Abstract:
Rapid human population growth has drastically reduced elephant range by
reducing habitats and blocking traditional migration routes over the last several
decades. Attempts to reopen migration routes have been met with mixed, albeit
strong, reactions. A wider study to analyse human-elephant interactions in the
area also sought the attitudes of local people towards re-opening migration
between Mt Kenya forests and the nearby Sangare ranch. The route commonly
traversed by elephants was mapped using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques. Two elephant sightings,
footprints, dung and residents’ accounts confirmed this as the only route
currently used by elephants out of Mt Kenya forests. The footprints and dung
were observed within a 4 -10 m wide strip along the entire 7 km stretch between
Mt Kenya and Sangare. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on
demography and impacts of elephants on adjacent farms, while the dung pile
count technique was used to estimate elephant distribution and densities. Results
showed that 33% of the community resented elephants, which was strongly
associated with alleged levels of damage to lives and property (X2= 0.797, df =4, P
< 0.01). This caused unwillingness to provide passage through their land, with
only 2.6% of the respondents indicating they would let elephants on their
property. About 42% of those against the corridor attributed this to damages and
losses caused by elephants whereas 10.5 % did not give reasons. A majority of the
respondents were aware of importance of elephants in tourism, as agents of seed
dispersal, sources of bush meat and ivory, and in revenue generation, but only a
3% admitted having gained in any way. The corridor seemed unviable under the
prevailing land uses and negative public attitudes towards elephants.
