KWS launches elephant translocation exercise

By Jabali Media

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has started a critical elephant translocation operation, geared towards improving human-wildlife coexistence.

The operation will see approximately 50 elephants moved from the Mwea National Reserve in Embu County, to the Aberdare National Park which lies within Nyeri and Nyandarua Counties.

“The significance of this initiative cannot be overstated. Between 1979 and 1989, Kenya faced an alarming decline in its elephant population, driven by rampant poaching for ivory. Numbers fell drastically from an estimated 170,000 to just 16,000,” KWS said in a statement.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism and Wildlife  Rebecca Miano,  underscored the urgency of the exercise.

“Kenya’s growing human population is encroaching on remaining elephant rangelands, exacerbating conflicts,” said the CS.

“The translocation will yield long-term benefits by bolstering vulnerable elephant populations, enhancing genetic diversity, and safeguarding ecosystems critical to elephants and other species.”

Embu governor Cecily Mbarire who witnessed the historic translocation, praised the initiative as timely, noting that it would not only reduce elephant numbers but also improve livelihoods for local communities.

“The county plans to rebrand Mwea National Reserve,” she noted.

On his part, KWS Director General, Dr. Erustus Kanga, emphasised that the recently launched Strategic Plan incorporates adaptive management practices, to respond proactively to challenges like habitat degradation and human-wildlife conflict.

An elephant being translocated. Photo/KWS.

“The translocation's goal is to improve local communities' socioeconomic welfare and ensure the welfare of the remaining elephants in Mwea by reducing resource competition,” added Kungu.

Mwea National Reserve’s elephant population has surged from 49 individuals in 1979 to 156 today.

While this population growth marks conservation success, it has strained the ecosystem, with around 50 elephants venturing outside the reserve, leading to property damage and intensifying human-elephant conflict.

The translocation is therefore essential to protect the welfare of both the elephants and the surrounding communities.

In Aberdare, the expected increase in elephant numbers will boost ecotourism, driving economic benefits and supporting sustainable development.

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