Turns Out, Kenya’s Elephant Population Has More Than Doubled Over The Last Three Decades

Attention! It might sound unbelievable, but we’ve got some really great news to share. 2020 just has been saved from being the worst year ever.

On World Elephant Day, Kenya Wildlife Service announced that throughout the last three decades, Kenya has managed to double their elephant population. Yes, you’ve read this correctly. The numbers have grown from 16,000 in 1989 to 34, 800 by the end of 2019.

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Kenya Wildlife Service shared the good news on their Facebook page

The news was announced by KWS Director John Waweru during a visit to Amboseli National Park to mark World Elephant Day.

“In the past couple of years, we have managed to tame poaching in this country,” the country’s tourism minister, Najib Balala, said at the event.

Sadly, the situation isn’t the same in the other African regions

Image credits: Flickr

According to Fox News, “the Kenyan government has imposed longer jail terms and larger fines for poachers and smugglers as part of its crackdown on the ivory trade.” And it seems like this new system is paying off. Turns out, throughout 2020, Kenya has only seen seven elephants poached compared to 34 in 2019 and as many as 80 back in 2018.

“This year alone, about 170 elephant calves have been born,” Najib Balala announced at the event

“The elephants are one of the natural resources that have been caught up in human greed on one hand and human need on the other,” KWS Director Waweru said. “So there we have a dichotomy”

Image credits: Flickr

“Today we are also launching the Magical Kenya elephant naming campaign, an annual festival whose objective will be to collect funds from the naming, to support the Rangers welfare,” Balala said, referring to the armed guards who’s task is to deter poachers. “This year alone, about 170 elephant calves have been born.”

Image credits: Flickr

According to Timeless Africa Safaris, “fitting radio collars to elephants is one of the best ways to understand their social behaviour, track their migration patterns and see how they interact with their natural habitat. The elephant is darted from the air and guests have the opportunity to observe the vets at work while learning about these iconic African animals and their biological importance. Once the collar is secured, the vet administers the antidote and within a couple of minutes the elephant will be back up on its feet.”