'As Nature Intended': Captive Elephant Herd to be Rewilded in Kenya
The 13 elephants will be flown from a British zoo to Kenya where they will be reintroduced to the wild in a first-of-its-kind operation.
Photo: Aspinall Foundation
A herd of elephants from a British zoo will soon be flown more than 7,000 kilometres to Kenya, and reintroduced to the wild in what conservationists are calling ‘a world’s first’.
The 13 elephants, including three calves, currently live in a 8-acre enclosure at the Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, England, and were born and bred in captivity. The park is run by animal conservation group The Aspinall Foundation, who are carrying out the ambitious rewilding project alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
"This is an incredibly exciting project and a genuine world-first," said Damian Aspinall, chairman of the Aspinall Foundation. “As with any conservation project of this magnitude, there are obviously big risks, but we consider them well worth it to get these magnificent elephants back into the wild where they belong.”
The herd, which weighs 25 tonnes, will travel by air in bespoke crates with continuous veterinary support. Once in Kenya, the elephants will be housed in an enclosure for six months and closely monitored before being reintroduced to the wild. The Aspinall Foundation will also work alongside anti-poaching teams to ensure the elephants are protected throughout their lives.
"Once they get out there, they are going to be so happy, wandering about, meeting other wild elephants, breeding, '' Mr Aspinall added. "I think we would have done something good in the world if we can achieve this."
Although this will be the first time rewilding elephants, the Aspinall Foundation has previously released gorillas, cheetahs, and other species from captivity "very successfully," according to the foundation’s website.
"Rewilding captive elephants in this way will demonstrate what can be done to ensure elephants really thrive," the foundation said. "This will be the first time ever that a herd of elephants have been returned to Africa from Europe. We hope the spin-off effect will be that zoos no longer breed or trade in elephants globally."
“Wild and free as nature intended”
“Since the 1970s, we have been helping elephants, providing a wild future to more than 260 rescued orphans and operating extensive protection projects to ensure they, their wildborn babies and their wild kin are best protected throughout their lives,” said Angela Sheldrick, chief executive of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. “We look forward to offering that same opportunity to these 13 elephants when they set foot on African soil - home, where they belong, and able to live wild and free as nature intended.”
The news of the rewilding mission comes just week’s after the UK announced an end to keeping elephants in zoos or safari parks, throwing the ethics of confining animals in captivity into the spotlight once again.
"Elephants don't do well in captivity. Hardly any are born. Females live to about half their natural life,” noted Mr Aspinall. “Over half the elephants in captivity are obese. They suffer foot problems, skin problems, mental distress."
“If this is successful, I would love to see elephants held in captivity all over the world be rewilded too.”
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