KWS relocates crocodiles from flood-hit Kampi ya Samaki

For more than a decade, residents of Kampi ya Samaki on the western shores of Lake Baringo have watched rising lake waters steadily transform their lives, with homes, schools, roads and livelihoods increasingly threatened by the expanding lake.

The changing landscape has also intensified interactions between people and wildlife, particularly crocodiles, as communities and animals are forced into an increasingly smaller shared habitat.

Under the intervention, the crocodiles are being moved to KWS-managed parks and reserves where there is little or no crocodile presence, with the aim of supporting their reintroduction and repopulation while reducing risks to communities around Lake Baringo.

The exercise is part of efforts to strike a balance between wildlife conservation and community safety, particularly in areas where environmental changes have significantly altered the relationship between people and wildlife.

KWS says crocodiles are an important part of the ecosystem and their relocation will help preserve the species while reducing potentially dangerous encounters with residents.

For residents of Kampi ya Samaki, where rising waters have already disrupted homes, schools, transport routes and economic activities, the intervention is expected to provide additional protection as they continue adapting to the changing environment.

KWS has reaffirmed its commitment to wildlife conservation while working closely with communities to promote safer and more sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife.