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.
Follow him on
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/392490094150085/
Twitter: @NyamuJim
Instagram: justus_justus-nyamu
For the upcoming walks.
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