In Kenya, the overall elephant population has increased due to conservation efforts. However, the
number of ‘Big Tusker’ elephants has diminished significantly. Joseph Kyalo is monitoring and
protecting these elephants through the non-profit, Tsavo Trust.
The Tsavo Conservation Area is the biggest National Park in Kenya, hosting the largest population of
elephants in the country. Among Joseph’s long list of challenges is the human-wildlife conflict caused
by the animals that they are trying to conserve, venturing out through communities due to drought.
Joseph is a bush pilot, and his aerial patrols are critical to researching and monitoring wildlife in
Tsavo which covers 20 to 45-thousand square kilometres.
Joseph also wants to create conservation education and awareness within his community, “I’ve been
involved in schools just to talk to the kids and mentor them. We don't want all of them to have
formal training in conservation, but we just want them to be aware, and with that, they will make
decisions that actually favour environmental conservation.”
Watch the whole story here.
