Monitoring elephant and rhino trends in Kenya

Abstract

In 1977, KREMU conducted aerial surveys to obtain baseline information on the populations and distributions of the African elephant and the black rhinoceros in all pastoral rangelands in Kenya. Population trends were determined by comparing population estimates for 1977 and 1978 for the entire rangelands, and also comparing these values with results from 1980 and 1981 aerial surveys conducted in southern Kenya, 1981 survey results from northern Kenyan, and results the national 1983 survey. Population estimates are presented on a district basis and as a total national population for the four survey periods, with the total elephant figures being 43,979 for 1977, 42,448 for 1978, 33,576 for 1980/81 and 23,534 for 1983.