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By Evans Sitati, Daisy Kemboi and Chris Kirimi
Maasai Mara, Kenya: Meet Kiambi, the senior bachelor and one of the GPS-collared elephants in the Greater Maasai Mara. monitored by WWF-Kenya in partnership with the Wildlife Research Training Institute (WRTI) and the Mara Elephant Project.
Kiambi, an elephant now in his early 50s, is entering the twilight of his life. His movements, along with those of other majestic Kenyan elephants, are meticulously monitored by WWF-Kenya. This crucial conservation effort is a collaborative initiative undertaken in close partnership with the Wildlife Research Training Institute (WRTI) and the dedicated team at the Mara Elephant Project.
Through advanced tracking technologies and on-the-ground observation, these organizations work tirelessly to understand elephant behavior, identify potential threats, and inform conservation strategies. This stage of Kiambi’s life is often characterized by a slower pace and increased vulnerability.
Signs of ageing
Kiambi was last spotted in the community land adjacent to Olkinyei Conservancy. His GPS collar shows shorter and slower movements, often gravitating toward human-settled areas during the day for safety, and retreating to wetlands by evening. Elephants go through six sets of molars in their lifetime, a process called polyphyodonty.
Once the final set wears out, they can no longer chew effectively, often leading to death. Kiambi’s preference for soft, fresh forage in wetland areas suggests he may be losing his last set of teeth. While his tusks continue to grow, his molars are now irreplaceable.
Wounds and conflict
During our August 2025 monitoring, Kiambi appeared to be healing from a spear wound near his right front leg. The injury was small, with white pus but no swelling, indicating natural healing. Unfortunately, human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise in the Mara. Kenya Wildlife Service teams in the Mara have reported increased elephant spearing, especially in Transmara.
This spike coincides with the great wildebeest migration and expanding crop farming near wildlife corridors. A tragic incident in Mara East, where a child was trampled, led to elephants being pushed toward Mosiro in Kajiado County.
This sparsely populated area, stretching to the Nguruman Escarpment, is a dispersal area and fallback habitat. The Ewaso Nyiro River and riparian vegetation could provide vital forage during dry spells.
Kiambi’s companions
Kiambi is a lone ranger who is always confident, friendly and calm when approached on foot or by vehicle. During monitoring, we found Polaris, our largest collared tusker, just 6km away. Energetic and adventurous, Polaris is often spotted in the company of Kiambi and occasionally stays with him.
Unlike Polaris, Kiambi appeared emaciated, his habitat increasingly squeezed by electric fences. Both bulls were alone. However, the previous quarter, Kiambi was seen in a herd of 13 elephants, including juveniles and sub-adults. While tracking Polaris, we also encountered a lion spoor near manyattas, suggesting possible attempt to livestock predation.
Protecting people and elephants
The data gathered from his movements, along with those of countless other elephants, provides invaluable insights into the challenges faced by these iconic creatures, from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict to poaching. The ongoing monitoring efforts are vital not only for individual elephants like Kiambi but for the long-term survival of the entire species within Kenya’s diverse ecosystems.
Over 60% of Kenya’s wildlife lives on community and privately-owned lands. WWF-Kenya and partners work to reduce human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence by supporting communities that share their land with wildlife.
These lands form vital dispersal areas and wildlife corridors connecting protected areas like the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo. There is a need to ensure continuous protection and securing of wildlife corridors for these flagship species.
This story is republished from Joel Muinde and additional editing by Winnie Kamau
