Following our last posting of 15th October, we are issuing an interim report on the impact of the drought on wildlife losses so far prior to a detailed report to be submitted to the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and partners and to the Southern Rangelands Coalition (SRC) in late November. Reports of the AET and SRC meetings called in response to the drought are posted on our website.
The Naivasha Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) also prepared a preliminary report on the Impacts of the Current Drought on Wildlife in Kenya on 29th September. The report noted that 512 wildebeest, 381 zebra, 51 buffalo and 205 elephants in the principle protected areas had died of drought so far. The report acknowledged the deaths to be minimum estimates and projected a steeper loss as the drought deepened. Amboseli was cited as the worst hit park. WRTI also called for more systematic counts of wildlife deaths.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife called on the Conservation Alliance of Kenya on 4th November to submit a report on wildlife mortalities around the country, and to recommend immediate and longer-term steps to combat drought. Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) data contributed substantially to the report. A copy of the report presented to the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Peninah Malonza, and Principal Secretary, Dr. Susan Koech, by the southern and central Kajiado conservation partners will be posted on the ACP website.
ACP has regularly posted the results of wildlife and livestock aerial censuses across eastern Kajiado over many years. In 2009, anticipating a severe drought, we added carcass counts to our regular the ground counts, tracked the course of the drought and, in conjunction with KWS, convened a meeting to consider measures to avert human-wildlife conflict and ensure a post-drought recovery of the depleted wildebeest and zebra populations.
It is worth pointing out in that estimates of drought losses can’t be made simply by driving around the worst hit areas and counting carcasses. Estimating the number of deaths and drought recovery prospects calls for a systematic method of counting both the live and dead animals simultaneously. Here is why:
With these points in mind, ACP counts 80 plots randomly located in Amboseli National Park and across the dry season wildlife range (Figure 1). Each plot is 300 meters in radius. All animals and livestock as well as carcasses are counted by David Maitumo using binoculars and a rangefinder. The random sample plots allow us to project the total population numbers and carcasses of each species.
Here are the results of the live numbers and carcasses for species:
The carcass counts reflect the WRTI report of the large number of animals dying of drought in Amboseli. The figures are far higher than previous estimates because carcasses were counted intensively in small sample areas over the entire dry season range. The carcass counts in the case of wildebeest are underestimates due to the number of young animals dying early in the drought and being partially or completely consumed by predators. Allowing for such carcasses removed early in the drought, the mortality for wildebeest is likely around 15% and zebra about the same.
We have used the total areal counts of October 9th 2022, for elephants, buffaloes and hippo numbers. Estimated losses of elephants and buffalo are 5%. We observed no giraffe death in the park. Reedbuck numbers increased sharply in Amboseli in recent years with the expansion of the swamps have suffered a modest loss. The losses for Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impalas and other small species are negligible. We have not given any figures for livestock mortality at this point. Sakimber Kamiti is collecting information directly from herders and will give estimates for cattle, sheep and goats when compiled.
As high and alarming as the number of carcasses is in Amboseli, and as distressing as the hundreds of carcasses is to tourists, we need to keep an eye on the number of live animals and rate of decline to assess the impact of drought and prospects for recovery. Here the results are more reassuring.
The only species suffering substantial losses so far are zebra, wildebeest, buffaloes and elephants. Compared to the 2009 drought when over 95% of the wildebeest, 60% zebras, two third of the buffaloes and a quarter of the elephants died, the current drought is far less severe. We started the current drought with far larger populations of each species, current mortality rates are far lower, and the swamps are far more extensive than in 2009. In many places the swamps are still expanding and providing fresh forage.
We shall be conducting further counts in the next two weeks and will produce a comprehensive drought analysis to the AET, KWS and partners, and the SRC, at the end of November.
Following our last posting of 15th October, we are issuing an interim report on the impact of the drought on wildlife losses so far prior to a detailed report to be submitted to the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and partners and to the Southern Rangelands Coalition (SRC) in late November. Reports of the AET and SRC meetings called in response to the drought are posted on our website.
The Naivasha Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) also prepared a preliminary report on the Impacts of the Current Drought on Wildlife in Kenya on 29th September. The report noted that 512 wildebeest, 381 zebra, 51 buffalo and 205 elephants in the principle protected areas had died of drought so far. The report acknowledged the deaths to be minimum estimates and projected a steeper loss as the drought deepened. Amboseli was cited as the worst hit park. WRTI also called for more systematic counts of wildlife deaths.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife called on the Conservation Alliance of Kenya on 4th November to submit a report on wildlife mortalities around the country, and to recommend immediate and longer-term steps to combat drought. Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) data contributed substantially to the report. A copy of the report presented to the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Peninah Malonza, and Principal Secretary, Dr. Susan Koech, by the southern and central Kajiado conservation partners will be posted on the ACP website.
ACP has regularly posted the results of wildlife and livestock aerial censuses across eastern Kajiado over many years. In 2009, anticipating a severe drought, we added carcass counts to our regular the ground counts, tracked the course of the drought and, in conjunction with KWS, convened a meeting to consider measures to avert human-wildlife conflict and ensure a post-drought recovery of the depleted wildebeest and zebra populations.
