Update on Kenya

I wish I could report that Kenya was peaceful and that the political turmoil has ended, but unfortunately the situation remains very tense. There is far less rioting and protesting but the outcome of the election still remains unresolved in the minds of at least half the Kenyan population. The Chairman of the African Union and President of Ghana, John Kufour, is here trying to mediate between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga.

In the meantime, we are all safe and the elephants are still going about their lives in Amboseli with no interference. However, we are the fortunate ones. The official death toll is 486, but there are some estimates as high as 1000. At least 250,000 people have been displaced and many of them are sleeping out in the cold, huddled in stadiums, church grounds and police stations. The humanitarian crisis is acute. The Kenya Red Cross and other agencies are working around the clock. My colleagues and I have contributed clothing and foodstuffs to the relief effort. We hope there will be more aid from international bodies. It is heartbreaking to see Kenya in this state.