Government scale-up monitoring systems on the impact of El Nino in game parks and Sanctuaries

Naivasha,

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

KNA by Erastus Gichohi

 The government through the Wildlife Training and Research Institute (WRTI) has scaled up monitoring systems across game parks in the country to mitigate any loss of wild animals as a result of El Nino rains.

According to the institute Director Dr. Patrick Omondi currently, the country has not recorded any deaths of wildlife as a result of ongoing rains but has instituted monitoring systems with fears that flooding may affect old, sick, and newborn animals.

Dr. Omondi said although wild animals usually move to higher grounds due to their instinct for natural calamities, the institute researchers have activated monitoring to document the impact of ongoing El Nino rains on wildlife.

Already the heavy rains that continue to be experienced in various parts of the country have led to the death of 46 persons according to the data from Kenya Red Cross after floods in several areas in the country.

Speaking in Naivasha Wildlife Sanctuary where he led staff in the planting of over 5,000 trees, Dr. Omondi said the institute researchers are studying effective means of controlling and eradicating deadly invasive tree species menace in game parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

“We have activated the Invasive Species Control Programme within the Naivasha Sanctuary that seeks to root out invasive tree species such as cactus and solanum through mechanical, biological and chemical means in the five years”, said Dr. Omondi.

Consequently, Dr. Omondi said the program will also be rolled out in other game parks and sanctuaries where invasive tree species are rampant to save the much-needed pastures and habitats for animals.

In addition, he said the institute tree planting exercise at the expansive 1,000-acre sanctuary will open it up to members of the public for hiking, camping, and recreation activities and boost its revenue streams.

According to the institute’s head of research David Ndere, there's a dire need to accelerate scientific research to save some of the critically endangered wildlife species whose existence continues to be threatened including zebras, envelopes, and rhino species.

According to data from the National Wildlife Census Report 2021, six wildlife species were flagged as critically endangered including the Black rhino, Hirola, Tana River Manabey, and the roan and sable antelopes.

The report also indicated that the mountain bongo, lion, cheetah, elephant, white rhino, Nubian Giraffe, and Grevy's zebra are endangered species with their population threatened by poaching, climate change, change in natural habitats, and illegal bush meat trade.

“We have less than 30 species of roan and sable envelopes in the country and only two Northern white rhinos in the country and there is an accelerated need to speed up research to save and increase their population,”said Ndere.

In addition, Ndere said the institute researchers in partnership with other conservation stakeholders have launched several research interventions on habitat monitoring, increased wildlife diseases, and genetic studies that are geared towards reversing the decreasing wildlife populations in the country.

The remarks come weeks after the just concluded Wildlife Conference in Naivasha where researchers called for data-driven scientific interventions to address both local and inter-country wildlife concerns and challenges including poaching, climatic change, shared habitats, and human-wildlife conflicts.

Courtesy; KNA