Rebuilding Meru Park
Meru National Park, once a showcase reserve and home to Elsa, the lioness of
Born Free fame, accommodated more than 3,000 elephants at its zenith. But
widespread poaching destroyed the population.
IFAW has committed to a five-year, US$1.25 million
program in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and renowned
conservationist Dr. Richard Leakey to help secure Meru National Park and
protect its wildlife.
IFAW’s partnership has enabled KWS to rebuild the park’s original ranger headquarters, repair security vehicles, and fence two nearby farms to prevent elephants from wandering onto them.
To restock the depleted park, KWS moved 66 elephants from private ranches in Laikipia to Meru. IFAW teamed up with KWS, the Born Free Foundation and Ol Pejeta Ranch, a private game sanctuary, to translocate the elephants. Each family group was captured and moved at one time to ensure that their social bonds were not disturbed.
The largest-ever elephant translocation in East and Central Africa, the moves reduced conflicts with farmers, eased carrying capacity strains in other parks, and helped restore these animals to their ancestral rangelands in Meru.
The success of this effort reinforces the use of translocation to resolve human/elephant conflict and to return elephants to habitat where they are a keystone species.
Four rhinos have also been moved to the park, along with 20 rare Grevy’s zebras. In the future, more than 200 Burchell’s zebras will join them.
In addition to enhancing biodiversity, increased tourism at Meru is providing employment opportunities for local residents. Just as important, securing Meru and its environs also makes neighboring communities safe.
In 2002, the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) joined the cause with a US$7 million grant to aid KWS. Part of the funds will be used to continue Meru’s rehabilitation.
IFAW’s partnership has enabled KWS to rebuild the park’s original ranger headquarters, repair security vehicles, and fence two nearby farms to prevent elephants from wandering onto them.
To restock the depleted park, KWS moved 66 elephants from private ranches in Laikipia to Meru. IFAW teamed up with KWS, the Born Free Foundation and Ol Pejeta Ranch, a private game sanctuary, to translocate the elephants. Each family group was captured and moved at one time to ensure that their social bonds were not disturbed.
The largest-ever elephant translocation in East and Central Africa, the moves reduced conflicts with farmers, eased carrying capacity strains in other parks, and helped restore these animals to their ancestral rangelands in Meru.
The success of this effort reinforces the use of translocation to resolve human/elephant conflict and to return elephants to habitat where they are a keystone species.
Four rhinos have also been moved to the park, along with 20 rare Grevy’s zebras. In the future, more than 200 Burchell’s zebras will join them.
In addition to enhancing biodiversity, increased tourism at Meru is providing employment opportunities for local residents. Just as important, securing Meru and its environs also makes neighboring communities safe.
In 2002, the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) joined the cause with a US$7 million grant to aid KWS. Part of the funds will be used to continue Meru’s rehabilitation.
Photo © IFAW
IFAW provided on-site assistance for the relocation of elephant families to Meru National Park, and contributed funds for equipment, veterinary drugs and aerial support. Photo © IFAW/D. Willetts
