Drought Increasing Poaching of the Grevy's Zebra in Samburu North
This is an adapted excerpt from an article written and published by Talk Africa on 2nd May 2022, entitled Kenya: Drought Increasing Poaching of the Grevy's Zebra in Samburu North by Lenah Bosibori.
Samburu County, Kenya: In February, two Grevy’s zebras – one of Africa’s most endangered large mammals – were killed in Sarima, Nyiro Conservancy bordering Marsabit, and Lake Turkana, triggering panic among conservationists in northern Kenya.
Dida Fayo NRT lead in Samburu North displaying a photo of an injured Grevy’s Zebra that was injured in Sarima Samburu North and later succumbed to the injuries/Lenah Bosibori.
Found almost exclusively in northern Kenya, the Grevy’s zebra remains endangered, according to Grevy’s Zebra Trust. This unique species of zebra is known for its striking, tall appearance, thin stripes and elegant gait. In the late 1970s, over 15,000 Grevy’s zebras roamed in the wild. Hunting and poaching drastically reduced the population over the years, and the 2016 Great Grevy census results indicated that Kenya was home to 2,350 Grevy zebras, 90 percent of the world’s population. Conservation Status – Grevy’s Zebra Trust
According to Grevy’s Zebra Trust website, recent estimates indicate that only 3,042 are alive, representing an 80 percent decline in their population globally. In Kenya, the 2018 estimate was 2,812 Grevy’s zebras (a small increase from 2016) and there are 230 in Ethiopia.