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Photos: Kenya’s wildebeest migration begins amid COVID-19
Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, a modest number of wildlife enthusiasts gathered in Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve to witness the wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus) migrate to greener pastures, between the Maasai Mara game reserve and the open plains of the Serengeti. Foreign visitors were considerably low this year as Kenya had shut down international flights in March and only resumed them on August 1. Kenya’s current coronavirus tally stands at 26,436 cases and 420 deaths. The government is currently working on strategies to revive the tourism sector amid the coronavirus crisis.
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Updated on Aug 11, 2020 06:27 pm IST
Wildebeests prepare to cross the Mara river during their migration to greener pastures, between the Maasai Mara game reserve and the open plains of the Serengeti, in the Maasai Mara game reserve on August 9. Normally, Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve is crowded with international tourists during the annual wildebeest migration. But this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyans had it all to themselves. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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Wildebeests gather ahead of crossing the Mara river during their migration to greener pastures, in the Maasai Mara game reserve on August 9. By June, Kenya had already lost 80 billion Kenyan shillings ($740 million) in tourism revenue, about half of last year’s total, due to the coronavirus crisis, reported Reuters. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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Visitors gather in Maasai Mara game reserve on August 9. This weekend, thousands of mostly Kenyan visitors travelled to the park to witness the migration. There were just few foreigners as Kenya had shut down international flights in March and only resumed them on August 1 due t the COVID-19 pandemic. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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A wildebeest is pictured during their migration in the Maasai Mara game reserve on August 8. “Once I came here, my thought and my view about everything has changed. I am actually embarrassed that I have not come here the 29 years I have been alive,” tourist Patience Mumo told Reuters. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala uses his laptop as he witnesses wildebeests migrating to the open plains of the Serengeti, in Maasai Mara game reserve on August 8. “We are trying to revive the sector through the domestic tourism strategy. And that is why we ask Kenyans ... to support tourism,” Balala told Reuters. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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Wildebeests prepare to cross the Mara river during their migration, in Maasai Mara game reserve on August 8. According to coronavirus tracking website Worldometers, Kenya has just over 26,436 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease and 420 deaths. Tourist resorts are required to observe strict social distancing and hygiene measures but have been allowed to reopen. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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A vulture feeds on the carcass of wildebeests that died in a stampede as they attempted to cross the Mara river during their migration, in Maasai Mara game reserve on August 8. As part of that push to revive Kenya’s tourism sector, the government are using celebrities like Eliud Kipchoge, world marathon record holder, to showcase local attractions like the Mara. (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)
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