Young Samburu elephants are the worst affected by the drought and resulting wildlife famine in northern Kenya.
East Africa’s erratic primary rainy season arrived late then ended abruptly last month, leaving both farmers and wildlife in Kenya facing an acute food shortage.
Over the past two months, more than 40 elephants have died in the country’s Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu districts.
The deaths were initially thought to have been due to an anthrax outbreak.
But the Daily Nation reports that laboratory tests at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) determined that the animals died of malnutrition.
The elephant famine appears to be affecting mainly younger elephants who are unable to keep up with their mothers while grazing and cannot reach tall trees, which are the only source of food left for them, KWS says.