Scientists Begin Elephant Census in Kenya, Tanzania

Safari Maiden Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:44 pm

Posted By - NBC News

TSAVO, KENYA (NBC) -- Wildlife authorities in Kenya and Tanzania have begun a six-day elephant census.

Most of the elephants in the Tsavo Park move in groups of 50 or more in search of water.

Despite their numbers, park rangers are worried about the drought's effect and increasing poaching in both countries.

"This exercise will enable us to establish the number and distribution of elephants within the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem," said Patrick Omondi of Kenyan Wildlife Services. "And it will enable us to establish the impact that the 2009 drought had on the elephants."

The census will be carried out from the air over a vast area. More than a hundred scientists are participating in the project. The last census was carried out in 2008.

Tourism is a key industry for Kenya and accounts for more than a billion dollars annually in the country's economy.

(NBC News)

Safari Maiden Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:46 pm

Though it may not read much, I see this as a positive step that they want to know an impact in to the elephant population. When you have this sort of information it can aid programmes for protection to lessen future events that may have similar or the same impacts.

SM

**Laikipia** Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:27 am

It will be interesting to see the result.

Let's hope it is positive after all the drought last year.

Lai

**whitestarling** Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:32 am

Your right there SM, at least it shows they are concerned, and realise the value wildlife brings to Kenya in economic terms. So thats agood thing really
WS

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Scientists Begin Elephant Census in Kenya, Tanzania

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