THE ECONOMIC COST OF WILDLIFE DEPREDATION ON LIVESTOCK AROUND MELAKO WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY IN MARSABIT COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Human-carnivore conflict is a serious management issue often causing opposition towards conservation efforts. This study was conducted in Melako Conservancy in Laisamis District in Marsabit County of Kenya between October 2009 and June 2010. The study aimed at determining the economic value of livestock lost to wild carnivores. Specific objectives were to assess whether predation is a significant cause of livestock losses, evaluate the cost of livestock losses to wild carnivores, rank the predators based on their predatory damage, determine factors that influence livestock predation in the study area and assess the strategies used by the local residents in deterring/reducing depredation. A sample of 200 respondents was randomly selected from a target population of 10,297 (2626 households) people living in areas surrounding the conservancy. The locations were clustered and a sample proportional to the population in each cluster based on households selected randomly. Data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions and field observations. Direct field observation was used to determine and validate cases of predation. The marginal cost approach was used to determine the cost of livestock killed by predators, and the cost of predation ascertained by looking at the average total value of stock lost to each predator per year. The figures obtained were compared with the local area’s per capita income. Anova was used to determine the significant difference between variables while the post hoc tukey test was used to calculate the mean difference in the number of livestock killed by each predator and by mortality type per household per year. Pearson correlation was used to determine whether the number of livestock killed per attack is dependent on the herd size while the Chi- square Goodness of Fit test was used to determine whether there is a significant difference in the number of livestock killed per attack in relation to herders’ age and period of the day. The total number of livestock lost annually per household was significantly different among different causes of mortality within Melako Conservancy (F =118.7, df= 3, p˂0.001). The costs for different causes of losses to livestock in the Conservancy was also significantly different (F = 72.78, df= 3, p< 0.001). The average total value of each type of stock lost annually to predation at an exchange rate of KES 84 per dollar was KES 17,417.02 representing a loss per household of KES 47.72 per day. This when compared to the local area’s per capita income of KES 135 represents 35.3% of the per capita indicating a significant loss that depredation contributes to losses incurred by communities surrounding the Conservancy. There was also a significant difference in predation damage among different carnivores with the hyena killing most livestock (F = 69.96, df= 5, P˂0.001). The number of livestock killed was independent of time of the day (χ2 =0.25, df =1, p >0.05) and herders’ age (χ2 = 1.158, df =2, p >0.05), but insignificantly positively related to herd size (rs =0.204, df =61, p =0.109). There was no significant difference in the strategies used by the local community to deter predators (χ2 =81.6, df =4, p>0.05). Melako Conservancy has diverse carnivores that require conservation attention to enhance their survival in its ranges. However, if the constant attacks on livestock are not mitigated, their future existence might be bleak. To enable the local community tolerate wildlife and in particular carnivores due to losses resulting from their attacks, compensation is necessary.