In the picturesque Amboseli National Park, nestled beneath the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, a “baby boom” has brought joy to the resident elephants. Cynthia Moss, the park’s founder, couldn’t be happier about the remarkable increase in elephant calf births.
Despite the turmoil of the world, the park remains a tranquil sanctuary where animals roam freely, seemingly untouched by external events. The recent rains have blessed the elephant calves, ensuring abundant grass sustains them when resources are typically scarce.
One can witness the breathtaking sight of a majestic elephant contentedly grazing on the lush grass, while white birds perch serenely nearby. With the park’s improved conditions, numerous female elephants have migrated here, mated, and become pregnant.
Currently, the park boasts a remarkable count of 205 baby elephants, with more expected to arrive soon.
Patrick Omondi, the Director of Biodiversity, Research & Planning at the Kenya Wildlife Service, is thrilled by the progress. Kenya’s elephant population had plummeted from 167,000 in 1973 to a mere 16,000 by 1989.
However, recent efforts have resulted in a nearly doubled population of 35,000. Omondi takes pride in that the demand for ivory has significantly declined, leaving poachers struggling to sell their stockpiles.
Both Moss and Omondi attribute the elephants’ successful reproduction to favorable weather conditions. Rain is a crucial factor that boosts elephant fertility.
With a gestation period of approximately 22 months and slow fetal development due to the significant size of elephant babies, the conservation measures put in place have played a vital role in the astounding 100% growth of the elephant population.
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