The purpose of this research was to study on the impacts of human wildlife conflict in the surrounding communities of Lake nakuru national park. To fulfill the intention of this research, the objectives were: to investigate the impacts of human wildlife in Lake Nakuru national park and the surrounding communities, to determine the relationship between wildlife and the surrounding communities in LNNP and the available conflict reporting procedures by KWS. Furthermore, the aim was to examine the influence between human population increase adjacent to the park and human wildlife conflict in LNNP, to establish how the current response and mitigation measures by KWS influences human wildlife conflict in LNNP, to establish how the current response and mitigation measures by KWS influences human wildlife conflict in LNNP.
To achieve the above objectives, the study adopted the empirical evidence for the analyses and presentation of data. In quantitative techniques, the analyses were supported by the use of statistical package for social science, proportions, percentages and averages to arrive at a general picture for the generation of conclusion. Qualitative data from questionnaires and active observation of some wildlife for instance baboon’s and monkey behavior, and other evidences were analyzed thematically employed into the computation of statistical tables, bar graphs as well as charts.
Human-Wildlife Conflict has become a serious problem in different parts of the world with adverse impacts on lives of the local people. This has been attributed to a number of factors including the fact that human population increases but the resources available are fixed. Close to the protected areas for instance, the problem is very serious with the local communities’ interaction with wildlife creating negative impacts to both sides. Destruction of property, transmision of diseases, deaths, attacks and injuries are some of the impacts associated with HWC in such areas. In each of these impacts, most often local communities reataliate by killing the wildlife because of the feeling that wildlife have no benefit to them but rather the root cause of their problems.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background information
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Study objectives
1.5 Research questions
1.6 Significance of the study
1.7 Limitations
1.8 Delimitation
1.9 Assumptions
2.0 Introduction
2.1 The degree of impacts by different species of wildlife
2.2 Human wildlife conflict hotspots
2.3 Degree of impacts on lives of adjacent communities
i) Loss of life
ii) Disease transmission
iii) Injuries to people and wildlife
iv) Livestock predation
2.4 Influence of population increase in human wildlife conflict
2.5 Response and mitigation measures
2.6 Conceptual Framework
2.7 Summary of Gaps from the reviewed literature
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Target population
Population Table 1
3.3 Sample size and sampling procedures
Sampling Table 2
3.4 Data collection procedures
3.5 Data collection instruments
3.6 Validity
3.7 Reliability
3.8 Data analysis
3.9 Ethical considerations
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Questionnaire return rate
Table 4.1 Response rate
4.2 Findings and Discussions
4.3 Demographics characteristics of the respondents
4.4 Gender of the respondents
Table 4.2 Gender representation
4.5 Age of the respondents
Table 4.3 Age of respondents
4.6 Occupation of respondents
Table 4.4 Occupation of respondents
4.7 Wildlife visitation to locals’ residences
Table 4.5 Wildlife visitation to locals’ residences
4.8 The most problematic wildlife that greatly contributes to Human wildlife conflict to the surrounding communities
Table 4.6 Most problematic animal and the frequency of its conflict
4.9 Human wildlife conflict hotspots around Lake Nakuru National park as a tool to reducing HWC
Table 4.7 Conflict hotspots
4.10 Reporting of wildlife conflicts by Respondents
Table 4.8 Reporting of wildlife conflicts
4.11 The extent /degree of impacts of human wildlife conflict in Lake Nakuru national park on lives of the surrounding communities
Table 4.9 Gender in Human wildlife conflict
4.12 Damages caused by wildlife
Table 4.10 Damages caused by wildlife
4.13 Influence of human population increase as a factor to human wildlife conflict in the surroundings of Lake Nakuru National park
Table 4.11 influence of human population in human wildlife conflict
4.14 Response and mitigation measures in management of human wildlife‐conflict
Table 4.12 Response and mitigation measures
5.0 Introduction
5.1 General Summary
5.2 Summary of Findings
5.3 Demographics of respondents (gender, age and occupation)
5.4 The most problematic wildlife species
5.5 Human wildlife conflict hotspots around Lake Nakuru National Park
5.6 Degree of HWC impacts on the lives of the locals surrounding LNNP
5.7 Human population increase as a factor in fueling HWC in LNNP
5.8 Current response and mitigation measures by Kenya wildlife service
5.9 Implications of the research findings
5.10 Conclusion
5.11 Recommendations
5.12 Suggested areas for further research
5.13 Appendix 1: Introduction letter to Respondents
5.14 Appendix 2: Community respondents’ questionnaire
5.16 Appendix 4: Questionnaire
Research Objectives and Key Themes
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the impacts of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) on the communities surrounding Lake Nakuru National Park. The study seeks to analyze the relationship between local communities and wildlife, determine the influence of human population growth on conflict levels, and assess the effectiveness of current mitigation and reporting measures employed by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
- Impacts of human-wildlife conflict on local livelihoods and safety
- Influence of population growth and land encroachment
- Effectiveness of conflict mitigation and reporting strategies
- Community perceptions and retaliatory actions toward wildlife
- Identification of conflict hotspots around the national park
Auszug aus dem Buch
1.0 Introduction
Conflicts between humans and wildlife have occurred since the dawn of humanity. Human–wildlife conflicts have occurred throughout man's pre-history and recorded history. Amongst the early forms of human-wildlife conflict is the predation of the ancestors of pre-historic man by a number of predators of the Miocene such as saber-toothed cats, leopards, spotted hyenas amongst others, (Wikipedia).
