Kenya ranks fourth in elephant population globally

Kenya has the fourth-largest elephant population in the world.

This is according to partially released results of the country’s recent wildlife census.

Kenya has 36,280 savanna elephants, about 2,700 more than the last count in 2017.

Only Zimbabwe, Botswana and Tanzania have more.

Over the years Kenya’s wildlife has declined dramatically because of poaching and encroachment by humans, which led to the loss of wildlife habitats and migratory corridors.

But the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says ”the census, which was conducted between May and July, noted a reduction in the loss of elephants, rhinos and other endangered species.”

The country has 1,739 rhinos, among them the only two northern white rhinos in the world, 897 black rhinos and 840 southern white rhinos.

It was especially good news for the black rhino, listed as critically endangered, to have increased by 200 from the last count four years ago.

BBC/Mercy Chukwudiebere