Nairobi — The Kenya Wildlife Service and hoteliers are spending millions of shillings to supply hay and cabbage to starving wild animals in Tsavo West National Park.

The hotel owners joined in the Save-the-Hippo campaign at Mzima springs, after KWS launched the feeding programme for animals at risk of starving. The intervention comes after 80 hippos died for lack of pasture at Mzima Springs and on the banks of River Tsavo, which is their main grazing area.

In the past three months, 109 elephants have also died for lack of pasture and water. Other animals cleared the available vegetation at the expense of hippos, which graze at night because their skin cannot withstand the heat during the day.

Besides the hippos, other animals under threat of the raging drought include baboons and dik diks. Serena Kilaguni Lodge Manager Felix Ogembo said his hotel had been providing the animals with cabbage after it emerged that the hippos and other grazers were at risk following the persistent drought.

He said the KWS has designated a special place where the feeds are kept for easy reach by the animals. The Tsavo West deputy park warden, Mrs Christine Boit, said the because of the drought, many animals converged at Mzima Springs, to get water.