extended to tea farms belonging to Buret County Council and Embomas Nyayo tea zones.
Angry residents have appealed to the Kenya Wildlife Service to come to their rescue immediately, warning that they will attack the animals. They threatened to use poisonous arrows to kill the rogue beasts.
Farmers and residents of Maela, Naivasha on the eastern escarpment of the Rift Valley raised alarm last week when more than 200 buffalos invaded destroying maize and vegetable farms.
Other areas of Kenya are also affected. In late July, residents of Kenya's coastal Kinango region in the Kwale district, gave the Kenya Wildlife Services 30 days to contain the elephants about 45 miles south of the port town of Mombasa.
The residents said apart from destroying crops and causing panic and fear among residents, the elephants have also forced many children in the area to stop going to school.
The problem elephants are those relocated to Tsavo National Park from Shimba Hills by the Kenya Wildlife Service last year. They have terrorised residents of Kakoneni near Mazeras during the past four weeks.
The animals have destroyed a large area of young corn plants, and residents have questioned why the local Kenya Wildlife Service personnel had not toured the area or taken steps to confine the animals to Tsavo National Park.
While addressing a fundraising meeting at Mwavumvo secondary school, councillors July 27 declared that they would start mobilising residents now to "deal with the animals mercilessly" if no action was taken by the wildlife service.
"We are saying enough is enough. At the expiry of this notice, we are going to deal with animals ourselves because the KWS have neglected and refused to heed the outcry of the farmers and of parents whose children can no longer attend school owing to the animals' terror. Are we of less importance than the animals or what is the government up to?" the councillors asked angrily.
"These animals are the same that were relocated to Tsavo by the KWS and they are apparently heading back to their original homes in Shimba forest. This area has not had this problem for many years," the councillors said.
The residents said for a long time they have known that elephants always try to go back to their original dwelling places no matter how many years it takes.
"However, we have nothing against the wildlife but we are only appealing to the KWS to ensure the animals do not become a menace as irate farmers might be prompted to revenge by killing them," councillor Mwangoma said.