The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has initiated the relocation of over ten bull elephants from areas prone to conflict near Salama Village in Laikipia West Constituency.
The elephants will be transported to a park managed by KWS to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and safeguard local livelihoods.
According to a statement released by KWS, the operation seeks to alleviate pressure on community agricultural lands while enhancing genetic diversity in the elephants’ destination.
The agency noted that Salama residents have long shared their environment with elephants whose migration patterns have increasingly overlapped with agricultural zones near Rumuruti Forest.
The elephants, drawn to cultivated crops, had recently been regularly visiting farms, sparking concerns about potential conflicts.
KWS chose to intervene proactively before tensions escalated.
“They called, we responded, and hundreds joined us not as onlookers but as part of our team alongside the Veterinary and Capture Unit,” the agency reported.
The wildlife organization characterized the initial day of the operation as an exceptional display of unity between conservation staff and local community members.
Heavy downpours rendered roads impassable, causing vehicles transporting sedated elephants to become stuck.
KWS reported that villagers assembled in large numbers to assist in clearing the way and maneuvering the trucks across challenging terrain.
“In those instances, the distinction between conservation officers and the community vanished,” KWS stated.
“The residents viewed the elephants not as property of KWS alone but as ‘our wildlife,’ a shared responsibility for everyone.”
The agency emphasized that the operation aligns with its comprehensive approach of collaborating with communities to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife, consistent with the KWS Strategic Plan 2024–2028.