As the climate crisis has caused losses to wildlife in East Africa, Kenya two-year drought has wiped out 2% of the world's rarest zebra species and increased the number of elephants' deaths.
Corpses of animals that rot on the ground—including giraffes and livestock—have become a common sight in northern Kenya, where unprecedented drought periods are eroding already depleted food and water resources.
Fine-line zebra is the rarest zebra species in the world and is the most severely affected by drought. If there is no heavy rain in the area, the mortality rate for the species will only rise.
"If the upcoming rainy season fails, the fine-line zebra will face a very serious threat of hunger," she said. “We have lost 58 fine-line zebras since June and deaths are rising as the drought intensifies.”
Even the most drought-resistant animals are affected. One is a camel, which is known to survive for a long time without water.
"Camels are a valuable resource for many people in the region," said Suze, Emergency Response Manager of the Norwegian Refugee Council in East Africa. "The Kenyan desert...their bodies are everywhere now."
Kenya is on the verge of a fifth failed rainy season, and its metrology department predicts the remainder of the year will be "drier than average".
Environmentalists fear more endangered species will die.
"If the next rain fails...we can expect a sharp rise in elephant mortality rate," said Frank Pope, head of Kenya conservation charity to save elephants.
"We see the herd split into the smallest units... because they are trying to make ends meet," he said. "The calf is abandoned and the elderly elephant is dying. Without rain, others will follow soon."
As the drought period continues, other endangered wild animals are rapidly extinct.
Live with wild animals
Drought has also exacerbated poaching of jungle meat. As the drought has affected other sources of income, poaching in northern herders communities has increased.
In some areas, fine-line zebras are being poached in grazing reserves.
"Drought has led to an increase in poaching of fine-line zebras due to large numbers of livestock gathering in grazing reserves," McGee said. "This has led to interracial conflicts (sometimes animals fall into firefighting) and poaching, as herders rely on wildlife for their lives." The pope who rescued elephants said that human-wildlife conflicts have also contributed to the death of dozens of elephants who were forced to get in close contact with humans while chasing a declining source of food and water.
"Last year, the number of elephants we lost due to conflict with people was half of the number of elephants lost from poaching during the worst of the ivory crisis 10 years ago," he said.
According to a 2012 report by Kenya Wildlife Services Agency , nearly 400 elephants died 10 years ago due to poaching, the highest level in Kenya since 2005.
Although the government's campaign to combat the ivory trade calmed down ivory poaching in Kenya, the poaching of wild game still exists due to drought and soaring food prices.
The worst drought in decades
Since October 2020, Kenya and parts of the Greater Hori of Africa have failed for four consecutive rainy seasons. United Nations says it is the worst drought in the region in 40 years.
More than 4 million Kenyans are “food insecure” due to the drought, and more than 3 million people do not have access to adequate drinking water.
Grevy says it is helping endangered species survive drought through supplemental feeding.
