Tension as elephant strays into slum
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The Standard 11-27-06
By Winnie Chumo
There was tension in Nakuru’s Kwa Ronda slum when a elephant strayed into the residential area.
Residents found the stray elephant from the Mau Forest at around 7 am on Sunday when it started destroying crops and property.
Activities came to a near standstill as hundreds of people watched it from safe distances. It appeared confused in the new habitat.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers arrived a few hours later.
The regional KWS director, Ms Anne Kahihia, was surprised that the elephant could go to the slum.
"I have no idea how the animal made it to the residential area but we are waiting for a helicopter and a truck to transport it back to its habitat after sedating it," she said.
Kihihia and her officers had a difficult time controlling the crowd. There was tension when the animal tried to charge at the noisy crowd. Residents scampered for safety.
"We are very scared about our security now, what if it had killed someone?" asked one of the residents.
- Edited by Carsten on 28.11.2006, 14:29 -
