There is a pattern in Kenya: where the cows are is often where the wildlife is.

That’s because livestock and wildlife have the same needs: grasslands and water. Were it not for the fact that Amboseli’s predominant local community – the Maasai – are traditionally livestock keepers, much of the famed wildlife of the ecosystem would long ago have been replaced with other forms of human industry and development.

But the shared fortunes of cows and wildlife go both ways, and the ongoing drought in Amboseli is having a devastating impact on all animals.

The Amboseli Conservation Program estimates that 25% of all cattle had already died by the start of December. Following the recent failure of the ‘short-rains’ season, that number is climbing. People are watching their wealth die around them. Milk yields have dried up. Many have lost their only income source.

Some of the indirect impacts are long-lasting and even more dire. Those who have lost everything may decide they must sell their land, opting for short-term cash but leaving nothing to survive on in future. Others may turn to unsustainable crop-farming, and the destruction of natural habitats that comes with it, like we saw after the last major drought in 2009 when more than half of the area’s livestock perished.

Things will certainly get worse over the coming months. We will continue to support our partner communities and expect a need to extend our school-feeding and community work programs.

The situation also reinforces why it’s so critical to preserve healthy natural spaces, even as Amboseli’s communal lands subdivide. Leasing land for conservation will benefit landowners, their cows, AND Amboseli’s elephants and other wildlife. Because what’s good for the cow is good for the elephant.

Photo: Jeremy Goss

It’s a worst-case scenario. This week there was a deadly human-elephant interaction in the ALOCA conservancies involving an elephant mother, her two calves, and a local herder. The herder tragically did not survive.

After much consultation, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) determined that the best course of action would be to move the family to Tsavo East National Park, where they would have less chance of further human interaction.

Big Life rangers monitored the small group for three full days after the tragedy, keeping the elephants safe and preventing further incidents until the enormous Jurassic Park-style transportation trucks could arrive to relocate them.

A helicopter joined the fleet of Land Cruisers, trucks, and the Big Life Super Cub airplane, creating quite a scene. Relocating an elephant family does not happen often and is only done when absolutely necessary. Everyone from the nearby villages gathered to witness the impressive undertaking.

KWS led the operation with Big Life rangers on hand to provide support. Big Life’s Chief Operating Officer, Craig Millar, helped to spot and herd the elephants to more accessible terrain with the airplane and it wasn’t long before the KWS vets had successfully darted all three elephants.

With the elephants sedated, a team from Amboseli Trust for Elephants was able to take body measurements and DNA samples as well as fit the mother with a tracking collar to monitor her future movements. After a few short hours all three had been safely loaded and sent on their journey to Tsavo East, where it is hoped they will thrive.

These severe incidents of human-wildlife conflict are complex and emotional; we sympathize fully with family of the deceased, and thank everyone involved in the professional response.

Photos: Josh Clay

This past November, 12-year-old Edwin was walking to school near Isinet town like he does every morning. It is not uncommon for him and his friends to see wildlife along the way, because Isinet shares open borders with Kimana Sanctuary and Olepolos Conservancy. But that morning, his commute was cut short by a juvenile giraffe. Spooked by something, it ran headfirst into poor Edwin, trampling him, severely fracturing his arm and leg in the process.

Big Life rangers were called to the scene, where they found Edwin in desperate need of medical attention. Even a juvenile giraffe has legs you don’t want to mess with. They immediately took him to the nearest hospital in Oloitokitok, but his parents were unable to pay for the medical bills and the prognosis was not looking good. Because helping to mitigate human-wildlife conflict is key a part of what Big Life does, Big Life stepped in to cover Edwin’s medical bills, so that he could get the treatment he desperately needed.

Two crutches, seven pins, and 15 stitches later, the doctors think he will make a full recovery. Through all of this, Edwin has kept his megawatt smile and proudly shows off his x-rays, saying that thanks to his treatment, he hopes he might even be able to play football again soon.

Big Life rangers are always responding to cases of crop raiding by elephants or livestock depredation by predators, but a kick from a giraffe is certainly not a call that happens too often, and we certainly hope it doesn’t happen again anytime soon! But if it does, our rangers will be there.

Photo: Josh Clay

The short rains we’ve been crossing our fingers for have not materialized.

There was a brief ray of hope, when Amboseli saw some scattered showers in December. Even the Maasai Olympics in Kimana Sanctuary a few weeks ago was interrupted by a heavy downpour, but only briefly.

The Chyulu Hills and the slopes of Kilimanjaro also saw a fair amount of rain, providing some temporary relief for grazing animals.

That said, the rains have not been widespread or consistent enough. What grasses have recovered are quickly being diminished by wildlife and livestock that has moved into the areas flush with green. So while we’ve had a brief respite, at this point it’s clear the short rains have largely failed.

We typically wouldn’t expect to see rain again until sometime later this spring, in March/April. There’s no such thing as “normal” weather anymore, so there’s always a chance for something to materialize sooner, but we cannot count on miracles.

In short: we have a tough couple of months ahead of us.

To all of you who have donated to support us through this crisis, thank you. We’ll continue to do what we can to support the ecosystem through this challenging period.

Photo: Jeremy Goss