African elephant migrates to Somalia

This 2013 video is about Somali silver elephant coins.

Translated from NOS TV in the Netherlands today:

An elephant has traveled hundreds of kilometers in East Africa, and for the first time in twenty years, has crossed the border with Somalia. The male, Morgan, in December, had been equipped with a GPS transmitter in the Kenyan [Tana river] delta and recalled according to experts an old migration route which had not been used for a long time.

Because of the war, no elephants have been seen in Somalia for twenty years, say biologists to the French news agency AFP. “He had a clear idea of ​​where he was going,” said Iain Douglas Hamilton of Save the Elephants. His organization has equipped hundreds of African elephants with GPS transmitters.

Morgan, who is in his thirties, began his walk at the Tana river in Kenya. Most of the distance he did at night. According to Douglas Hamilton the animal crossed an extremely dangerous area, where poachers are very active.

Last year, 20,000 elephants were slain by poachers in Africa. … Along the Kenyan coast, where Morgan began, in the early 1970’s there were still about 20,000 elephants; now at most 300. Kenya in recent years have been successful in the fight against poachers. Last year 93 elephants were killed, in 2014 that was 164.

Combating poaching seems to have worked for Morgan, who probably was looking for a female. He managed to make more than 200 kilometers. He did not stay long in Somalia. Three kilometers inland, he decided to return.

WASHINGTON admitted late on Wednesday that US special forces raided a southern Somali town on Tuesday night: here.

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