CNN
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Two years of severe drought in Kenya have wiped out 2% of the world’s rarest zebra species and have also increased elephant deaths as the climate crisis hits the East African country’s wildlife. .
Dead animals, including giraffes and livestock, rotting on the ground are a common sight in northern Kenya, where unprecedented drought is sapping already depleted food and water resources.
The world’s rarest zebra species, the Grevy zebra, was the hardest hit by the drought.
Founder and Executive Director of Grebey’s Zebra TrustBelinda Rowe McKee told CNN that the mortality rate for this species will only rise if the area doesn’t get enough rain.
“Grevy’s zebras face a very serious hunger threat once the looming rainy season ends,” she said. “58 Grevy’s zebras have been lost since June, with deaths rising as the drought intensifies.”
Even the most drought-tolerant animals are affected. one is a camel known to survive long periods without water.
“Camels are a valuable resource for many people in the region,” Suze van Meegen, emergency response manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council in East Africa, told CNN. Their corpses are now scattered.”
Kenya is on the brink of a fifth failed rainy season, with weather department forecasts “Drier-than-average conditions” the rest of the year.
Conservationists worry that more endangered species will die.
“Without the next rain … elephant mortality is expected to rise significantly,” says Frank Pope, who heads the Kenya-based conservation charity. save the elephant.
“We are seeing the herd breaking down into the smallest units … trying to make a living,” he said. “The calves are abandoned and the old elephants are dying. If it doesn’t rain, others will soon follow.”
Other endangered wildlife species are rapidly disappearing as the drought continues.
The drought is also exacerbating bushmeat poaching, which is on the rise among northern pastoralist communities as the drought impacts other income sources.
In some areas, Grevy’s zebras are poached in grazing reserves.
“Poaching of Grevy’s zebras has increased as large numbers of livestock are concentrated on rangelands due to drought,” says Mackey. “This has led to inter-ethnic conflicts (where animals are sometimes involved in gunfights) and poaching, as nomads rely on wildlife for their livelihoods.”
The Pope of Save the Elephants said dozens of elephants have been killed and forced to come into close contact with humans due to human-wildlife conflicts.
“Last year we lost half the number of elephants we lost to poaching during the ivory crisis 10 years ago to human conflicts,” he told CNN.
Nearly 400 elephants were lost to poaching 10 years ago, the highest number in Kenya since 2005, according to one study. 2012 report by the National Wildlife Service.
in the meantime Government action against ivory trade End ivory poaching in Kenya Bushmeat poaching continues Because of drought and soaring food prices.
Since October 2020, parts of Kenya and the Greater Horn of Africa have had four consecutive unsuccessful rainy seasons.The United Nations said that this is a regional Worst drought in 40 years.
More than 4 million Kenyans are ‘food insecure’ due to drought, and more than 3 million do not have enough water to drink.
Grevy’s Zebra Trust says it’s helping endangered species survive drought through supplemental feeding.
“We have one dedicated feeding team in each of our three national reserves (Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba). On average, we use 1,500 bales of[supplemental hay]per week. ‘ said Mackey, adding that other species such as oryx and buffalo are also benefiting.
But intervention with elephants on a scale that makes a big difference is difficult, says Pope.
“Providing new water sources can be counterproductive, for example by causing desertification in the area,” he said. “Save the Elephants is focused on helping locals protect themselves from conflict[with stray elephants]and helping them respond to incidents when conflict does occur.”
The pope also worries that when it rains, the grass will be less due to overgrazing by livestock.
“A bigger concern is overgrazing, which is beginning to turn fragile landscapes into deserts. When it rains, there is less grass, even with more pressure on the landscape.”