It is worth pointing out in that estimates of drought losses can’t be made simply by driving around the worst hit areas and counting carcasses. Estimating the number of deaths and drought recovery prospects calls for a systematic method of counting both the live and dead animals simultaneously. Here is why:
With these points in mind, ACP counts 80 plots randomly located in Amboseli National Park and across the dry season wildlife range (Figure 1). Each plot is 300 meters in radius. All animals and livestock as well as carcasses are counted by David Maitumo using binoculars and a rangefinder. The random sample plots allow us to project the total population numbers and carcasses of each species.
Here are the results of the live numbers and carcasses for species:
The carcass counts reflect the WRTI report of the large number of animals dying of drought in Amboseli. The figures are far higher than previous estimates because carcasses were counted intensively in small sample areas over the entire dry season range. The carcass counts in the case of wildebeest are underestimates due to the number of young animals dying early in the drought and being partially or completely consumed by predators. Allowing for such carcasses removed early in the drought, the mortality for wildebeest is likely around 15% and zebra about the same.
We have used the total areal counts of October 9th 2022, for elephants, buffaloes and hippo numbers. Estimated losses of elephants and buffalo are 5%. We observed no giraffe death in the park. Reedbuck numbers increased sharply in Amboseli in recent years with the expansion of the swamps have suffered a modest loss. The losses for Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impalas and other small species are negligible. We have not given any figures for livestock mortality at this point. Sakimber Kamiti is collecting information directly from herders and will give estimates for cattle, sheep and goats when compiled.
As high and alarming as the number of carcasses is in Amboseli, and as distressing as the hundreds of carcasses is to tourists, we need to keep an eye on the number of live animals and rate of decline to assess the impact of drought and prospects for recovery. Here the results are more reassuring.
The only species suffering substantial losses so far are zebra, wildebeest, buffaloes and elephants. Compared to the 2009 drought when over 95% of the wildebeest, 60% zebras, two third of the buffaloes and a quarter of the elephants died, the current drought is far less severe. We started the current drought with far larger populations of each species, current mortality rates are far lower, and the swamps are far more extensive than in 2009. In many places the swamps are still expanding and providing fresh forage.
We shall be conducting further counts in the next two weeks and will produce a comprehensive drought analysis to the AET, KWS and partners, and the SRC, at the end of November.
Following our last posting of 15th October, we are issuing an interim report on the impact of the drought on wildlife losses so far prior to a detailed report to be submitted to the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and partners and to the Southern Rangelands Coalition (SRC) in late November. Reports of the AET and SRC meetings called in response to the drought are posted on our website.
The Naivasha Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) also prepared a preliminary report on the Impacts of the Current Drought on Wildlife in Kenya on 29th September. The report noted that 512 wildebeest, 381 zebra, 51 buffalo and 205 elephants in the principle protected areas had died of drought so far. The report acknowledged the deaths to be minimum estimates and projected a steeper loss as the drought deepened. Amboseli was cited as the worst hit park. WRTI also called for more systematic counts of wildlife deaths.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife called on the Conservation Alliance of Kenya on 4th November to submit a report on wildlife mortalities around the country, and to recommend immediate and longer-term steps to combat drought. Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) data contributed substantially to the report. A copy of the report presented to the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Peninah Malonza, and Principal Secretary, Dr. Susan Koech, by the southern and central Kajiado conservation partners will be posted on the ACP website.
ACP has regularly posted the results of wildlife and livestock aerial censuses across eastern Kajiado over many years. In 2009, anticipating a severe drought, we added carcass counts to our regular the ground counts, tracked the course of the drought and, in conjunction with KWS, convened a meeting to consider measures to avert human-wildlife conflict and ensure a post-drought recovery of the depleted wildebeest and zebra populations.
It is worth pointing out in that estimates of drought losses can’t be made simply by driving around the worst hit areas and counting carcasses. Estimating the number of deaths and drought recovery prospects calls for a systematic method of counting both the live and dead animals simultaneously. Here is why:
With these points in mind, ACP counts 80 plots randomly located in Amboseli National Park and across the dry season wildlife range (Figure 1). Each plot is 300 meters in radius. All animals and livestock as well as carcasses are counted by David Maitumo using binoculars and a rangefinder. The random sample plots allow us to project the total population numbers and carcasses of each species.
Here are the results of the live numbers and carcasses for species:
The carcass counts reflect the WRTI report of the large number of animals dying of drought in Amboseli. The figures are far higher than previous estimates because carcasses were counted intensively in small sample areas over the entire dry season range. The carcass counts in the case of wildebeest are underestimates due to the number of young animals dying early in the drought and being partially or completely consumed by predators. Allowing for such carcasses removed early in the drought, the mortality for wildebeest is likely around 15% and zebra about the same.
