Colors Of WildLife

D'après un recensement, les populations d'éléphant et de zèbre de Grévy sont en augmentation dans le Nord Kenya.

Article complet:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/grevys-zebra878.html

Private wildlife conservancies important for conservation

December 2008. The elephant population in Northern Kenya has increased by 5 per cent since the last count in 2002, according to the latest census. The 2008 survey counted some 7,468 elephants in the Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo ecosystem (which covers some 28,000 kms), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. The area hosts Kenya's second largest elephant population after the Tsavo ecosystem.

Dr Charles Musyoki, who released the results, noted that private wildlife conservancies and communal group ranches were playing a critical role in conservation as indicated by the large herds of wild animals in these areas. He further said that conservation activities outside designated Government protected areas were critical if the wildlife was to be conserved in the long term.

Grevy's zebra
At the same time, Kenya conducted the first ever systematic and coordinated census of the Grevy's Zebra and found that Kenya's Grevy's zebra population stands at 2,623, up from previous guess estimates of between 2,000 to 230.

Illegal weapons
Mr Barasa Otunga, the KWS Assistant Director for the region, noted that although the Samburu people had not been known to be poachers for ivory and rhino horns, a new alarming trend had emerged involving a heavy influx of illegal arms in exchange for ivory and rhino horns in Laikipia and Samburu districts. He said KWS had strengthened its surveillance and other anti-poaching measures to curb the threat to wildlife. He added that the organisation would also step up problem animal control measures given the expected increase in human wildlife incidents after dispersal areas in Rumuruti and Nyahururu reduced due to human settlement.

The census that was conducted from Monday 24th to Friday 28th November, 2008 covered areas from Solio Ranch on the southern edge of Laikipia all the way to Marsabit and around Lake Turkana.

The census was supported by Kenya Wildlife Service, Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Saint Louis Zoo Field Conservation Program, Oregon Zoo Foundation, Phoenix Zoo, Zuercher Tierschutz, Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Marwell Conservation and Grevy's Zebra Trust.

Très intéressant et merci encore pour ces infos sur l'actualité scientifique que tu nous déniches  ;)
Jérôme