Predation of livestock by carnivores that
periodically disperse from the MMNR into adjacent
community
areas is one of the most frequent and severe types
of HWC. Livestock predation-related conflicts have
been
the cause of significant resentment towards the
MMNR in some communities living around the Reserve,
and
have at times led to the persecution (e.g.
poisoning or harassment) of large carnivores by community
members.
In order to address this issue, the Mara
Conservancy has been operating a “consolation
scheme” in the
areas immediately around the border of the Reserve
in Trans Mara District. This scheme has
reimbursed
community members the cost of livestock lost to
carnivores up to 7km from the MMNR boundary, and
has
had significant success in enhancing community
attitudes towards wildlife dispersing from the MMNR,
and
in improving relationships between managers and
community members. However, the scheme has so
far
only covered a small area around the MMNR in Trans
Mara District, and even this has proved difficult
to
sustain financially during times when visitation
to the MMNR is low and revenue has reduced as a
result.
Although the livestock predation consolation
scheme has proven success, its financial sustainability is
clearly
a major issue, and will be addressed as a priority
under this management programme. A number of
suggestions
have been made towards improving the financial
sustainability of the existing scheme, and ideally,
to
enable its expansion to cover the entire area
around the MMNR’s border. These suggestions include the
possibility
of retaining part of the 19 percent community
allocation of visitor entrance fees in a special
livestock
predation consolation fund, adding a small levy to
entrance or bednight fees (both inside and outside
the
MMNR) to be directed towards this fund, or
possibly encouraging tour operators based in the greater
Mara
to set up their own consolation schemes to address
issues arising in their surroundings (and thereby
reduce
the burden on MMNR management). Once appropriate
and sustainable funding has been identified,
MMNR management will take steps to extend and
enhance the consolation scheme, based on the
existing
model and protocols, to cover an appropriate area
around the border of the entire Reserve.
