http://allafrica.com/stories/201403070531.html



Kenya: Human-Wildlife Conflict Solution
BY FAITH MATETE, 7 MARCH 2014

Kisumu MCAs have recommended that policy legislations be put in place to eradicate human wildlife conflict.

They want legislation and policies of KWS to be devolved to counties to issue licenses for hunting, animals capture, trade in wildlife related goods.

A report tabled in the assembly by a joint committee of water, energy and natural resources, planning, trade, trade, heritage and cooperatives indicates the conflict has been a threat to human life, domestic animals, property and crops.

The committee chairman Charles Aguko said the most affected areas are Dunga, Nyando (Kabonyo, Ahero) and Nyakach subcounty (Lower and west Nyakach) where hippos have destroyed crops.

He said the conflict is mainly caused by loss of livestock killed by wild animals and lack of compensation for destroyed properties and crops

Nyalenda B ward representative James Were said policies should be put in place and implemented for people to be protected. Were said many people are killed around Dunga because hippos start roaming was early as 5pm.

Thank you, Kathi. I imagine many of us will be following this one closely...

Maybe enough time has elapsed since Jomo took over to reintroduce the "white man's" activity of hunting but probably not.

In any case, the problem is not the animal population it's the explosion of the human population (more than quadrupled since independence). Tribalism and self-interest lever the disaster.