EFFECT OF CATTLE BOMAS ON QUALITYAND QUANTITY OF WILDLIFE HABITAT IN LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY, KENYA

Abstract

Cattle bomas are fenced livestock enclosures meant to protect cattle at night when predators are active, and this has an effect whereby trampling of the enclosed cattle breaks down the moribund grass. This dissertation aims at assessing the effect of cattle bomas on vegetation and wildlife habitats in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya. This is done in three treatments, the boma, grazed and control areas, of both mixed and black cotton soils in both dry and wet season. Grass quantity, quality and diversity were measured by use of 1m2quadrat, by clipping and sun drying the grass and measuring biomass, analysis of nutrients and visual estimation of diversity, while wildlife use was estimated by use of scan sampling and dung count. This was done for a period of six months; dry season, September to November 2010 and wet season from late October 2011 to early January 2012. Animals observed were significantly higher in boma area than the grazed and control area, and there was a significant difference in the number of animals observed and the three treatments, (F 2,323 =8.326, p<0.0001), this was the same with dung density. Magnesium was significantly higher, (F 2, 68 =4.505, p= 0.015) in boma than in control and grazed area, while there was no significant difference among other nutrients and the grazing treatment. Grass diversity was significantly higher in the control areas, than in grazed and boma area, and there was a significant difference in grass diversity and the grazing treatments, (F2, 65 =14.437, p<0.0001). Grass biomass was significantly higher in the control areas, than in grazed and boma area, and there was a significant difference in grass biomass and the grazing treatments, (F2, 425 =46.696, p<0.0001). Results indicate that, most grazing animals prefer areas with low biomass and are seen in bomas that were abandoned earlier.