Wild animals of Kenya

Tsavo lions only ate 35 people

November 2nd, 2009 New research claims to show that the infamous Tsavo lions only ate 35 people and not 135 as previously believed. The lions have become famous as the worst man eaters in history as they terrorized a railroad camp in Kenya for nine months in 1898. Now an examination of the lion’s stomachs has revealed they were less prolific. More here

Books about the Tsavo lions

The Lions of Tsavo: Exploring the Legacy of Africa’s Notorious Man-Eaters
This book has received excellent reviews:
  • Deftly written …Patterson’s book must now be considered the definitive Tsavo lion study. Patterson’s research at Chicago’s Field Museum and Tsavo National Park – the most important wildlife preserve in East Africa – have established him as one of the world’s leading experts on lions as well as an important conservationist’ – “Publishers Weekly”.
  • ‘It was a great relief to find this wonderfully thorough, scientific, and hugely accurate tome …the thrill of so many new details (and newly found photos) put together in historical (Darwinian) biological and ecological perspective. – Peter Beard, Photographer, Naturalist, and Author of “The End of the Game”.’ More
And for a slightly lighter read there is Ghosts of Tsavo: Tracking the Mythic Lions of East Africa
From the bestselling Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award finalist, Phil Caputo, a riveting adventure travel narrative that tracks two scientists attempting to unlock the secrets of a unique breed of fierce, man-eating lions of eastern Africa. More

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Kenya drought hits elephants hard

September 9th, 2009 The drought afflicting Kenya at present is having a serious effect on the country’s elephants, in addition to the Kenyan population, 3.8 million of whom are are at risk and need emergency food aid. Zoologist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who founded Save the Elephants, said the drought is the worst he has seen in 12 years and poses a serious threat to the large and majestic animals. “”It may be related to climate change, and the effect is elephants, particularly the young and the old, have began to die”. Associated Press Elephants are not endangered in Kenya, which supports a population of 23,000, and fewer than 100 have died from the drought — but wildlife experts say they are concerned, and are hoping seasonal rains come this October and November. See also: Severe drought hits Kenya

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Severe drought hits Kenya

September 5th, 2009 Very worrying article by John Vidal in The Guardian on the effects of continued drought in Kenya and East Africa as a whole “Droughts have affected millions in a vast area stretching across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Chad, and into Burkina Faso and Mali, and tens of thousands of nomadic herders have had to give up their animals…The great unspoken fear among scientists and governments is that the present cycle of droughts continues and worsens, making the land uninhabitable.” Read The drought caused by three consecutive failed rainy seasons is unsurprisingly seriously affecting Kenya’s wildlife. The Kenya Wildlife Service is having to feed hippos to keep them alive.”In Tsavo West national park hippos are dying in large numbers, and other species are being forced to change their diet.” Wildlife is also coming under increasing strain from livestock encroaching on protected land as in a despearte search for grass by herders for their animals. See Hippos Hurt By Kenyan Drought

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