HWC is a problem throughout Africa, and over
recent years a large amount of research and studies
have
been carried out into methods that can be employed
to reduce the incidence of conflicts. A
substantial
amount of this work has been carried out in areas
with similar problems to the MMNR, the results of
which
can easily be adapted to the Mara situation. Of
particular relevance in this regard is recent research in
the
greater Mara that has shown that water points are
a conflict hotspot, with people, livestock and wildlife
frequently
being forced to use the same sources of water,
relating to the fact that the majority of
permanent
settlements are located close to permanent water
sources (75 percent are within 2km of
water)32. Other research
around the MMNR has also highlighted the
increasing problems associated with elephants, such
as
crop damage and human injury or loss of
life33 and, as discussed under the
previous action, the predation of
livestock by carnivores as well as disease
transmission between herbivores and
livestock34.
As a first step towards addressing these
conflicts, MMNR management will provide assistance to
communities
living around the MMNR to establish additional
water points in order to reduce competition for
water,
and the resulting conflict incidences at these key
points. In addition, MMNR management will also
support
the piloting of schemes designed to reduce
conflict incidences in settlements around the MMNR. This
will
include the development of “predator
proof” fences that utilise a fence made from a
combination of four tree
species, and which besides preventing entry can
also provide fuel and fodder (as has been piloted in the
Athi
River area). Other options that will be
investigated that have been piloted elsewhere in Kenya include the
use
of live fences, such as the Mauritius thorn
(Caesalpinia decapetala), which is impenetrable to most
animal species,
and the use of guard dogs to prevent attacks and
provide an early warning of potential predators.
Finally,
a “lion guardian scheme” will
also be piloted, modelled on the successful scheme that has been
operating
since 2006 in the Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem. This
scheme has played an important role in reducing
the
number of lions attacked in community areas, and
has also proved an effective method of raising
awareness
and informing communities about the important
ecological and economic role of lions and other
large
predators.
