SHIMBA HILLS ELEPHANTS
TRANSLOCATION 'PHASE TWO'

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ELEPHANTS
SETTLE IN TO THE TSAVO ECOSYSTEM

Phase Two of the elephant translocation from Shimba Hills to Tsavo East was planned for January/ February 2006, but has postponed to June/ July this year, due to the dry conditions in Tsavo at the time.

Kenya Wildlife Service Kwale Senior Warden Moses Litoroh explains:

"Taking elephants from the relatively green Shimba Hills to Tsavo during the dry season is not advisable as this would make them vulnerable to losses.

"Elephants would wander for long distances in search for browse and water thereby putting young ones at risk."

Phase One of the elephant translocation was very successfully conducted by KWS during August and September 2005, when a total of 150 elephants were removed from the Shimba Hills ecosystem.

"The purpose of this was to reduce the negative elephant impact on vegetation, while at the same time reduce human-elephant conflict that is prevalent in the area."

The elephants were captured from Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and released into the Tsavo East National Park, some 250 km north.

These elephants have been monitored, and results indicate that they have settled well in Tsavo.

It is hoped that by June/ July the situation will be favourable for the Phase Two of the exercise.

John:

The first group of translocated elephants from Shimba Hills is 2005 might have settled in, but the most recent group from both Ngulia Lodge and Shimba Hills is not settling in easily.

I have had emails this week from Tsavo stating that there are a lot of terrified elephants running from vehicles, and when they don't run they are forming tight protective family circles. I wrote them telling them of the translocation and sure enough, two days later I got an email stating they had seen three with blue numbers painted on them.

Not only are the translocated elephants now afraid of their new home, but they are also getting all the "regulars" upset also. I have no idea how long it will take them to feel "at home" but I hope they aren't stressed too much.

I wrote KWS about this, about the cattle in the park in August and about a Somali boma in the park we spotted when flying out on our charter flight. I got a reply from KWS and they stated they were moving the cattle out and were hopeful that with the startup of the Kenya Meat Comm. that many of these cattle would be sent for slaughter. Keep your fingers crossed that this is true.

Thats sad news!........Hope they are not too stressed, BUT, hope even more that the Kenyan Government and those who are involved in the Project REACT real Pronto!

My fingers are crossed and hopes are high!