Changes in climates have been blamed for the high rate of human-wildlife conflicts in the country.
A senior environment lecturer at Egerton University Prof Amos Wela says the country has experienced harsh climatic changes for the last couple of decades, a fact that has contributed to the high rate of human-wildlife conflicts.
“Wild animals are forced to venture into human settlement areas in search of shelter, food and water. The scarcity is caused by harsh weather or climatic conditions that affect their natural habitats,” said Prof Wela.
According to the scholar, the harsh environmental conditions are caused by increased man’s activities on land and hence a creation of pressure on wild life ecosystems.
“Animals are normal creatures like human beings that seek for favourable conditions to survive. When climatic changes cause limited supply in their food, water or shelter requirements, they are forced to relocate or look for alternative means,’’ said the don.
He cited the high number of livestock in the country killed by wild animals and crops destroyed by elephants and baboons as examples of conflicts that are caused by climatic changes.
The don who is penning a book on human-wild life conflicts in Kenya said predators like leopards look for cheap sources of food from domestic animals because they cannot depend on little supply in the wild.