By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, May 23 ,2026 - The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched a high-stakes operation to relocate more than 10 rogue bull elephants from Laikipia after repeated invasions of farms triggered fears of a deadly human-wildlife conflict.
The elephants, blamed for destroying crops and terrorising residents around Salama Village in Laikipia West Constituency, are being moved to a protected KWS-managed park in an exercise conservationists say is aimed at preventing both human casualties and the killing of wildlife.
In a statement issued on Saturday, KWS said the relocation mission was part of efforts to ease pressure on farmlands while protecting the elephant population.
“KWS is currently undertaking the translocation of more than 10 bull elephants from conflict-prone areas around Salama Village, Laikipia West Constituency, to a KWS-managed park,” the agency said.
“This initiative aims to reduce pressure on community farmlands while strengthening genetic diversity in their new habitat.”
The operation comes against the backdrop of growing human-wildlife conflict in Laikipia, where expanding settlements and farming activities continue to block traditional elephant migration corridors linked to Rumuruti Forest.
KWS said the elephants had become habitual crop raiders after repeatedly venturing into farms in search of food.
“Salama residents have long coexisted with wildlife, especially elephants, as their natural movement corridors increasingly intersect with farms due to proximity to Rumuruti Forest,” the agency stated.
Rather than wait for possible deaths or retaliatory attacks on the animals, KWS said it opted for an early intervention strategy.
“But rather than wait for tragedy or escalation, the Kenya Wildlife Service took a proactive approach, one focused not only on protecting livelihoods, but also protect the elephants before conflict could deepen,” the statement read.
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The exercise turned dramatic after heavy rains left roads impassable, with trucks transporting sedated elephants getting stuck in deep mud.
Residents, however, rallied behind the conservation teams in a rare display of cooperation between local communities and wildlife authorities.
“When the rains turned roads into deep mud and recovery vehicles carrying sedated elephants became stuck, the people of Salama came out in large numbers to help the KWS teams push, pull, and clear paths for the trucks to move again,” KWS said.
The agency described the scenes as a breakthrough moment in conservation efforts, saying local residents embraced the wildlife rescue mission as a shared responsibility.
“In those moments, the line between conservation officers and community disappeared. The people did not see the elephants as belonging to KWS alone, but as ‘our wildlife,’” the statement added.
KWS said the successful partnership with residents reflects a new conservation model focused on involving communities living near wildlife habitats.
“This is the spirit KWS continues to champion across the country: working with communities, for communities, and alongside communities in securing a future where people and wildlife thrive together,” the agency said.
The operation is expected to continue over the coming days as authorities monitor the relocated elephants and assess the impact on conflict-hit villages.
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