2% of the world's rarest zebras wiped out in Kenya's relentless drought

[UngulateNerd92]

A grueling two-year drought in Kenya has wiped out 2% of the world's rarest zebra species and increased elephant deaths as well, as the climate crisis takes its toll on the east African nation's wildlife.

Animal carcasses rotting on the ground -- including giraffes and livestock -- have become a common sight in northern Kenya, where unprecedented dry spells are chipping away at already depleted food and water resources.

The Grevy Zebra, the world's rarest of the zebra species, has been the worst hit species by the drought.

Kenya's drought wipes out 2% of the world's rarest zebras - CNN

 

[Pantheraman]

I follow a few Kenyan conservation NGO's on facebook. The drought has gotten so bad that conservationists have had to give the Grevy's zebras supplementary food.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

I follow a few Kenyan conservation NGO's on facebook. The drought has gotten so bad that conservationists have had to give the Grevy's zebras supplementary food.

Wow, I am sorry to hear that. I heard that the Critically Endangered Hirola/Hunter's hartebeest (Beatragus hunteri) were badly affected as well.

Also, regarding Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi), what is the likelihood of their population declining to a point where they are uplisted from Endangered to Critically Endangered? This is scary to think about...

 

[Pantheraman]

@UngulateNerd92

In the last big count, there were 3,042 Grevy's Zebras in the wild.

2% of that, if I'm doing my math correctly, is somewhere around 1,500 zebras killed due to this drought. If this is true, then if this drought continues it's not implausible they'd become critically endangered, undoing the great conservation efforts that brought their numbers up in the first place.

 

[twilighter]

@UngulateNerd92

In the last big count, there were 3,042 Grevy's Zebras in the wild.

2% of that, if I'm doing my math correctly, is somewhere around 1,500 zebras killed due to this drought. If this is true, then if this drought continues it's not implausible they'd become critically endangered, undoing the great conservation efforts that brought their numbers up in the first place.

Maybe I'm missing something, but how 2 % of 3042 makes 1500 ?

 

[Pantheraman]

Maybe I'm missing something, but how 2 % of 3042 makes 1500 ?

Gosh darn it, I did do my math wrong. I placed the numbers in the wrong spot.

I redid the math, and the more accurate number would be around 62 zebras give or take. Not as bad as the last estimate, but still not good for an endangered species.