The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is currently undertaking a ten-days translocation of elephants from Salama Village in Laikipia West to one of the Service’s managed parks.

Salama residents have long co-existed with wildlife, especially elephants. However, the area being in close proximity to Rumuruti Forest has caused the area to be the elephants’ natural movement corridors.

“Attracted by cultivated crops, these intelligent animals recently raided farms, becoming habitual visitors,” KWS says. “But rather than wait for tragedy or escalation, the Kenya Wildlife Service took a proactive approach, one focused not only on protecting livelihoods, but also protect the elephants before conflict could deepen.”

KWS added: “What unfolded in day one of the exercise was not just another wildlife operation. It was something deeper. Something rare. A moment where conservation stopped being “their responsibility” and became “our responsibility.” A moment where a community and conservationists stood shoulder to shoulder, not divided by fear, frustration, or conflict, but united by purpose.”

The Service has recalled many memories of Salama residents co-existing with the jumbos, including when the rains would render roads impassable and recovery vehicles carrying sedated elephants became stuck, when the locals would come out in large numbers to help the KWS teams push, pull, and clear paths for the trucks to move again.

“In those moments, the line between conservation officers and community disappeared. The people did not see the elephants as belonging to KWS alone, but as ‘our wildlife,’ a responsibility that rests on all our shoulders.”

KWS is working hard to champion this spirit of co-existence: working with communities, for communities, and alongside communities in securing a future where people and wildlife thrive together as stipulated in the KWS Strategic Plan 2024-2028.

The ongoing exercise aims to proactively relocate more than 10 elephant bulls from conflict-prone areas around Salama to one of the KWS-managed parks, where they will contribute to strengthening genetic diversity while also reducing pressure on community farmlands.

“And just as the residents of Salama stood with us during day one of this exercise by embracing our work as a shared responsibility, your support can help empower the KWS Veterinary and Capture Teams to continue protecting wildlife, protect communities, and secure a thriving future for both us and wildlife.”