Kenya's wildlife authorities said Monday they relocated 44 elephants in the past two weeks to boost human and wildlife coexistence.
NAIROBI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's wildlife authorities said Monday they relocated 44 elephants in the past two weeks to boost human and wildlife coexistence.
Rebecca Miano, cabinet secretary in the Kenyan Ministry for Tourism and Wildlife, said that the initiative, which targets the relocation of 50 elephants from Mwea National Reserve to Aberdare National Park in central Kenya, reflects government efforts to manage and protect the country's elephant population.
"By relocating elephants, we not only protect the animals and the communities they affect but also advance conservation and tourism," Miano said when she oversaw the capture and release of a herd of elephants at the Aberdare National Park.
She added that the elephant population in Mwea has risen significantly from 49 individuals in 1979 to 156, exceeding the reserve's carrying capacity by a big margin.
The Kenyan official said that the population growth, though a conservation success, has placed immense pressure on the ecosystem, causing elephants to stray into nearby settlements, where they have damaged crops, infrastructure, and property.
Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service Erustus Kanga noted that elephants, as a keystone species, are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems, but unchecked population growth in confined spaces can lead to environmental degradation and escalate human-wildlife conflicts.
Kanga added that the relocated elephants are being closely monitored, with some having been fitted with GPS collars to track their movements over the next two years through the EarthRanger system. ■