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Photos of dead giraffes highlight climate crisis in Kenya

Six giraffes lie dead in a circle; their ragged bodies could be seen near the location where drought claimed their lives.

Wednesday, 15th December 2021

Dead giraffes in Kenya
Six giraffes lie dead in a circle; their ragged bodies could be seen near the location where drought claimed their lives in Kenya.

The majestic creatures had gathered near a lake to drink in the Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy in Wajir, Kenya. However, due to the low water levels, the giraffes became stuck in the mud and died of thirst.

According to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, average rainfall in recent years has been half that of pre-drought levels, shocking the globe and drawing attention to Kenya's climate disaster.

"Many open water sources, including rivers, water pans, and dams, have dried up across pastoral and marginal agricultural livelihood zones, with other open water sources at 20 [percent] to 40 [percent] of capacity," the report said, warning that the country's hunger rate could reach 2.4 million this year.

Herders in Kenya's drought-stricken counties have reported 70 percent herd losses, and the government has declared a national disaster in ten of the country's 47 counties.

Last month, Mohamed Sharmarke, the chair of the Subuli Wildlife Conservancy, told the Associated Press that wildlife has begun to die as well.

"The heat on the ground is a symptom of impending starvation," he explained.

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