By KPC Reporter
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has begun the translocation of more than 10 bull elephants from conflict-prone areas around Salama Village in Laikipia West Constituency.
They will be moved to a KWS-managed park in a bid to reduce human-wildlife conflict and protect local livelihoods.
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In a statement shared on X, KWS said the operation is aimed at easing pressure on community farmlands while also strengthening genetic diversity in the elephants’ new habitat.
According to the agency, residents of Salama have for years coexisted with elephants whose migratory routes increasingly intersect with farms near Rumuruti Forest.
The elephants, attracted by cultivated crops, had recently become frequent visitors to farms, raising fears of escalating conflict.
KWS said it opted for a proactive intervention before the situation worsened.
“They called, we responded, and hundreds joined us, not as spectators, but as part of the team alongside our Veterinary and Capture Unit,” the agency said.
The wildlife agency described the first day of the exercise as a rare moment of unity between conservation officers and local residents.
Heavy rains reportedly turned roads muddy, causing recovery vehicles transporting sedated elephants to get stuck.
KWS said villagers came out in large numbers to help clear paths and push the trucks through the difficult terrain.
“In those moments, the line between conservation officers and community disappeared,” KWS stated.
“The people did not see the elephants as belonging to KWS alone, but as ‘our wildlife,’ a responsibility that rests on all our shoulders.”
The agency said the operation reflects its broader strategy of working closely with communities to promote coexistence between people and wildlife, in line with the KWS Strategic Plan 2024–2028.
KWS also appealed for public support towards conservation initiatives and the work of its Veterinary and Capture teams.
