Marauding elephants feed on crops

Residents of Kenya's Meru Central region, many of them farmers, live under fear of elephants. While the beasts pose a general security threat to all locals, the farmers have been affected more since the animals have been feasting and trampling on acres of crops just before harvest.

The farmers have for a long time been grappling over marauding elephants from the neighbouring lower Imenti forest every time crops are nearing maturity. They have flattened acres of maize and beans. They also feast on fruits and vegetables that form the lifeline of farmers. Security is also threatened as the beasts have been invading human settlements.

Last year alone, two farmers were trampled to death, bringing to five those who have died from the elephant-human conflict since 2000. Scores of residents have also been maimed by the beasts, making the farmers approach every harvesting season with dread.

The area at the foot of Mt. Kenya is one of the most productive, but residents at times find themselves relying on relief food after crops are destroyed.

“The elephants feast on almost everything; from legumes, cereals and fruits,” says farmer Ms. Mukiri.

But there is hope following the arrival of Kenya Wildlife Service rangers to divert the animals from farms and human settlements and restricting them in their habitats. The rangers’ team has pitched tent at the point where the solar fence restricting wildlife in the Upper Imenti forest breaks. The forest is home to an estimated 300 elephants.

Before the arrival of the group, residents had to hire youths to light fires at the entrance and guard the place from dusk to dawn. But the animals would still stray into the farms. “They have become hardened and are no longer afraid of the fires. Something needs to be done urgently since we cannot expect the KWS team to stay here forever,” says Mr John Mutwiri, who is the chairman of a group that grows horticultural produce for sale.

The animals have also become bold and are now invading farms during the day. “We are spending many hours chasing away the jumbos...we no longer attend to normal day to day duties,” says Mr Mutwiri.

Recently the KWS team spent most of the time driving away the elephants from a farm where they had destroyed hundreds of coffee bushes and horticultural produce.

The KWS team has also proposed the erection of electrified dangling hot wires to prevent animals from straying into farms while letting in traffic and human.

Daily Nation