| dc.description.abstract | Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) occurs when wildlife requirements encroach on those of the
human population. The conflict has been in existence for many years, both in developing and
developed countries. HWC in Africa, particularly livestock predation can results in great economic
losses to communities as well as decline in carnivore’s species. The human-carnivore conflict has
been intensified by loss of wildlife habitats, negative community attitudes, and the reduction in
wild prey base due to the rapid demographic developments. In Kenya, various strategies such as
compensation for livestock losses and injuries, guarding livestock while grazing in the field,
translocation of the problematic predator, and use of barrier such as the predator-proof bomas
(PPB) have been used to mitigate conflicts between human and carnivores.
This study examined the use of the predator-proof bomas in mitigating human-predator conflict in
the Amboseli ecosystem in Loitokitok sub-county. The researcher sought to find out the
performance of predator-proof boma, the most problematic predator, community perception on the
most problematic predator, effects of predator-proof bomas on community livelihood, and to
compare the characteristics of predator-proof bomas and traditional bomas. Forty five respondents
with predator-proof bomas from three group ranches, OGR, MGR and Kimana/Tikondo were first
selected using a multistage technique. Additional 45 traditional bomas within the range of 1
kilometre were sampled using a paired experimental design. This was done to facilitate a
comparisons of the traditional bomas and the predator-proof bomas characteristics, and the
respondent’s perceptions and attitudes. Data was analyzed using frequencies tables, percentages,
correlation and regressions.
The results revealed that majority of the respondents were 42-49 years (31.1%), an indication that
they had a relative long experiences with human-predator conflicts. On average, the bomas
consisted of 20.41±1.654 people, 242.54±25.633 livestock, 5.03±0.390 traditional huts and
2.11±0.120 livestock gates. The respondents, had more Shoats (160.8±16.355) than cattle (81.99
±11.870) and donkey (1.96±0.337). The mean circumference of the boma was 138.9±5.4681m.
The size of the boma correlated with the total number of livestock in the boma (r= 0.386, n=90,
p=0.000) but not the number of people. Livestock losses to predator were more in field than in
traditional bomas. Hyena and lion accounted for the highest loss of shoats and cattle; with hyena mostly (37%) killing shoats and lions preying largely on cattle (34%). Hyena was cited as the most
problematic predator (68%). There was a positive relationship between the most problematic
predator and total number of livestock (r = 0.319, n=90, p = 0.002), boma circumference (r = 0.295,
n=90, p = 0.005), number of traditional huts (r = 0.015, n = 90, p=0.892), numbers of gates around
the boma (r = 0.173, n =90, p=0.103); and number of people in the boma (r=0.140, n=90, p =
0.188). Livestock predation was high both in the boma and in the grazing field during the wet
seasons (April, September, October and December). This was attributed to availability of water in
the entire ecosystem that trigger both herbivore and predator to migrate from the park into group
ranches, where livestock becomes an easy prey compared to the wild herbivores. The fortification
of bomas to predator-proof status resulted in the reduction in livestock predation at night in bomas
by 91.11% (n=45). Majority of the respondents (62%, n=45) rated the performance of the predatorproof
boma as ‘Excellent”. The predator-proof bomas resulted to reduced depredation on livestock
and time spend guarding at night thereby positively enhancing the livelihood of the respondents.
However, the effectiveness of the boma is largely depend on it’s the size, livestock numbers,
number of entrances to the boma and the type of predator that challenges the boma. Majority of
the respondents were conversant of the role of predator in the ecosystem (66%) and 73% were of
the opinion that predators should be protected because they bring more benefits than harm and
indication of the community’s level of awareness.
The researcher recommends that an awareness should be carried out to encourage the community
to keep vigilance of livestock grazing in the field to avoid predation during the day. The livestock
should also be returned home early enough and counted, so that any lost livestock in the bush can
immediately be searched before dark; construction and maintenance of the predator-proof boma
should be encouraged as a long term solution to livestock loss at night and an additional research
on distribution of prey densities effects on livestock predation problem should be carried out. The
project implementing organization should focus on enhancing boma maintenance which will help
to increase community ownership of the project and deter livestock attacks in the predator-proof
bomas. | en_US |