According to the fossil remains of early hominids, there is evidence of predation for instance, the Taung Child which is a fossilized skull of a young Australopithecus africanus, is thought to have been killed by an eagle from the distinct marks on its skull and the fossil having been found amongst egg shells and remains of small animals (Berger, 2006).
Human-wildlife conflict occur on all continents, in developed as well as developing countries, yet the problems vary according to the particular environment and people’s way of life, (FAO,2009). According to African wildlife foundation, conflicts between humans and wild animals occur when either the need or behavior of wildlife impact negatively on human livelihoods or when the humans pursue goals that impact negatively on the needs of wildlife. As human population expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. The impacts are often huge. People lose their crops, livestock, property, and sometimes their lives. The animals, many of which are already threatened or endangered, are killed in retaliation or to 'prevent' future conflicts. Human-wildlife conflict is thus one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species and causing several deaths in many parts of the world (WWF, 2003).
Summary of Chapters
1.0 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of human-wildlife conflict as a global phenomenon and defines the specific research scope, objectives, and problem statement regarding Lake Nakuru National Park.
LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter reviews existing studies on wildlife conflict, focusing on the impacts of various species, the role of human population growth, and the effectiveness of established mitigation strategies.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This section details the mixed-method research design, including the target population of 925 households and the sampling procedure used to select 270 respondents for the study.
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION: This chapter presents the empirical findings from surveys and data collected from the local communities and the Kenya Wildlife Service, utilizing SPSS and descriptive statistics.
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the study's findings, draws conclusions regarding the impact of conflicts on local communities, and proposes policy changes to improve co-existence and conflict management.
Keywords
Human-wildlife conflict, Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya Wildlife Service, wildlife conservation, population growth, livestock predation, crop damage, retaliatory killing, conflict mitigation, habitat encroachment, local community, socio-economic impacts, baboons, biodiversity, sustainable development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the impacts of human-wildlife conflict on the communities living around Lake Nakuru National Park, analyzing how this conflict affects local livelihoods, property, and safety.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the drivers of human-wildlife conflict, such as population pressure and land-use changes, the severity of impacts like crop destruction and livestock predation, and the efficacy of KWS mitigation strategies.
What is the research question addressed by this study?
The study aims to investigate how human-wildlife conflict impacts the surrounding communities, the relationship between these communities and wildlife, and how factors like human population growth and current KWS policies influence the level of conflict.
Which scientific methodology was used?
The study employed a mixed-method approach, combining descriptive and qualitative research, utilizing questionnaires, and analyzing data through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
What is covered in the main body of the research?
The main body covers the theoretical framework of global human-wildlife conflict, the specific research methodology applied in the Kenyan context, and a detailed analysis of survey results concerning conflict frequency, hotspots, and community responses.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as human-wildlife conflict, Lake Nakuru National Park, conflict mitigation, habitat encroachment, and community-based conservation.
Which wildlife species were found to be most problematic?
Based on the study's findings, baboons were identified as the most problematic species, causing frequent damage to property, crops, and inducing fear within the local communities.
How does human population increase affect the conflict in this region?
The study concludes that human population growth increases competition for land and resources, pushing farming closer to protected areas, which leads to habitat encroachment and a significant rise in conflict incidents.
- Quote paper
- Hoseah Ojwang (Author), 2018, Human-Wildlife Conflict in Lake Nakuru National Park. Impacts to the Surrounding Communities, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1041486
