Investigations launched after 5 elephants killed in fire by UK soldiers
The British High Commission in Kenya has launched an investigation after five elephants were reportedly killed in fires started by UK soldiers during exercise at the Lolldaiga military training area in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.
In a statement released yesterday, the commission said reports of the dead elephants as well as a social media post by one of the British soldiers are being looked into.
“We can confirm that there has been a fire during a UK-led exercise in Lolldaiga Conservancy and that investigations are ongoing. Our priority is to urgently assist the local community where they have been impacted,” the commission confirmed.
The commission said that they are putting all their resources into containing the fire and they working closely with the Kenyan authorities to manage the situation.
“The welfare of the local community and its wildlife is of the utmost concern to the UK. Reports of dead elephants are being looked into as a matter of urgency by the British Army, Kenyan Authorities and our Loldaiga Conservancy partners. We are extremely concerned by a social media post by a member of British Army and it is being investigated,” it added.
The message posted by the soldier on Snapchat on March 20, 2021 read: “Two months in Kenya later and we’ve only got eight days left. Been good, caused a fire, killed an elephant and feel terrible about it but hey-ho, when in Rome.”
The incident is said to have occurred on Wednesday when the British troops were reportedly cooking a meal on a camping stove and accidentally set light to dry grass, causing a fire that spread.
The commission deployed 350 troops to beat the fire and double the width of fire breaks, 3 helicopters and a crop-sprayer aircraft poured water on the fire from above and 4 water tanker trucks dumped water on the ground.
