Kenyan drought, the worst we’ve had in four decades is wreaking havoc on wildlife and in turn affecting the tourism industry. On Nov 4, the Wildlife minister presented key findings of a new report entitled the ‘Impacts of the current drought on wildlife in Kenya.
The crisis has affected nearly half of the east African nation’s 8 provinces, leaving humans and beasts very few food sources.
Speaking at a press conference, the Tourism and Wildlife minister gave details on the high mortality of wildlife.
“The drought has resulted in the deaths of the following species of wildlife: Wildebeest, we’ve lost a total of 512 animals; common zebra – we’ve lost a total of 381; our elephants, we’ve lost a total of 205”, Peninah Malonza said during a press conference.
Weather conditions affect the successful operation of any tourism businesses. Unfavorable climate and poor weather conditions act as push and pull factors for tourists to travel. climate and weather are most definitely some of the important factors taken into account by tourists when deciding on a destination. Maasai Mara is one of the largest conservation areas in Kenya and it attracts more tourists than any other park in Kenya. With the drought causing death of the wildebeests and other animals in the conservancy. This conservation creates employment in the two Mara area in which the park operates; therefore, if weather conditions are not favorable, the number of tourist arrivals may decline, which would result in unemployment and closure of tour firms due to the losses they incur, otherwise the businesses may also not smoothly as they should
The tourism sector is the leading sources of revenue in the country, wildlife being in the frontline. Tourists from all over the world visit Kenya just to see these animals we are loosing to the current drought
