Conflict between humans and elephants on private land in northern Kenya

Thouless, C. R.

doi:10.1017/s0030605300028428

Cited by 82 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…In 1982 a district-wide elephant fence was proposed, to separate elephant tolerant from elephant intolerant areas (Jenkins & Hamilton, 1982). Similar fencing solutions were proposed in 1993 (Thouless, 1993(Wafula, 1998. Private ranches in Laikipia have, where resources allow, adopted this strategy, so that today there exist a number of electrified fences separating ranches from smallholder farms.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Human-elephant conflict, in particular the problem of crop raiding, is arguably one of the defining challenges for the conservation of elephant Loxodonta africana populations in Africa (Thouless, 1994;Barnes, 1996;Hoare, 2000), with the exception of those elephant populations currently under intense hunting pressure from the ivory and bushmeat trades in Central Africa's equatorial forests (Blanc et al, 2003;Stephenson, 2004;Lee & Graham, 2006). Surprisingly, the conventional approach used to mitigate crop raiding by elephants has changed little since the colonial era: so-called problem elephants are shot and, where resources allow, barriers are constructed to separate elephants from cultivation (Hoare, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uptake and performance of farm-based measures for reducing crop raiding by elephants Loxodonta africana among smallholder farms in Laikipia District, Kenya

Graham

Ochieng

2008

ORX

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Human-elephant conflict, in particular the damage caused by elephants to smallholder crops, is a major challenge to the conservation of African elephant Loxodonta africana. Conventional tools used to address this problem are capital intensive and require high levels of expertise. In recent years simple, affordable farm-based elephant deterrents, using locally available materials, have been encouraged by a number of human-elephant conflict researchers. There are very few published studies demonstrating the performance of these deterrents, however, and little is known about levels of uptake among smallholder farmers. We trialled a number of such farm-based elephant deterrents with local farmers in three sites within Laikipia District, Kenya. Levels of crop raiding declined after the introduction of treatments but not significantly when compared with control farms. Variable levels of uptake among the participating farmers made it difficult to draw clear conclusions from the trials. However, participating farmers were positive about the deterrent effect of the tools introduced, corroborated by their willingness to make financial commitments towards sustaining future trials. Availability of household labour, local politics, and insecurity were identified as important barriers to uptake of some of the deterrents introduced. Household labour availability should be a key consideration in future endeavours to trial farm-based elephant deterrents.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uptake and performance of farm-based measures for reducing crop raiding by elephants Loxodonta africana among smallholder farms in Laikipia District, Kenya

Graham

Ochieng

2008

ORX

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“…2). Most elephant crop raiding occurs at night, apparently to avoid human interaction (17,18). Subsistence farming occurs adjacent to the Imenti Forest (19), and this region, around the time of the data collection, was one of the major crop raiding conflict zones in Kenya.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotopes in elephant hair document migration patterns and diet changes

Cerling

Wittemyer

Rasmussen

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

193

152

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We use chronologies of stable isotopes measured from elephant (Loxodonta africana) hair to determine migration patterns and seasonal diet changes in elephants in and near Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya. Stable carbon isotopes record diet changes, principally enabling differentiation between browse and tropical grasses, which use the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways, respectively; stable nitrogen isotopes record regional patterns related to aridity, offering insight into localized ranging behavior. Isotopically identified range shifts were corroborated by global positioning system radio tracking data of the studied individuals. Comparison of the stable isotope record in the hair of one migrant individual with that of a resident population shows important differences in feeding and ranging behavior over time. Our analysis indicates that differences are the result of excursions into mesic environments coupled with intermittent crop raiding by the migrant individual. Variation in diet, quantified by using stable isotopes, can offer insight into diet-related wildlife behavior.13-carbon ͉ 15-nitrogen ͉ chronology ͉ human-elephant conflict T he stable isotope ratios of 13 C͞ 12 C in hair records the diet of mammals (1-4). It is particularly useful in distinguishing diets of C 3 browse versus C 4 grass in tropical regions (5-7) because of the large difference in 13 C͞ 12 C ratios between plants using the C 3 and C 4 photosynthetic pathways, respectively. In tropical regions, the C 3 pathway is used primarily by trees and shrubs, whereas plants using the C 4 pathway are principally grasses (8,9).Hair is a particularly useful indicator of diet change (3, 4) because the isotope turnover of mammal tissues is high enough to resolve short-term diet changes. Recent advances in methodology, progressed through the study of large mammals with controlled diet changes (10, 11), allows detailed reconstruction of the diet history of individual large mammals in wild populations (12,13).In this study, we determine the growth rates and stable 13 C͞ 12 C and 15 N͞ 14 N ratios in elephant hair collected between 2001 and 2004. We focus on the behavior of a resident population of Samburu National Reserve, Northern Kenya, for the time period of 2000 to 2002. We compare stable isotope results of this resident population with a migrant elephant (B1013) that visited Samburu Reserve up to several times each year. Differences in isotope ratios between the resident individuals and the migrant indicate different behaviors, including rapid migration across long distances by the migrant individual and differences in the fraction C 4 biomass in the diet. The latter may be related to seasonal crop raiding, which can be quantified by using stable isotope ratios. Materials and MethodsGlobal Positioning System (GPS) radio collars were fitted to elephants in Samburu National Reserve, Northern Kenya, between 2001 and 2004 (14). Collars were programmed to record positions at hourly intervals, offering detailed records of movement. Tail hairs fro...

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“…During the dry seasons or when the seasonal rains fail, the Samburu people and elephants must dig wells in the sand rivers and use small dams and springs to access water. In the attempt for humans and elephants to attain water simultaneously, elephants may chase or even kill cattle (Thouless, 1994). The exact numbers of cattle killed per year are difficult to assess because local people have little incentive to report cattle deaths since they do not receive compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (Kenya Wildlife Service, 2000).…”

Section: Human-elephant Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Local Perceptions of Elephants and Conservation: Samburu Pastoralists in Northern Kenya

Kuriyan¹

2002

Society & Natural Resources

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Abstract:This paper examines the development and implementation of a grassroots elephant conservation program based upon the Samburu people's perceptions and knowledge of elephants in the areas surrounding the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in Northern Kenya. Ethnographic methods were used to understand these perceptions and demonstrated that strong customs and traditions for conserving wildlife, particularly elephants, exist among the Samburu people. It became evident that these customs are changing given various factors influencing Samburu culture and younger generations. The use of economic incentives is a widely accepted method to foster positive attitudes and behavior towards wildlife. The value of using ethnographic methods to reinforce positive indigenous knowledge about wildlife, however, is underestimated. This case study highlights the significance of using ethnographic methods in community conservation program design. The paper demonstrates that in local contexts where cultural perceptions and traditions towards elephants are largely positive, this is a viable approach for community based wildlife management that is complementary to economic incentives programs. Introduction:Community wildlife conservation programs have been based traditionally on the premise that humans and wildlife have conflicting existences and that monetary incentives can ameliorate these relations or modify behavior

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Conflict between humans and elephants on private land in northern Kenya

Cited by 82 publications

References 4 publications

Uptake and performance of farm-based measures for reducing crop raiding by elephants Loxodonta africana among smallholder farms in Laikipia District, Kenya

Uptake and performance of farm-based measures for reducing crop raiding by elephants Loxodonta africana among smallholder farms in Laikipia District, Kenya

Stable isotopes in elephant hair document migration patterns and diet changes

Linking Local Perceptions of Elephants and Conservation: Samburu Pastoralists in Northern Kenya

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