We have used the total areal counts of October 9th 2022, for elephants, buffaloes and hippo numbers. Estimated losses of elephants and buffalo are 5%. We observed no giraffe death in the park. Reedbuck numbers increased sharply in Amboseli in recent years with the expansion of the swamps have suffered a modest loss. The losses for Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impalas and other small species are negligible. We have not given any figures for livestock mortality at this point. Sakimber Kamiti is collecting information directly from herders and will give estimates for cattle, sheep and goats when compiled.
As high and alarming as the number of carcasses is in Amboseli, and as distressing as the hundreds of carcasses is to tourists, we need to keep an eye on the number of live animals and rate of decline to assess the impact of drought and prospects for recovery. Here the results are more reassuring.
The only species suffering substantial losses so far are zebra, wildebeest, buffaloes and elephants. Compared to the 2009 drought when over 95% of the wildebeest, 60% zebras, two third of the buffaloes and a quarter of the elephants died, the current drought is far less severe. We started the current drought with far larger populations of each species, current mortality rates are far lower, and the swamps are far more extensive than in 2009. In many places the swamps are still expanding and providing fresh forage.
We shall be conducting further counts in the next two weeks and will produce a comprehensive drought analysis to the AET, KWS and partners, and the SRC, at the end of November.
Following our last posting of 15th October, we are issuing an interim report on the impact of the drought on wildlife losses so far prior to a detailed report to be submitted to the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and partners and to the Southern Rangelands Coalition (SRC) in late November. Reports of the AET and SRC meetings called in response to the drought are posted on our website.
The Naivasha Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) also prepared a preliminary report on the Impacts of the Current Drought on Wildlife in Kenya on 29th September. The report noted that 512 wildebeest, 381 zebra, 51 buffalo and 205 elephants in the principle protected areas had died of drought so far. The report acknowledged the deaths to be minimum estimates and projected a steeper loss as the drought deepened. Amboseli was cited as the worst hit park. WRTI also called for more systematic counts of wildlife deaths.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife called on the Conservation Alliance of Kenya on 4th November to submit a report on wildlife mortalities around the country, and to recommend immediate and longer-term steps to combat drought. Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) data contributed substantially to the report. A copy of the report presented to the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Peninah Malonza, and Principal Secretary, Dr. Susan Koech, by the southern and central Kajiado conservation partners will be posted on the ACP website.
ACP has regularly posted the results of wildlife and livestock aerial censuses across eastern Kajiado over many years. In 2009, anticipating a severe drought, we added carcass counts to our regular the ground counts, tracked the course of the drought and, in conjunction with KWS, convened a meeting to consider measures to avert human-wildlife conflict and ensure a post-drought recovery of the depleted wildebeest and zebra populations.
It is worth pointing out in that estimates of drought losses can’t be made simply by driving around the worst hit areas and counting carcasses. Estimating the number of deaths and drought recovery prospects calls for a systematic method of counting both the live and dead animals simultaneously. Here is why:
With these points in mind, ACP counts 80 plots randomly located in Amboseli National Park and across the dry season wildlife range (Figure 1). Each plot is 300 meters in radius. All animals and livestock as well as carcasses are counted by David Maitumo using binoculars and a rangefinder. The random sample plots allow us to project the total population numbers and carcasses of each species.
Here are the results of the live numbers and carcasses for species:
The carcass counts reflect the WRTI report of the large number of animals dying of drought in Amboseli. The figures are far higher than previous estimates because carcasses were counted intensively in small sample areas over the entire dry season range. The carcass counts in the case of wildebeest are underestimates due to the number of young animals dying early in the drought and being partially or completely consumed by predators. Allowing for such carcasses removed early in the drought, the mortality for wildebeest is likely around 15% and zebra about the same.
We have used the total areal counts of October 9th 2022, for elephants, buffaloes and hippo numbers. Estimated losses of elephants and buffalo are 5%. We observed no giraffe death in the park. Reedbuck numbers increased sharply in Amboseli in recent years with the expansion of the swamps have suffered a modest loss. The losses for Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impalas and other small species are negligible. We have not given any figures for livestock mortality at this point. Sakimber Kamiti is collecting information directly from herders and will give estimates for cattle, sheep and goats when compiled.
As high and alarming as the number of carcasses is in Amboseli, and as distressing as the hundreds of carcasses is to tourists, we need to keep an eye on the number of live animals and rate of decline to assess the impact of drought and prospects for recovery. Here the results are more reassuring.
The only species suffering substantial losses so far are zebra, wildebeest, buffaloes and elephants. Compared to the 2009 drought when over 95% of the wildebeest, 60% zebras, two third of the buffaloes and a quarter of the elephants died, the current drought is far less severe. We started the current drought with far larger populations of each species, current mortality rates are far lower, and the swamps are far more extensive than in 2009. In many places the swamps are still expanding and providing fresh forage.
We shall be conducting further counts in the next two weeks and will produce a comprehensive drought analysis to the AET, KWS and partners, and the SRC, at the end of November.
For over 50 years, we’ve been pioneering conservation work in Amboseli sustained habitats, livelihoods and resilience through collaboration amid environmental changes, protecting biodiversity.
Current grazing pressure percentage.
Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke
Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke