The elephant population in the expansive Northern Kenya has increased by 5 per cent since the last count in 2002, according to the latest census report released Saturday. 30 November 2008 Written by Henry Neondo The population stands at 7, 468 elephants in the 28,000 km square Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu ecosystem, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service report released at Samburu Serena Lodge in Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Isiolo District. The census that was conducted from Monday to Saturday covered areas from Solio Ranch all the way to Marsabit and Lake Turkana . The census area hosts Kenya’s second largest elephant population after the Tsavo ecosystem. Dr Charles Musyoki, who released the results on behalf of the KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich, said the census was routine exercise undertaken every three years to take stock of the numbers, distribution and trends for management and planning purposes. Dr Musyoki noted that private wildlife conservancies were playing a critical role in conservation as indicated by the large herds of wild animals in these areas. At the same time, the census found that Kenya’s Grevy Zebra population stands at 2,623, up from previous estimates of 2,000 to 2300. This was the first time Kenya was conducting a systematic and coordinated counting of its Grevy Zebra population. The National Conservation and Management Strategy for Grevy Zebras launched by KWS on June 25, 2008 require that a census be conducted every three years. Thus, the census was part of the implementation of the strategy. Results for other species like Giraffes, Kongoni, Oryxes, and grant gazelles will be announced later. Barasa Otunga, the KWS Assistant Director for the region, noted that although the Samburu had not been known to be poachers for ivory and rhino horns, a new alarming trend had emerged involving a heavy influx of illegal arms in exchange for ivory and rhino horns in Laikipia and Samburu districts. He said KWS had strengthened its surveillance and other anti-poaching measures to curb the threat to wildlife. He added that the organisation would also step up problem animal control measures given the expected increase in human wildlife incidents after dispersal areas in Rumuruti and Nyahururu reduced due to human settlement. The census was supported by Kenya Wildlife Service, Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Saint Louis Zoo Field Conservation Program, Oregon Zoo Foundation, Phoenix Zoo, Zuercher Tierschutz, Northern Rangelands Trust, Marwell Conservation and Grevy’s Zebra. Courtesy of Mark