Kenya’s Wildlife Census Reveals Dramatic Shifts: Elephant Numbers Soar as Rare Antelope Nears Brink
Results from a landmark national wildlife census conducted between June 2024 and August 2025 have unveiled a stark narrative of triumph and tragedy in Kenya’s conservation efforts. While iconic species like elephants and giraffes are making a powerful comeback, several rare and endangered animals are facing a precipitous decline, highlighting urgent new challenges.
The most striking success story is the African elephant. The census reports a robust population of 41,952 elephants in the wild, a significant surge from 36,280 counted in 2021. Officials hail this jump as a direct result of intensified anti-poaching operations and enhanced habitat protection measures.
“We have seen a sharp rise in elephants,” confirmed Dr. Patrick Omondi, CEO of the Wildlife Research and Training Institute. “It signals major progress.”
The positive trend extends to other majestic species. Giraffe numbers have climbed to 43,002 from 35,355, and rhinos—including the critically endangered black rhino—show a slow but steady recovery, with the population now at 2,102, up from 1,812.
However, the report delivers sobering news for other unique species, painting a picture of a rapidly shifting ecosystem. The Grevy’s zebra, an endangered species distinct to the region, has seen its numbers fall to 2,465. More alarmingly, Africa’s rarest antelope, the hirola, has plummeted to a mere 245 individuals.
“Hirola are only found in Ijara in Wajir… they have really declined,” Dr. Omondi added, underscoring the extreme fragility of this isolated population. The sable antelope has also suffered, dropping from 51 to just 40 animals.
Confronted with these diverging fates and rising human-wildlife conflict, the census outlines critical recommendations for the future. Key among them is the creation of vital wildlife corridors to link fragmented ecosystems. The report specifically suggests connecting major parks like Tsavo and Amboseli, as well as Nairobi National Park and the Athi-Kapiti plains, to ensure the free movement of animals.
The study also calls for wildlife data to be fully integrated into national and county land-use plans. It recommends stronger coexistence mechanisms, including a proposed ban on constructing tourist hotels along critical buffalo migration routes in the Maasai Mara.
“Some animals have increased, others have reduced,” Dr. Omondi summarized, capturing the dual reality of modern conservation. The census serves as both a celebration of hard-won victories and a urgent manifesto for adaptive, swift action to protect Kenya’s irreplaceable natural heritage before time runs out for its most vulnerable inhabitants.
