Kenya relocates crocodiles from Lake Baringo due to rising water levels

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched an operation to relocate crocodiles from Lake Baringo after rising water levels pushed the reptiles into residential areas and schools. Satellite imagery from Copernicus and NASA indicates the lake's surface area has expanded by approximately 70 percent since 2010, reaching 234 square kilometers.

Extreme rainfall linked to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon has caused water levels in the Rift Valley to reach heights not seen in half a century, forcing tens of thousands of people to relocate. Authorities are targeting at least 30 large crocodiles, specifically those weighing over 200 kilograms, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Veterinarian Dominic Mijele described the capture process as difficult and dangerous. Rangers use tactics such as playing recordings of dog barks through loudspeakers to lure the crocodiles toward nets baited with fresh fish. While local fishermen welcome the move to protect their nets, some residents express concern that a decrease in crocodile numbers could negatively impact local tourism.