Drought Claims One of Twin Baby Elephants in Samburu Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is mourning the loss of one of the twin elephants born to Bora from the Winds family in January 2022.

Save the Elephants, Bora, the matriarch, had been spotted by the monitoring team from Save the Elephants outside Samburu National Reserve, but with only one of her twins – the male. 

The calves were last seen alive in April outside the reserve.

“We are sad to report that one of the twins born to Bora from the Winds family this year appears to have died during the drought,” Save the Elephants said in a statement.

“Bora was recently spotted by our monitoring team outside Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya, but with only one of her twins. Our team searched for the female calf but were unable to locate her.”

“If the next rains fail … we could expect to see a substantial spike in elephant mortality,” says Frank Pope, who heads Kenya-based conservation charity Save the Elephants in an interview with CNN in October.

“We are seeing herds splintered into the smallest units … as they try to eke out a living,” he said. “Calves are being abandoned, and elderly elephants are dying. Without rain, others will soon follow.”

Tourism Minister Peninah Malonza visited Tsavo East National Park on Tuesday to see drought mitigation measures the ministry is taking to conserve wildlife.

“The ongoing drought experienced in the country has had (a) huge impact on wildlife and habitats. It has resulted in (the) dispersal of wildlife from their traditional habitats in search of pasture and water,” said Malonza.

She added that her ministry has rolled out mitigation programs that include “provision of water to wildlife through water trucking and construction of water pans.”