An unusual case of a stray zebra rescue took place after the animal sought refuge in a classroom at Miumbuni AIC Secondary School narrowly escaping the clutches of human beings in an adverse occurrence of human-wildlife conflict in Machakos County on a November evening.

In a joint statement, ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) Humanitarian Network announced that Kenya had been experiencing the most severe and longest drought (2020 to 2022) of three severe drought period in the last decade (2010-2011, 2016-2017 and 2020-2022) in October 2022. The drought in Kenya had driven hundreds of wildlife to seek reprieve from the ravages of the impact of climate change in the region by seeking for water and food in community areas.

In the area, a lot of animals had been straying out of ranches to community farms in search of pasture. The zebra had lost its way not aware that it risked becoming food itself as had other victims. It is believed that the zebra had left Manzoni Ranch and found its way out approximately 10 kilometers away from the ranch to community farms in an area called Komarock. The zebra luckily escaped villagers’ pursuit and found haven in a school where it went to hide in a classroom.

In an exemplary act of strong leadership, the school principal went against the norm of the community and strove to protect the zebra. He locked the classroom door and called the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). ANAW in partnership with KWS veterinary unit from Nairobi headquarters and the Machakos KWS station helped to rescue the male zebra preventing it from being butchered by community members. When the rescue team arrived in the area, the animal was still inside the classroom. The veterinarian darted the animal and let it out of the classroom. It was loaded in ANAW’s vehicle and translocated to the game ranch sanctuary which was approximately 50 kms away.

Many other animals had not been so lucky. In the last few months, over ten (10) animals among them six (6) giraffes and five (5) wildebeests had been butchered and eaten by villagers in this area after straying in their farms.