Hundreds of animals have died in Kenya’s wildlife reserves during East Africa’s worst drought in decades, according to a report.
The Kenya Wildlife Service has counted the deaths of 205 elephants, 512 wildebeest, 381 common zebras, 51 buffaloes, 49 endangered Grevy’s zebras and 12 giraffes in the past nine months.
It comes after four consecutive seasons of Drought in parts of Kenya over the past two years have taken a heavy toll on people, animals and livestock.
A part of KenyaThe country’s most popular tourist destinations – including Amboseli, Tsavo and Laikipia-Samburu reserves – have suffered the most, the report says.
The authors have called for an emergency aerial wildlife survey in Amboseli to determine the extent of the impact the drought has had on the animals that live there.
Other experts suggest the urgent delivery of water and salt licks to the worst affected areas.
Andrew Letura kneels next to the carcass of an endangered Grevy’s zebra in Samburu National Park
Elephants, for example, can consume up to 240 liters (63.4 gallons) of water per day, according to Jim Justus Nyamu, executive director of the Elephant Neighbors Center.
For Grévy’s zebras, specialists advise increasing the intake of hay.
