Every year on June 5th, we join the global community in recognising World Environment Day—a day to reflect on our environmental impact and to celebrate the ecosystems that sustain us. First established at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, and with its first celebration in 1973 under the theme “Only One Earth,” this date has grown into the largest international platform for environmental awareness.
At Tsavo Trust, we are proud to protect and study one of the most vital ecosystems on the African continent: the Tsavo Conservation Area. This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution,” resonates deeply with us—not because Tsavo suffers heavily from plastic waste itself, but because we see the creeping threat of pollution entering the park through its waterways, and we understand how seemingly distant human actions ripple into protected landscapes like ours.
Tsavo: A Living Landscape Worth Celebrating
The Tsavo Conservation Area spans over 42,000 km², including Tsavo East and West National Parks, the Chyulu Hills, and large stretches of community land. This complex landscape is a critical biodiversity corridor and a home to tens of thousands of wild animals and over 150,000 people.
As custodians of this environment, we at Tsavo Trust witness first-hand the remarkable interactions between wildlife, climate, terrain, and community. Tsavo is also home to one of the world’s last remaining strongholds for Super Tuskers—elephants with tusks over 100 pounds. These iconic animals are more than just rare; they are keystone species whose behaviour directly supports the health of Tsavo’s broader ecosystem.
Elephants: Tsavo’s Ecosystem Engineers
At Tsavo Trust, we observe how elephants shape this landscape every single day. Through our elephant monitoring programme, we see that elephants do far more than roam—they build and sustain their environment.
Creating Waterholes
In dry seasons, elephants dig into riverbeds with their tusks and trunks to access groundwater. These elephant-made wells become essential drinking sites for zebra, antelope, and even predators like lions.
In some areas of Tsavo, we’ve also seen elephants hollow out old termite mounds while searching for minerals. Over time, rainwater collects in these excavated areas, creating new watering points that benefit multiple species long after the elephants move on.
Grassland Managers
Tsavo’s landscape oscillates between savanna and bush. Elephants help maintain this delicate balance by:
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Feeding on young acacia and Commiphora trees, preventing overgrowth
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Opening up grasslands for grazers like wildebeest and impala
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Maintaining habitat variety, which supports more species across the food chain
Adapting to Climate Change
Through their large home ranges and dietary needs, elephants help vegetation adapt to changing climates by dispersing seeds far and wide. One elephant can spread seeds over 60 km, and some trees—like Balanites wilsoniana—depend almost entirely on elephants for regeneration.
In a changing world, elephants are not just survivors—they are ecosystem enablers, making it possible for plants and animals to adapt alongside them.
Biodiversity in Dung
We regularly observe how elephant dung creates entire ecosystems:
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It acts as fertiliser for germinating seeds
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It feeds dung beetles, who in turn support bird species and enrich soil
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It distributes nutrients across wide areas, increasing plant health and resilience
Even after they’ve moved on, elephants continue supporting life from the ground up.
Plastic Pollution in Tsavo: An Emerging Threat
While plastic pollution within Tsavo is currently minimal, the threat arrives via rivers, especially the Athi River, which merges with Tsavo’s clean waters downstream.
From Mount Kilimanjaro to Nairobi to Tsavo
The Tsavo River, fed by Mzima Springs and Kilimanjaro’s clean runoff, meets the Athi River, which carries the burden of Nairobi’s industrial and domestic waste.
Toxic heavy metals such as cadmium and nickel have been detected in sediment. These can bioaccumulate in fish, impacting species like catfish—and the birds and crocodiles that feed on them.
Although formal studies are limited, our team at Tsavo Trust is increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of river pollution on Tsavo’s wildlife. This is an area that urgently needs attention.
Tsavo Trust’s Response: Water Security and Nature-Based Solutions
At Tsavo Trust, we understand the importance of clean water not just for wildlife, but for the communities that share this landscape.
Together with Kamungi Conservancy, we’ve:
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Drilled three boreholes—one in Shirango and two in Kamungi—providing clean, safe water for local people and reducing reliance on polluted rivers
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Observed a marked decrease in waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid
We’re also strong proponents of natural solutions:
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Riparian vegetation—plants growing along riverbanks—can reduce nitrogen and phosphorus levels, combat algal blooms, and provide crucial habitats for fish and bird species.
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Protecting these zones, along with installing floating gardens, could be powerful tools in our conservation toolkit.
A Day to Reflect, A Mission to Continue
World Environment Day is not just about global themes—it’s about local action, informed by experience on the ground.
At Tsavo Trust, our daily work embodies this year’s message: we protect the natural world not just for its beauty, but because it sustains everything we hold dear—from clean air and water to the survival of elephants, rhinos, and the communities living alongside them.
Whether it’s restoring degraded land, monitoring endangered wildlife, or providing water to underserved communities, we believe that coexistence and environmental stewardship are not idealistic goals—they are the only path forward.
Join Us
This World Environment Day, we invite you to reflect, learn, and act. Visit our website to:
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Learn more about our conservation work
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Share our message and become an advocate for Tsavo’s ecosystems
Together, we can ensure that Tsavo—and the planet—continues to thrive.