Kenya Conducts National Wildlife Census – 11/07/2024

The government has started a wildlife census in national parks and reserves across the country that will enable it obtain data to guide in wildlife policy development, management and conservation of wildlife resources.

The conservation Secretary in the State department for Wildlife, Dr John Chumo, while on a visit to the Amboseli-Magadi ecosystem to monitor the progress of the second phase of wildlife census said, the exercise was significant to the government to allow it determine wildlife population, map out their distribution and location of different species and their migratory corridors.

Dr Chumo added that the census is being conducted to meet the requirements of the  law that demands that the government conducts wildlife census every three years to establish the wildlife population as an important resource that contributes to national development.

The Conservation secretary appreciated the join efforts by WRTI, KWS and conservation partners during the census exercise  and pledged government support for the success.

The national exercise, to run for twelve months has already been conducted in the Maasai Mara ecosystem. The second phase covering the Amboseli National Park and the adjacent wildlife dispersal areas, and Lake Magadi conservation areas is being conducted by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), the Kenya wildlife service (KWS) and conservation stakeholders will run for five days.

Dr Chumo said, the census involves wildlife scientists, ecologists, pilots, data specialists among other skilled personnel. He said the census will also capture human settlement, agriculture, fencing and infrastructure development such as road network. The data on the land use is important because human activities and climate change impacts on the distribution of wildlife.

During the exercise, the wildlife enumerators employ the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), modern surveillance cameras and audio recorders to ensure accuracy of the data collected.

The Amboseli-Magadi ecosystem, is one of the most studied wildlife conservation areas where human co-exist with wildlife.

The on-going census is the second after the first one conducted in 2021. In the 2021 National Wildlife Census Report, published by the Ministry of Tourism and wildlife, over 30, 000 species mammals, birds and marine species were counted in various ecosystems covering an area of over 343, 000 km square.

By Cheruiyot Korir