Browsing by Author "Wafula, Moses Muyala"

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    Spatial Distribution of Maize-Raiding by Monkeys, Damage Level and Economic Loss in Farms Bordering Saiwa Swamp, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-07) Wafula, Moses Muyala
    Maize-raiding by monkeys has often been cited as the leading source of HumanMonkey Conflict (HMC) around conservation parks. Monkey species such as Vervet and De Brazza’s are considered to be serious pests because of their adaptability, intelligence, opportunism, agility and reliance on maize crops for nutritional value. Often, their habitats border those of humans and in most cases extend their foraging ranges to cultivated farms making HMC a frequent occurrence. Communities bordering conservation parks often engage in small scale farming. Apart from the menace of maize-raiding by monkeys, the farmers also face other challenges like high cost of inputs, unpredictable weather conditions and poor market prices for their produce. Such was the situation for farmers surrounding Saiwa Swamp National Park (SSNP). This study was carried out in three areas bordering SSNP i.e. Saiwa, Sitatunga and Sinyereri. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the status of HMC in SSNP through mapping of the incidents of maize-raiding by monkeys, establishing the damage and economic levels as a result of maize-raiding by monkeys and determining the relationship between the incidents of maize- raiding by monkeys and distance from the park boundary. The Garmin GPS was used to obtain the coordinates of areas foraged by monkeys. The coordinates were downloaded into the Esri ArcGis software where spatial maps on the conflict areas, levels of maize damage and resultant economic losses, maize-raiding distances as well as the monkey species involved were generated. Chi-square goodness of fit and Chi-square for contingency tables were the main tools of statistical analysis and null hypothesis rejected at p<0.05. Linear regression was carried out and an equation generated to predict the incidents of maize damage with distances of the farm from the park boundary. The results showed that maize-raiding incidents varied by area, X 2 (2, N=24) =7, P=0.0302. The levels of maize damage also varied by area, X 2 (2, N=24) =8.533, P=0.01403. As one moved from the park boundary into the cultivated maize fields, the number of maize-raiding incidents reduced, X2 (3, N=24) =27.667, P=0.0001. A linear regression line of y=-0.01x+6.74 that predicted the incidents of maize damage(y) with the distance of the farm from the park boundary (x) was generated. The results were also significant for the monkey species raiding maize, X 2 (3, N=24) =9.75, P=0.00764 with the vervet monkey being the most problematic monkey species. Colobus monkeys were never recorded raiding maize. The results indicated that the monkeys of SSNP pose a great danger to maize farming and therefore their population ought to be managed.