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Community
Project |
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on
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| African
wild dogs are vulnerable to extinction because they exist at low densities,
range widely, and come increasingly into contact with people. Even wild
dogs in protected areas frequently move in adjacent areas where people
live. Grassroots conservation efforts beyond park boundaries are critical
to prevent their extinction. The African Wild Dog Conservancy has a community
conservation project in northeastern and coastal Kenya, a biodiversity
rich mosaic of protected areas and community lands under extreme threat.
Due to past civil strife, little is known about the many threatened
species there. This region is potentially a significant refuge for
wild dogs and an important corridor for the metapopulation
of the Horn of Africa, as well as for other threatened wildlife species.
Virtually nothing is known about the conservation status and ecology of
wild dogs in this region. This project has been identified as a wild dog
conservation priority by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group and the
AZA/Wild Dog Species Survival Program. |
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A
country in East Africa, Kenya
(as shown in yellow) straddles the equator and is surrounded on
nearly all sides by neighbors. Socio-economically challenged, but
rich in biodiversity, the nation is challenged with balancing the
needs of a growing population for land and resources with wildlife
conservation. |
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The
satellite image of the study area includes the Tana
River (the nearly vertical green line). The Tana is the primary
perennial water source in the region, with swamps fed by flood waters
providing additional water during the dry season. |
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pioneering project investigates the conservation status, ecology, and
effects of cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and human activities
on wild dogs in this region. A key component in sustaining wildlife and
promoting a healthy environment is to empower local communities through
hands-on training and to help community-based organizations establish
education programs.
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Project
Objectives
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- Collect and analyze
data on abundance and distribution, prey preferences with special reference
to domestic livestock
- Train local people
- Conduct trend survey
of local attitudes and concerns about wild dogs in particular, and carnivores
in general
- Identify and prioitize
threats to wild dogs
- Develop a wildlife
conservation education program
The project directly
contributes to conserving African wild dogs by providing new scientific
information on a potentially key population linking wild dogs in the
Horn of Africa. Results from the project will be used to develop
an African Wild Dog Conservation Action Plan in partnership with local,
national, and international stakeholders. Expanding habitat
connectivity and long-term monitoring are top priorities for conserving
this species. By training and working with Kenyans, innovative community-based
solutions can be fostered and implemented, and local awareness of the
importance of the environment and wildlife conservation can be raised.
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Camel
caravan |
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Bob
teaches data entry |
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| Word
about the project is spreading, and that’s something
in this remote region. Over 2,000 wild dog sightings
have been reported. The AWD Conservancy
is presenting new information on wild dogs in the
biodiversity hotspot convergence zone, which will
be used for conservation planning. This is part of
a larger continent-wide planning effort to help save
wild dogs. |
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first social survey of attitudes towards wild dogs
and other large predators was completed. Over 150
villagers were interviewed in 31 villages. Attitudes
towards wild dogs, lions, and spotted hyenas, are
largely negative because of concern for livestock
and/or personal safety. Despite this, wild dogs co-exist
with villagers with almost half of those interviewed
stating they would not kill them. Religious injunctions
and less livestock losses attributable to wild dogs
may explain tempered tolerance. |
| Paradoxically,
the majority of those interviewed did not think predators
have value, but did not want them to become extinct,
with some villagers saying they should be left alone.
Reasons given for why predators have value included
being an important part of their natural heritage,
having potential economic importance , and killing
animals for villagers, as well as consuming dead livestock.
Many villagers qualified their responses, suggesting
that predators should be placed in a sanctuary or
zoo, or only those animals that prey upon livestock
should be eliminated. |
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the role of predators in the ecosystem is not largely
understood, with over half of villagers believing
that wildlife cannot become extinct, most expressed
concern for wildlife and the environment in general.
This ambivalence highlighted the importance of working
with local people to ultimately address the question
“How can wild dogs and people co-exist for future
generations?” A preliminary attitude survey provided
essential baseline data, and helped identify and prioritize
realistic objectives for the next field season. Reports
were given to partner organizations, the district
commissioner, and project staff. Interviews are ongoing
to increase the number of villagers and area surveyed. |
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| Although
the final results are not in, so far the great news
for wild dogs is that they are not considered a
major problem in most villages when it comes to
livestock losses. Unfortunately, spotted hyenas
are considered a major problem. Surprisingly, in
some areas hyenas, caracals, and cheetahs were reported
to be taking more livestock, while losses due to
lions and leopards were generally less common. The
diversity of large predators will become increasingly
threatened as the human population grows unless
conflict and habitat fragmentation can be minimized.
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| www.awdconservancy.org |
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