Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) has raised alarm over the high increase of human -wildlife conflict during this year’s world elephant day celebrations that was held at Meru National National Park.
The celebrations was marked by a eight- kilometre walk, by the kws officers and the residents living around the park from Murera gate to Kiutine in Igembe North, to create awareness on peaceful coexistence between the wildlife.and human beings.
World Elephant Day was co-founded on August 12th, 2012 by Canadian Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants to help conserve and protect jumbos from the numerous threats they face.
Meru National park’s Assistant Director Kitavi Kaloki. Photo. Pool
Meru National park Assistant Director Kitavi Kaloki said the conflict has increased due to high demand for food that force residents living around the Meru Conservation area, which has an estimated 4,008 square kilometers, to cultivate within the elephant migratory corridors and habitants.
“The space for elephants has shrunk within the Meru conservation area because there is a lot of intrusion by human beings who come in to grow crops and graze their livestock,” said Kaloki.
He noted that Ngaya forest and the northern grazing corridor which is the main habitat and the migratory corridor for the animals has been greatly invaded, leading to human-wildlife conflicts.
Kaloki further said they have kicked on a campaign to create awareness and educate the members of the public on the importance of conserving the elephants and other wildlife animals especially the Big Five which are a great source of income to the country .
“Meru National conservation is a ‘small Mara’. It has more than 986 adult elephants, and about 74 adult lions. It is estimated that there are less than 30,000 lions globally making it an endangered species. This is why we are creating this awareness to save our ‘wonder’ and continue attracting more tourist to the park,” said Kaloki.
“We are urging members of the community to restrain themselves to the areas that they live in and, on our side, we will ensure that the animals are confined within the park,” added Mr Kaloki.
According to reports, demand for ivory in Asia and Africa markets has continued to fuel poaching threats, something that should be reversed with an immediate effect.
“Despite the demand for ivory, poaching for jumbos has gone down especially at Meru conservancy because the government has taken the matter with a lot of seriousness and stiff measures taken to mitigate the menace, “he added.
Meru national park is home to the iconic Elsa the lioness which was raised by George and Joy Adamson and has since been the most prolific pride of the park.
It was made famous in the 1960s during the shooting of blockbuster movie ‘Born Free ‘which was aired in 1966 which featured couple George and Joy Adamson.
Kaloki said lions were the most important in the ecosystem for being a member of the big five and an apex predator which controls prey numbers bringing balance into the ecosystem.
“We are here to create awareness, promote protection of the remaining species from numerous threats including habitat fragmentation and loss through encroachment and demand for ivory, conflict, climate change and mistreatment. He noted.
The KWS officer at the same called on locals to consider touring the park to promote domestic tourism saying the park is unique with all different types of animals.
