Spatial and Temporal Variation of Livestock Predation by Large Carnivores Around Amboseli National Park - Kenya,
Abstract
Most large mammalian carnivores are in global decline, partly due to their involvement in
livestock predation. Research that advances our understanding of predator livestock
interaction is crucial to conflict mitigation and carnivore conservation and management. The
study investigated the influence of environmental and socio-ecological factors on livestock
predation by large carnivores in pastoral villages adjacent to the Amboseli National Park in
Kenya during a 13-month period (July 2012 - July 2013). A number of factors were
identified related to temporal and spatial variation that influences livestock predation rates.
Aassessment on how environmental changes affected the distribution and dynamics of
vegetation and animal populations. The overall purpose of this study was to determine the
intensity of livestock predation by large carnivores in space and time around Amboseli
National Park. In the study we investigated livestock predation by large carnivores and
factors predisposing in Olgulului and Kimana community group ranches in the southern
Kenya during the period between July 2012 and July 2013. In addition if livestock predation
rate and intensity varied with season, boma (livestock shed) density and the carnivore species
as well. Large camivore - livestock predation incidences were mapped and a total of 26
herbivore transect counts were conducted in and outside the park during both dry and wet
season. The result revealed that there were more prey (herbivores) density inside the park
during the dry season as compared with wet season. There was negative correlation between
vegetation density, boma density and livestock predation incidences. A total of 1409
predation incidences recorded during the 13 months periods which were attributed to specific
predators. Hyenas killed more livestock followed by Jackals, Cheetah and lions respectively.
There were a positive correlation (r = 0.766, P = 0.131, n=5) indicating that some carnivores
especially hyenas preferred to keep a certain distance from human settlements. More animals
were killed while on the grazing fields and lions killed more livestock inside Borna. Conflict
was most frequent during evening, late night and mid-morning. The predations by carnivore
species were spatially clustered. This conforms to the assumption of non-homogenous
distribution of natural resources needed by tbe animals. Some environmental variables such
as human settlement and density of wild prey greatly influenced the observed pattern of
carnivore attack distribution.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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