Translocation of elephants: the Kenyan experience

Abstract

Reviews the initial large scale translocation programme in which 26 elephant from Mwea National Park in central Kenya, an area completely surrounded by agricultural land, were to be moved to Tsavo East National Park in the southeastern portion of the country. Sixteen elephant were successfully translocated in five operations between September 1995 and June 1996. During the third operation 5 other animals died, 3 in recumbent state after being darted and 2, which were revived after darting, two days later. Death was related to a change in diet was caused a physiological condition brought on by an abnormally high potassium level in the body leading to heart failure. Details of the programme which removed a total of 21 elephants from the Mwea population are discuss.