Elephant poaching in Kenya

Abstract

Discusses the concern about African wide poaching subsequent to the June 1997 downlisting of Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana elephant populations. Outlines the establishment of the KWS Elephant Mortality Database in 1992 and its reporting procedures since that time. The numbers of elephant poached between 1992 and 1997 were recorded at 35, 75, 61,34, 29 and 44 respectively. Suggests that the current poaching must be seen in context part of which is the population increase from 19,000 in 1989 to 27,000 in 1997. Elephants seem to be re-establishing some former migratory routes, and since June 1997 the number of animals outside the Parks exceeded the number inside.