GENTLE GIANTS This photo taken with a mobile phone shows elephants in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, Oct. 28, 2023. Xinhua
NAIROBI – A rabble of butterflies hop from one plant to another, seemingly spoiled for choice as they enjoy themselves in Torosei, a vast arid area in Kajiado County, south of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
Months ago, they were nowhere to be found in the area, as it was scorched dry and most of the plants and trees withered due to a prolonged drought.
The recent two seasons of heavy rains in Kenya, linked to the El Nino phenomenon, however, have brought life to Torosei, with insects such as butterflies and bees making a return as various plants thrive.
This is one of the surprises of the effects of climate change, which is seeing Kenya's arid areas have their vegetation regenerated to attract various wildlife following heavy rains.
The change of fortunes in Torosei mirrors what is happening in the other parts of the East African country's drylands. Kenya's arid regions have received heavy rains in the last two seasons (October to December 2023 and March to May 2024), which followed the worst drought in 40 years.
Kenya has 23 arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) spread across the country, including Kajiado. The rains were heavier than in other parts of the country, with residents in the arid areas suffering severe flooding.
"Enhanced rainfall received in April led to extreme weather events in most ASAL counties. The rains were characterized by extreme wet conditions and floods in low-lying zones in counties like Garissa, Tana River, Kitui, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Makueni, and Kajiado," the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) noted in its April report. Xinhua
Comments