![[FILE] Elephants lock horns as they greet each other at dawn in the Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya, 09 October 2013. EPA-DAI KUROKAWA](https://pre.efe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rss-efea2567385ec24cd8893b45105c1910f2be8f53a85w.jpg)
Nairobi, Oct 4 (EFE).- The Kenya Wildlife Service has started the relocation of 50 elephants from an animal reserve to a national park in an effort to improve coexistence between humans and wildlife.
The tuskers were moved from the Mwea National Reserve to the Aberdare National Park, both located in central Kenya.
“Kenya’s growing population is encroaching on the elephants’ remaining pastures, exacerbating the conflict,” Tourism and Wildlife Minister Rebeca Milano said in a statement reported by local media on Friday.
The relocation, which took place on Thursday, is in response to an increase in the number of elephants in Mwea, rising from 49 to 159 since 1979. This surge has led to property damage and intensified conflicts between humans and elephants.
“Translocation is essential to protect the welfare of both the elephants and the surrounding communities,” the wildlife service said.
The agency argued that this measure would alleviate pressure on the Mwea ecosystem and bolster the elephant population in Aberdare National Park, promoting ecological balance.
Cecily Mbarire, the governor of Embu County, where Mwea National Reserve is located, praised the initiative, stating it would not only reduce elephant numbers but also improve the livelihoods of local communities.
She also highlighted plans to re-enrich the under-exploited natural habitat of Mwea National Reserve.
The KWS noted that increasing the number of elephants in Aberdare would enhance ecotourism, generating economic benefits and supporting sustainable development.
The transportation of these animals is part of the KWS plan on modern conservation techniques, community involvement, and technology integration. The goal is to create thriving animal populations, protected habitats, and harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Between 1979 and 1989, Kenya experienced an “alarming decline” in its elephant population due to poaching for ivory, which reduced the number from 170,000 to just 16,000, according to the KWS.
“Extensive conservation efforts have helped reverse this decline. The 2021 National Wildlife Census recorded 36,280 elephants,” the state agency said. EFE
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