Predator-Proof Bomas as a Tool in Mitigating Human-Predator Conflict in Loitokitok Sub-County Amboseli Region of Kenya

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) arises when wildlife shares the same physical space with humans. HWC, particularly livestock predation results in great negative impacts both to pastoralist and carnivores. Various approaches including compensation, livestock guarding, translocation of the problematic predator, and predator-proof bomas (PPB) have been used to mitigate such conflicts. We assessed PPB in mitigating human-predator conflict in Loitokitok sub-county by focusing on its effectiveness, most problematic predator, community's perceptions, and comparing the PPB and traditional bomas characteristics. Data were obtained from 90 homesteads in Olgulului, Mbirikani and Kimana/Tikondo group ranches. Correlation and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data. Our findings suggest that the boma sizes correlated with the total number of livestock in the boma (r = 0.386, n = 90, p = 0.000) but not the number of people. Hyena and lion accounted for the highest loss of shoats and cattle, with hyena mostly killing shoats (37%) and lions preying largely on cattle (34%). The most problematic predator was as hyena (68%). We found positive relationships between the most problematic predator and total number of livestock (r = 0.319, n = 90, p = 0.002), and boma circumference (r = 0.295, n = 90, p = 0.005). Livestock predation was high in boma during the wet seasons (April, September, October and December). The erection of PPB reduced livestock predation by 91.11% (n = 45) and time spend guarding livestock at night. We recommend a continuous maintenance of the PPB as a long term solution to livestock loss at night and a close guarding of livestock during the day by adults to reduce day time predations.

Community Perspectives on the Use of Recycled Plastic Posts in Mitigating Livestock Predation in Amboseli Ecosystem, Kenya

“…This can be attributed to the security offered to livestock at night in PPBs compared to the traditional bomas. These findings are comparable to a study by [15] in Amboseli which found a The main physical structure of the boma assessed were number of posts (both intact and damaged), indigenous tree posts used, and numbers of doors and their status ( Table 1). Generally, 52.48% of the wooden posts were defective, with only about 8.7% having been replaced with indigenous trees posts.…”

“…Generally, 52.48% of the wooden posts were defective, with only about 8.7% having been replaced with indigenous trees posts. Although the wooden post PPBs have been rated by the respondent as 86.11% effective, this is below the recent rating of PPBs by [15] at 91.11%. This explains why about 14.89% of the respondents said they had lost their shoats to hyenas.…”

“…The total average number of livestock per wooden post boma was 289, compared to 293 in recycled post bomas [15]. Although the wooden bomas are relatively smaller in size compared to recycled post bomas (237 m), the livestock numbers in both remains high.…”

Patterns of livestock depredation and cost‐effectiveness of fortified livestock enclosures in northern Tanzania

“…Thus, spotted hyenas appear to be much more capable of causing frequent depredation on livestock especially targeting goats and sheep, as recorded in previous studies in northern Tanzania (Kissui, 2008;Koziarski et al, 2016;Mkonyi et al, 2017;Mponzi, Lepczyk, & Kissui, 2014), in the Ethiopian highlands (Yirga et al, 2012), in Loitoktok, Kenya (Manoa & Mwaura, 2016) and in the Amboseli region, Kenya (Okello, Bonham, et al, 2014). Thus, spotted hyenas appear to be much more capable of causing frequent depredation on livestock especially targeting goats and sheep, as recorded in previous studies in northern Tanzania (Kissui, 2008;Koziarski et al, 2016;Mkonyi et al, 2017;Mponzi, Lepczyk, & Kissui, 2014), in the Ethiopian highlands (Yirga et al, 2012), in Loitoktok, Kenya (Manoa & Mwaura, 2016) and in the Amboseli region, Kenya (Okello, Bonham, et al, 2014).…”

Human carnivores conflict in Wamba District, Samburu County, Kenya

“…Such predator proof mobile bomas have been tried elsewhere with very encouraging results. Manoa and Mwaura (2016) have reported a 91.1% reduction in livestock predation at night as a result of using the predator proof bomas at Amboseli, Kenya.…”