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Tumaren

Ecology and Conservation Observations in Laikipia, Kenya

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Crocodile Slaughter on Ewaso Nyiro River

Category: Issues | Date: Apr 08 2009 | By: tumaren

My concerns for the crocs in the Ewaso were confirmed the other day when Kerry and I passed a camp downstream at an area called Ntodo.  We found 2 dead crocs that were hunted down while they hid pathetically in the last remaining hiding places on the river.  A local Samburu that we spoke with said that they had killed 8 in the immediate area, most of whom had hidden under the fig treen in the photograph below.  you can see in the images of the tree where they had cut the roots  to access the crocs hiding underneath. the last image in of one of the crocs dead and still in his hiding place. all very sad and we can only hope that enough small crocs survive till the river starts flowing again.  The worst part of this water disaster is that it has all been man-made. This is what happens when there is no water management, an excess of corruption and no enforcement of existing laws.

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6 Responses to “Crocodile Slaughter on Ewaso Nyiro River”

Zarek, on 08 Apr 2009

Is it irrigation upstream that’s causing the lack of water? I was in Samburu at the beginning of March, and I was blown away by the fact that there was no water.
Unfortunately, my guests had booked to stay at Serena. I was absolutely appalled to see that they were running sprinklers and fountains almost all day just to keep their grass green!!

Dana-Phoenix Arizona, on 08 Apr 2009

Sad images of the croc. I noticed the croc seemed to be minus a tail? Do the Samburu use the meat of the tail?

I pray you all get some much needed rain. Very bad that this problem is man-made!!!

sauwah, on 09 Apr 2009

why did they kill these crocs who obviously were struggling just to stay alive? did you find out why ?

tumaren, on 09 Apr 2009

Hi DAna,
I imagine the tail just fell off as it was rotting (it was very smelly). The Samburu wouldn’t do anything with the meat, skin or teeth.
cheers, James

tumaren, on 09 Apr 2009

They kill them because they eat their livestock.

sauwah, on 12 Apr 2009

i imagine the croc can only eat or attack the livestock if the livestock are wondering near or into the river, right? what about having a fence on some area of certain banks of the river for livestock to drink or cross? i assume it is easier to protect livestock from crocs than lions, leopards and hyneas.

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