Wildlife census lays bare how human activity fuels conflict (Kenya)
Wildlife census lays bare how human activity fuels conflict (Kenya)
Pauline Kairu, The East African
September 8, 2021
Some good news came along with the bad at last week’s Kenya government
unveiling of results from its first ever comprehensive national wildlife
census (2021) report.
While the census recorded an increase on some of the charismatic species
such as elephants, rhinos, lions, giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and hirola, the
populations of several other species such as the roan and sable antelopes,
and mountain bongo are doing so badly that not more than 100 individuals
could be counted.
Also, generally, there were relatively lower records of the plain game
species.
The elephant, one of Kenya's iconic wildlife and a national heritage has
seen its population grow from 32,214 animals in 2014 to the current
population of 36,169 animals in 2021. This represents a 12 percent increase
in seven years or 1.75 percent annual increase over the period. This is a
sign of success of efforts put in place by the government to curb elephant
poaching.
The 2014 period marked the peak of poaching and a bleak moment in Kenya.
Elephant numbers were adversely affected, as population reduced from 35,588
in 2012 to 32,214 in 2014.
The national giraffe population also grew from about 23,000 in 2019 to
about 34,240 in 2021, a 49 percent increase in three years. However, part
of this increase is attributed to inclusion of more updated data of
reticulated giraffes in northern Kenya in 2021 as the data used in 2019 for
these counties was for 2011.
Kenya’s president while launching the report termed the inaugural
inventorying of the country’s wildlife resources a proud historic moment in
recognition of their place as a strategic national asset.
“This national effort provides the required information to guide future
conservation and management of our wildlife resources, in a manner that
minimises human-wildlife conflict and also promotes sustainable
development,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said.
“Our nation is renowned for rich biodiversity spanning air, water, and
land; natural wealth that makes us a conservation and tourism destination
second to none,” he said, adding, “As the world grapples with climate
change and human activity threatening botanical and zoological life and
their habitats, Kenya is leading the way by implementing bold and decisive
actions to conserve and promote her ecological wealth.”
Over 30 species of mammals, birds and marine species were counted in
various ecosystems by the three-month (April-July 2021) census, through
total aerial counts, sample aerial counts, ground counts, individual
identification and indirect methods such as dung counts and use of camera
traps and desktop review of previous census.
Kenya’s wildlife resource is the main tourism product and a key economic
pillar of vision 2030. It is estimated that revenue from wildlife-based
tourism accounts for about 10 percent of GDP.
However, Kenya has not been receiving optimised wildlife-based benefits due
to inadequate knowledge on the status of its wildlife resources and
comprehensive scientific data on wildlife population to inform sound policy
direction.
This census has important baseline data to inform policy to sustainably
conserve and manage wildlife resources.
Though a legal requirement to once every five years, submit to the National
Assembly a wildlife resources monitoring report, only piecemeal surveys
have been done either of single or clustered species or localities. Kenya
has never undertaken a one-off national census to establish a baseline of
its wildlife population status and distribution.
The survey identifies habitat loss, land use and land tenure systems
change, exponential human population growth, and demand for land for
settlement and infrastructure as reasons for low densities of plain game.
Anthropogenic activities such as livestock incursions, logging, charcoal
burning, settlements and fires were observed in conservation areas.
“Evidence from the census illustrates the social-economic impacts of
activities such as agriculture, human settlements and infrastructure
development on wildlife movements and loss of space for wildlife,” noted
Balala.
Rope In Communities
“This will require more attention if we are to avert the danger of
secluding wildlife in pockets of Protected Areas. Success of Kenya’s model
of free-ranging wildlife is based on allowing unhindered movement and
distribution of wildlife. It is imperative we maintain this model while
taking into account demands of a growing human population and the need for
clear benefits.”
Wildlife PS, Fred Segor, said the findings improve understanding of the
connectedness of key wildlife landscapes and wildlife distribution, to
guide appropriate management actions to ensure stable and increasing
wildlife populations.
“This report will guide efforts toward reversing declining wildlife
populations, develop strategies to grow stagnant ones and establish
economic value of wildlife capital for reflection in the national budgeting
process,” said Prof Segor.
