There is an African proverb that goes, “Until the lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
This captures the tragedy of wild animals perishing while human beings live under the illusion that everything around them is fine.
Roughly 100 wild elephants are killed every day in Africa — a staggering 20,000 a year — by poachers for wildlife trafficking.
For the last year, tens of elephants, endangered zebras and warthogs have died as ravaging drought struck, leaving conservationists frustrated.
Meru resident Kamundi Kiroria said he had never seen an elephant die of hunger in the 30 years he has lived in Nchoroiboro near Nkunga forest.
“It is sad to see elephants die of hunger. We appeal to the government to save the situation before people start dying," he said at the time.
Kiroria said many people are suffering after their crops were consumed by wild animals.
"We want Kenya Wildlife Service officers to drive away such animals and keep them where they should be,” he said.
Residents bordering parks were also hardly hit, forcing them to request for relief food after the death of their livestock and destruction of crops by wild animals.
KWS assistant director of Eastern conservation Robert O'brein told the Star elephant calves started dying in August last year in Isiolo, especially in Oldonyong'iro, near Laikipia county.
Tourism is among the highest foreign earners in the country, thus the need to protect the animals.
Tourism benefits the economy, creates employment, deters poachers and gives one an opportunity to experience the beauty, intelligence and emotional capacity of the magnificent giants.
WATER, VEGETATION WOES
“Hunger is affecting both the big and small animals. The old and weak are now dying. There is nothing to eat anymore," O'brein said.
The official said they were recently called to the 78 Battalion, where an elephant had fallen and could not move due to hunger.
"Our veterinarian administered glucose. However, there was nothing to feed on and it eventually died at Nchoroiboro," he said.
The official said the animals had not only died in Meru but also in Kitui, Tana River and Garissa.
"We have also lost many endangered Grevy's zebras, giraffes and warthogs,” he said.
He said an elephant eats 10 times more than a cow, making it impossible to restrain them in one place.
The official pleaded with people living near parks and forests to live harmoniously with wild animals.
“I urge our people to understand. If you see them (elephants) move near farms, they are desperate,” he said.
O'Brien said most animals also die due to opportunistic infections occasioned by drought at Meru National Park.
"Two others also died but with drought and lack of water, anthrax comes in," he said.
"Wild animals don’t have antibodies anymore and are prone to diseases. They are so weak."
Poaching has been another menace crippling the tourism sector.
Conservationists have decried their worries over the drying of rivers that supply water to the animals, calling for concerted efforts to ensure water catchment areas are conserved.
“All people concerned about our environment should start planting trees and protecting catchment areas,” he said.
"Committees managing water extracted from these rivers should ensure there is proper distribution of water so they irrigate their farms at night but release it during the day for use by those downstream.
"They should use water with full knowledge that there are people downstream who are in need of the resource."
The warning comes at a time when environmentalists have sounded an alarm over diminishing volumes of water in rivers in Meru county, with rivers Mariara, Kathita, Thingithu, Mutonga and Thanantu being the most seriously affected.