Human-Elephant conflict resolution measures

Recently our wildlife team and Kenya Wildlife Service shortened the tusks of Gorbachev, a partially blind bull who had been causing lots of issues as his tusks began to grow back after a successful de-tusking in 2005.
Human-elephant conflict is a reoccurring issue, where elephant and human habitats and needs overlap. Preventative measures such as electric fences are used worldwide, however, elephants learn quickly that their tusks do not conduct electricity and can in fact be used to break down fences which separate them from local farms. By shortening his tusks, it helps prevent him from breaking through into neighbouring communities and therefore reduces further incidents.
Whilst climate change worsens and our drought continues to send animals in search of food and water, the number of human-wildlife conflict cases can also rise. Elephants can eat up to 450kg of food per day, uprooting trees and raiding crops as they go. This can be very destructive to those that live in the local communities surrounding Ol Pejeta who rely on their crops to feed their families.
Here, Ranger Abraham Njenga talks us through the process of shortening Gorbachev's tusks, why we do it and what happens to the ivory once it’s removed.
Whilst activities like this can look very dramatic, our rangers take great care in ensuring the welfare of all animals on Ol Pejeta, and we are happy to report that Gorbachev has been sighted as fit and well since the tusk shortening.