Key wildlife landscapes in Kenya have seen challenges of land tenure,
changing land use system, increased livestock and poor husbandry practices,
reduced rainfalls and increased droughts due to by global climate change,
which could impact negatively on certain species.
Of concern are influxes of livestock into the key wildlife ecosystems in
Laikipia-Samburu-Meru-Marsabit, Tsavo, Masai Mara and Lamu-Lower Garissa.
“This scenario will possibly affect the wildlife species negatively as
their habitats become encroached and competition for resources will lead to
displacement of wildlife as they avoid competition with the livestock.
The Tourism ministry wants legislation reviewed to recognise community
conservancies as protected areas as they constitute an important wildlife
range.
In Laikipia-Samburu-Marsabit-Meru Ecosystem, elephants relocated to the
hilly areas in the ecosystem, making it difficult for the census team to
sight and count them leading to an overall recording of less population
than recorded in 2017. Such incursions also fuel poaching as most herdsmen
are armed with automatic weapons.
The findings will support the scientific basis and budgetary allocations
for programmes dedicated to recovery plans for the endangered, rare and
endemic species such the black rhino, mountain bongo, roan antelope, sable
antelope among others and their habitats including.
It will also inform special funding to establish the status of species
currently threatened by illegal trade and bush meat such as pangolins, dik
diks and gazelles and those species that were not covered during this
census such as leopard, small carnivores and primates.
As well as budgetary allocation to support development and implementation
of “Obtaining this level of information of a vital natural resource allows
for better policy, planning and assessment of areas that require focus in
our interventions to maintain or improve our national conservation efforts.
This also guides the strategic deployment of vital resources aimed at
increasing numbers where declines are evident as well as drawing attention
to areas that require mitigation measures to avert potential or real
human-wildlife conflicts and eradicating the threats posed by poaching and
illegal bushmeat trade,” said the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
and Wildlife Najib Balala.
Kenya will in consonance undertake a national classification of species
with low populations in consultation with the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Among the critically endangered species were black rhino 897, hirola 497,
roan antelope 15, sable antelope 51, and Tana River mangabey 1,650.
Among the endangered wildlife are: bongo 150, lion 2,589, elephant 36,280,
Grevy’s zebra 2,649, white rhino 842, sitatunga 473, wild dog 865, cheetahs
1,160, and Nubian giraffe 768.
Of the big five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo);
buffalo is one of the most abundant and widely distributed species in Kenya
and among the big five iconic species with 41,659 individuals counted (not
including those in forests).
Population of lions has been on a downward trajectory. Kenya is currently
implementing the 2nd edition of the National Recovery and Action Plan for
the Lion and Spotted Hyena in Kenya (2020-2030) whose vision is to sustain
viable populations of lions and spotted Hyenas in healthy ecosystems as a
world heritage valued by the people of Kenya while its goal is to restore
and maintain viable populations of lions, spotted Hyenas and their wild
prey while minimizing conflict and maximizing value to local communities.
Kenya’s elephant population is classified as the forest elephant and the
savanna elephant. The Tsavo ecosystem (estimated at 49,000 km2) accounts
for more than 37 percent of the national elephant range, followed by the
Samburu-Laikipia ecosystem with 37,937 km2. The Mara and Amboseli West
Kilimanjaro ecosystems account for 11,681km2 and 37,937 km2 respectively.
Kenya has the third largest population of rhinos in Africa after South
Africa and Namibia having a total rhino population of 1,605 (853 black
rhinos, 750 southern white rhinos and two northern white rhinos) as at the
end of 2020.
Kenya is home to the world’s third largest black rhino population after
South Africa and Namibia. It also remains the stronghold of the eastern
black rhino subspecies, conserving just over three quarters (80 percent) of
the wild population of the subspecies.
The southern white rhino population is now at 750 having undergone rapid
growth since introduction of 51 individuals from Southern Africa in the
1960s, 1970s and 1990s.
Balala urged the global community to recognise the huge financial cost and
impact on humans maintaining this successful model, and share in the
responsibility through increased investment by development partners in
biodiversity conservation and protected areas.