Wildlife rangers in Kenya have begun moving thousands of zebras and wildebeest across the country to restock areas devastated by drought.

They will be moved to Amboseli National Park, where many herbivores have died and starving lions and hyenas have begun to attack cattle.

Rangers are using helicopters to herd them into enclosures and load them on to lorries in a month-long operation.

Analysts say it is one of the largest relocations of animals ever in Africa.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Udoto said the drought was causing major problems for herders.

"Some herders lost as high as 80% of their stock due to the drought, and the few that were remaining were attacked by hyenas and lions," he told AFP news agency.

"One of the quick remedies is for KWS to restock the park. It is one way of restoring the balance between carnivores and herbivores in the park as well as reducing the lion and hyena attacks on livestock."

In August, KWS said Kenya was losing 100 lions each year as herders killed them in retaliation for attacks on their cattle, AFP reports.

The rangers hope to catch 4,000 zebras and 3,000 wildebeest by the end of the month.