Human wildlife conflict; Laikipia west.

‘‘Human-wildlife conflict referrers to the interaction between wild animals and people and the resultant negative impact on people or their resources, or wild animals or their habitat, it occurs when wildlife needs overlap with those of human populations, creating costs to residents and wild animals’’ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 

  Such conflicts are witnessed in human settlement bordering animal sanctuaries and conservancies. Laikipia west is dotted with forests and conservancies home to wild animals. The rise in human population calls for increased and expansion of development, the global climate changes and other human and environmental factors puts people and wildlife in greater direct competition for the ever diminishing resources.

  A mention of wildlife elicits resentment among the communities of Ngarua laikipia west. Not necessarily because they don’t attach any value to wild life, but because the conflict have continued unabated for long.

 

  Tourism is now Kenya's largest foreign exchange earning sector, followed by flowers, tea, and coffee. Wildlife conservation is key for economic development. There is need to shift emphasis from reactive mitigation of human wildlife conflict to proactive prevention strategies. Sharing of ideas, information and experiences is essential to preventing and minimizing conflict between animals and human beings. 

 To address the menace of human-wildlife conflict requires greater interaction not only among, conservation organizations and other wildlife agencies, but also with economic and social development organizations, land use planners, agribusiness, and other key decision makers. This will only be achieved by providing a forum for communities to voice their concerns to relevant authorities. Communities in Ngarua have found the Arid lands Information Network’s Maarifa (Knowledge) centre, a useful tool in voicing their concerns. 

 Partnerships, network and Support.

  Information available on the internet indicates that a workshop of conservationist took in place in 2003, in Durban, South Africa, where the needs for a partnership initiative like Human-Wildlife Conflict Collaboration (H.W.C.C) were identified. The idea evolved from discussions amongst practitioners who realized sharing information was essential to resolve human-wildlife conflicts around the world. In November 2006, more than fifty conservation professionals, representing over forty organizations, convened in Washington, D.C. to identify priorities for collaboration on human wildlife conflict and to develop a framework for pursuing those priorities. 

 The result was the launch of the HWCC with an aim of meeting the collective needs for improved information exchange; Awareness raising and communication among key sectors; capacity building and training among practitioners; improved decision making and policy development; and enhanced understanding of the human dimensions of human-wildlife conflict.

 Forms of human wild life conflict.

In laikipia west, Human-wildlife conflict occurs in various forms. Some of them are as follows;

  Crop damage. Elephants are known for the severity of damage caused in the farms, the animal is also a threat to human security. Wild pigs and porcupines destroy cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes and beans. Bird mouse commonly known as ‘‘metho’’ in kikuyu, is dreaded for savaging any green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and pawpaws. Baboons are common in areas bordering Laikipia conservancy and Lariak forests like Wangwachi and Karandi, respectively. 

 Livestock depredation. Carnivores like lion, leopards, cheerter and hyenas are known to attack livestock like cattle sheep and goats, other small animals and hawks goes for poultry. The large animals also cause human injuries and sometimes loss of life! A chilling story is being told in N’garua of a woman who was mauled completely by a lion in the recent past! 

 Damage to property. The large animals especially elephants are known to break into houses and granaries in search for grains.   

 Injuries to wildlife. In retaliation, communities may be tempted to attack and injure wild animals which are another source of conflict.

 Destruction of habitat. Destruction of wildlife’s habitat could be the cause of the conflict, wild animals become aggressive or looks for alternative coping mechanism. Wild animals can also destroy human habitats.

 Community responses.

The communities of Wangwachi and Lariak have explored on the issue and devised what is seen as the best long term solution to the problem. With support from CDTF, a 23 Km stretch of electric fence have been installed along the border of wangwachi and Laikipia conservancy to keep the large animals at bay. However the community still lament over small animals like baboons, warthogs that still invades their farms.