The performance of electric fences as elephant barriers in Amboseli, Kenya

A Field Study in the Status and Threats of Cultivation in Kimana and Ilchalai Swamps in Amboseli Dispersal Area, Kenya

“…Human encroachment on wildlife dispersal areas is prominent in 70% of protected areas in Kenya [10]. The increase in agriculture has led to severe fragmentation of wildlife dispersal areas and intense humanwildlife conflicts [7,10] and may also be a cause of depressed livelihoods among the Maasai [11]. This threat has become particularly evident in semi-arid areas, which are central to wildlife conservation in Kenya.…”

“…As Maasai lands get increasingly subdivided, most of the wetlands (swamps) on community land are used by owners who either cultivate or leased the land for cultivation [7]. The landscape is now dotted with pockets of agriculture concentrated mainly within the limited wetlands and on slopes of Mt.…”

“…Of the swamps left outside of Amboseli, one of them, Namelok, has since been fenced in and is unavailable to wildlife [7]. Increased irrigation upstream and re-directing of water into the Nairobi Pipeline from Nolturesh River has reduced Osoit Pus Swamp to a seasonal swamp.…”

“…The landscape is now dotted with pockets of agriculture concentrated mainly within the limited wetlands and on slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro [6,7]. Conversion of wetlands into agriculture has diverse consequences.…”

“…African elephants (Loxodonta Africana, Blumenbanch), Plains Zebras (Equus burchelli, Gray), African Buffalos (Syncerus caffer, Fisher), Common Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibious, Le Conte), Grants Gazelle (Gazella granti, Nanger), Common waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Ogibly), Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella thompsonii, Nanger) and Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis, Le Conte) are some of the major wildlife that frequently uses the swamps, especially in the dry season [7,13]. The Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary (KCWS), which is key for tourism revenue and income generation to Kimana Group Ranch members, encompasses part of the Kimana Swamp.…”