Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Elephant conservation or development in Kenya ?

Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Elephant conservation or development in Kenya ?: Couple or fundamental reasons trigger elephant movement, Kenyan elephant range was spread over 70% 50 years ago. The increase in human popu...

Elephant conservation or development in Kenya ?

Couple or fundamental reasons trigger elephant movement, Kenyan elephant range was spread over 70% 50 years ago. The increase in human population demanded development expanding into former elephant range causing the elephant to be killed for it tusks and this has increased conflict, the elephant population dropped from the high of 167,000 in the 70’s to about 16,000 in late 80’s.   There have been great investments and efforts that enabled the elephant population to increase to what was estimated at 35,000 in 2010 and currently according to African elephant database 2013 status report indicates 26,400 a significant drop.  Despite of efforts; some elephant range remains comparatively clear of human settlement and active activities where elephants will always avoid.

Various elephant surveys have disclosed that most of elephant habitats in Kenya are currently under conservation and human threats, these habitats includes forest and savannah elephant range zones. For the last 15 years we have seen a lot of development in Kenya that includes road expansions, cities and railway line developed and about 80% of them have taken out part of Kenyans National Park, wildlife corridors or dispersal areas. New farms have continued immerging in areas adjacent to the Parks, Reserves and in dispersal areas since most of migratory corridors have been blocked by development.  Conservation will always suffer and the outcry will always be seen when human-wildlife conflict increase and every one is up complaining Kenya Wildlife Service have failed and they should come and take away their animals. 

Human-wildlife conflict to me is a perception and a man made created problem; there has been various policies, development plans, strategic plans on how to reduce human-wildlife conflict in this country and none of them address the development as a source of the problem. We need the development, roads, etc. but not at the expense of our wildlife habitats that play a significant ecological role among other benefits.  Elephant memory is triggered between the month of June-September every year; these are the months that conflict is very high in the country; during this month elephants move from one place to another place on what is called “ habitual movement” unfortunately they find some of the areas they use to forage have been developed. For instance I have observed elephants coming to Ngong area from Maasai Mara through Loita, Mosiro at times to Kibiko with intention of crossing to Amboseli National Park through Nairobi- Kitengela areas sicne 2004 to date, we are acrually waiting for some elephants in Ngong and Kiserian any time. In July 2011 /12 KWS captured some elephants in Kitengela and released them in Amboseli Park, this had followed another two elephants again captured in Kitengela in 2007 and released in Amboseli and one elephant walked back using Namanga-Meshenani and died before reaching Namanga due to stress. I followed this particular elephant and he was so stressed to a point of not eating or drinking water.  Elephants like human being get stressed and annoyed; we have seen elephants in Machakos town from Amboseli Park attempting to cross to Kora National Park through Kitui areas, which are not possible because of development. Last year about 5 elephants were spotted in Salama from Amboseli and local communities who have never seen elephants surrounded elephants with dogs and this provoked elephants due to continued backing from dogs that left several people injured by elephants.  Three weeks ago a group of elephants were spotted in Chaka near Naromoru crossing Thego forest of Mt Kenya to Sangare ranch in an attempt to cross to Kabiruini forest of Nyeri before entering Aberdares forest.  This has not left the cross-border elephant out, about 100 elephants have now entered Tsavo West from Tanzania through Mahadakini-Bosinia Gicheha farms areas, according to a reliable sources this elephants must have crossed the border before the electric fence now in Kendong and Timbira areas covering Tsavo West National Park was elected .  KWS are forced to open the fence once any elephant reported in such areas. “My walk in the area where community would tell me that when our elephant pass through Bosia area which is now some building are coming up can confirm this”.  

It is so worrying because agriculture is given high priority than wildlife conservation in this country. Most of all these barriers have been dominated by communities who are practicing agriculture by opening areas that have never been. Amboseli and Maasai Mara were the first areas to be issued with 1 yearlong moratorium on any further development, pending the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) * The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has with effect from 28th February 2013 declared a moratorium on the Amboseli ecosystem. The implication of the moratorium is that NEMA and relevant lead agencies shall NOT issue requisite licenses for ANY NEW/PROPOSED developments or projects as listed in the second schedule of the Environment Management and Coordination Act, 1999.The moratorium will be in place for a period of one (1) year or until the Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan that has been developed in consultation with stakeholders is gazetted* .  Now this period lapsed this year and what has happened is new development than even before the moratorium, this is the BIG QUESTION? What do we want with our wildlife?  This is now Nairobi Park leave alone Tsavo conservation area under the myriad of conservation challenges; who is listening and who do we expect to act

Jim Justus Nyamu is the Director of Elephant Neighbors Center and currently raising awareness on the plight of African elephant through walking and talking ,  he has now covered 5001km walk both in Kenya and in the USA. 

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For the upcoming walks.