TAITA TAVETA, Kenya – There’s no doubt that wherever people live close to wild animals, conflicts will inevitably occur.
And whenever environmental conditions change, populations expand, or resources become restricted, a natural balance that evolved over millennia may be disturbed, and conflicts will often escalate.
This happens as humans encroach on animal habitat, where wildlife populations recover from past declines, or increasingly, where the impact of a changing climate escalates the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme weather events.
So, it is against this background that a new report released this week has revealed a shocking development regarding human-wildlife conflicts in the Tsavo landscape.
According to the 2024 Biodiversity Monitoring Report, the conflicts mostly involve livestock predation and bushmeat poaching, which rose in 2024.
Additionally, the report shows that because of the prevalence of illicit logging, charcoal burning, and unpermitted grazing, habitat degradation persisted.
A total of 104 instances were reported, including 39 involving the burning of charcoal, 12 involving authorised grazing, and 53 involving illegal logging.
Which conservancies in the Tsavo landscape were targeted
This thorough data collection and analysis of wildlife monitoring and conservation initiatives was conducted across several conservancies and ranches in the Tsavo Landscape.
They include Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy, Maungu Wildlife Conservancy, Taita Wildlife Conservancy, Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy, Dawida Ranch, Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Kasigau Wildlife Conservancy, and Mbale Ranch.
These conservancies provided data for the systematic collection using the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). In contrast, Choke Wildlife Conservancy started using Earth Rangers as a data collection tool in May 2024.
Informed decision-making is made possible by these technologies, which aid in evaluating animal observations and analysing major conservation concerns such as poaching, snaring, human-wildlife conflict (HWC), and wildlife mortality within ranches and conservancies.
“Additionally, there was a discernible rise in fire events, particularly in Q3, when six outbreaks in the Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy damaged almost 20 acres of land. Notably, in Q4, a fire broke out in the Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy, destroying more than 30 acres of property,” the report reads in part.
The report seen by Y News also shows that fire events were reported in the conservancies of Kasigau, Taita, and Choke.
“In response, rangers worked together with nearby conservancy rangers and members of the community to put out the fires, highlighting the value of teamwork and cooperation in conservation,” the report further reads.
How a protracted drought affected livelihoods in the Tsavo
Since the majority of these incidents have been linked to human activity, the report recommends that conservancies implement efficient controls to prevent similar occurrences.
“A protracted drought that had a substantial impact on agricultural production corresponded with the spike in bushmeat poaching that was noted throughout the reporting period,” the report shows.
Some people turned to bushmeat as a substitute source of income and sustenance as a result of the increased food insecurity and economic hardship that affected communities that rely significantly on subsistence farming.
The report also shows that ranger patrol efforts throughout the conservancies were significantly impacted by the Kasigau REDD+ project’s halt.
“The suspension had a significant impact, even if it was eventually removed. Rangers were either let go or put on shorter duty cycles, such as 15-day rotations, at several conservancies. In other instances, rangers were transferred to different positions, such as managing cattle, which led to a significant drop in the number and efficiency of wildlife patrols,” the report reads.
As a result of this interruption, the report highlights that ranger morale was severely affected, which also reduced the operational capability of conservation operations.
“A major danger to wildlife populations and environmental integrity across impacted conservancies and ranches, the decreased presence of patrol teams led to an increase in criminal activities that went unnoticed,” the report reads.
Why WWF-Kenya trained conservancy rangers in the Tsavo
Y News understands that to increase capacity across 12 ranches and conservancies, WWF-Kenya led a SMART data collection course in Maanzoni, Machakos County, in December 2024.
New Kasigau Security Hub team members, Marungu Hills, and Kambanga Wildlife Conservancy attended the training.
The report shows that the participants received training in data collection methods, query execution, data model configuration, SMART reporting, and data verification.
Among the participants, the report shows that the project greatly improved ecological monitoring and data management.
And now, the successful implementation of SMART has revolutionised data-driven conservation management. SMART is directly enhancing the preservation of important wildlife regions and species by giving conservancy managers the ability to pinpoint poaching hotspots, prioritise patrols, and put targeted tactics into action.
“Additionally, the incorporation of year-round data into a centralised database is improving reporting capabilities, fortifying monitoring systems, and guiding adaptive management. To scale impact and produce quantifiable conservation results, ongoing investment in such technology-driven strategies is essential, the report further shows.
Y News established that the report is divided into an executive summary, wildlife sightings, wildlife mortality, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, de-snaring, key achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
How the 2024 Biodiversity Monitoring Report came to be
It was made possible courtesy of the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancy Association (TTWCA), among other stakeholders.
- Through collaboration with local ranches, government agencies, and conservation partners, TTWCA has:
- Protected endangered species and critical ecosystems
- Promoted eco-tourism and sustainable land use
- Created jobs and educational opportunities for the local people
- Proven that conservation and community development can go hand in hand
