Population Survey

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), and other conservation partners undertook the Laikipia-Samburu-Marsabit-Meru (LSMM) June-July 2021 aerial total count with support from the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife (MoTW. Aerial counts have been conducted in Kenya since 1960’s to count large mammals across selected ecosystems using standard methods. The ten-day aerial census was conducted from 26th June to 5th July 2021. The census was designed to continue the long-term aerial monitoring of large mammals in the region while at the same time enriching the species status database. The specific objectives for the aerial census were to: a) determine the present status of the elephant population in the landscapes, b) determine changes in the elephant population and their distribution since the last aerial census of 2017, c) determine population abundance, d) distribution and trends of other large wildlife within the landscape, e) map out various activities to assess current pressures on wildlife conservation, f) update the baseline wildlife data for the country. During the census, a total of fourteen (14) fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter drawn from KWS and other partners were used. The total area covered was 65,518 km2 traversing 13 counties. Transects were maintained at 1-2 km spacing depending on wildlife densities in specific blocks. The exercise lasted for 460hrs and 26 minutes of which 66% was spent on the actual count while the rest (34%) was spent on transit. The planes flew at speeds of between 157km/hr to 216 km/hr resulting in an average search effort of 214.3 km2/hr. Thirty-three (33) wildlife species were enumerated during the June/July 2021 census in the LSMM landscape comprising five (5) carnivores, five (5) avian, one (1) reptile, and the rest were herbivores. The most abundant species were the common zebra (Equus quagga; 24,507 individuals), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti; 10,022 individuals), buffalo (Syncerus caffer; 8,999 individuals), elephant (Loxodonta Africana; 7,475 individuals), impala (Aepyeros melampus; 4,777 individuals) giraffe (4,531 individuals), Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi; 2,511 individuals), Oryx (Oryx beisa; 2,414 individuals) and Baboon (Papio Anubis; 2,085 individuals). Most of the elephants (60%; n=4,475) were found in Laikipia county, 17% in Samburu (n=1,305), 14% in Isiolo (n=1,049), 8% in Meru (n=556) and 1% in Tana River (n=49). Elephant mortality appeared to be low in the region and as such only 49 elephant carcasses of various ages were counted out of which 39 were in community pastoral areas, 11 in the ranches, conservancies, and sanctuaries, three in the settlement schemes, and only four in the National Reserves and Parks. Only two fresh carcasses were found.