Avocados threaten Kenyan elephants - 9th April 2021

African elephant Tolstoy meanders the southern Kenyan wilderness that has been his home for over four decades in the shadow of the continent's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Having seen off ivory poachers and natural disasters, the majestic giant has now encountered his most dangerous adversary yet: the avocado.

With wealthy countries' appetite for the dark green fruit almost insatiable, a turf war for agricultural land has erupted in Tolstoy's stomping grounds.

Granted authorisation to cultivate avocados on formerly Maasai owned land last year, agribusiness KiliAvo Fresh has plans for a 180 acre avocado farm close to Amboseli National Park.

Environmentalists such as Daniel Ole Sambu from the Big Life Foundation have raised concerns over the farm obstructing the migration routes of over 2,000 elephants.

Daniel: “There are two farms there, and both of them are exactly in the middle of a wildlife dispersal area. Some of this, we have recorded some of this area has been used by elephant as maternity. You know, they come out of the park, outside the park, give birth there, and then they go back when they, they the calf, calf are good, enough to walk. So when we, we do a large farm there, then it means we are going to lose that space. The elephant has to find another space.”

With global demand for avocados boosting exports from Kenya, profits have risen by a third to $17 million, reinforcing the argument for further expansion.

However, conservationists and landowners like Samuel Kaanki have reacted to KiliAvo's proposals with horror.

Samuel: “If we lose this land, if, if KiliAvo will be allowed to continue, we will lose others. We have so many others people who are waiting. So it is dangerous. If we lose this, we will lose so many.”

Pressure from Kenya's environmental agency saw authorities call for a suspension to agricultural work on the farm while a review of the operation was conducted, a move challenged by KiliAvo in the environmental tribunal. Meanwhile, the restrictions have not discouraged the company from planting.