Assessment of Traditional Methods Used by the Samburu Pastoral Community in Human Wildlife Conflict Management

Abstract

Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists living in rangeland areas of Kenya are often on the receiving end from consequences of wildlife interference. Populations of large mammals roam freely in These rangelands. This study was conducted to assess various approaches used by Samburu indigenous pastoral community to manage the human wildlife conflicts in Wamba Division of Samburu East District. The three conservation areas in the Division were taken to form the strata from which72 respondents were subsequently selected and interviewed. Key Informant Interviews and Focused Group Discussions were also conducted to verify information from interviews. Findings indicate that the major causes of human wildlife conflicts in the area include destruction of crops, livestock predation, competition for grazing and water, increased risk of livestock diseases and direct threats to human life. To mitigate these problems, the Samburu community has adopted: intensified human vigilance,use of guard animals, fencing , use of deterrents and hunting down the problematic wild animals