SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., August 30, 2021 - Elephant Cooperation has partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to prevent Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) by relocating four elephants, a mother and her three children, causing conflict in communities around Meru County in Kenya. Elephants venture into human settlements in search of water, they can do extensive damage and pose a real threat to humans.
In a process called translocation, certified veterinary doctors dart these elephants with a tranquilizer, a dispatched unit lifted them onto a truck using a crane, then transport them to a suitable habitat far away from the communities.
Since April, the elephants have created a lot of damage. Following increased cases of HEC, various Human Wildlife Conflict tools were deployed which included the use of thunder flashes, among other Problem Animal Control (PAC). There is an urgent need to diffuse the looming HEC threat for the sake of both the communities and the wildlife to achieve a win-win for all.”
In response to the urgent request, Elephant Cooperation donated funds for KWS to conduct the relocation. “This was an easy call,” says Scott Struthers, Founder of Elephant Cooperation. “We have a great relationship with KWS and are very familiar with the Meru area and HEC issues. A few years ago, I was moved by a retaliatory video showing Meru villagers venting their frustrations upon an elephant which had wounded a villager. We met the wounded villager and helped Mount Kenya Trust and Rhino Ark fund rollers on a major highway in Kithoka, Meru to stop elephants from going into human settlements and raiding farms, saving both elephant and human lives.”
Throughout 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of tourism income, Elephant Cooperation is also helping feed 30 rangers in Marsabit and 70 community conservancy rangers in Shurr, Jaldesa, Songa and Melako community through its Elephants to the Rescue food relief initiative. “This is made possible by partnering with Ramgarhia Youth Association, Northern Rangeland Trust and KWS,” says Suzzi Mutua, a Nairobi-based representative for Elephant Cooperation. “KWS and the community rangers do an excellent job protecting elephants from poaching. We wanted to ensure that this protection continued unfettered in the face of COVID-19,” she added.
For more information about Elephant Cooperation, please visit www.elephantcooperation.com
For more information about Mount Kenya Trust, please visit www.mountkenyatrust.org
For more information about Rhino Ark, please visit www.rhinoark.org
For more information about Ramgarhia Youth Association Kenya, please visit: www.ryakenya.org
For more information about Kenya Wildlife Service, please visit: www.kws.go.ke