Land use influence on distribution and abundance of herbivores in Samburu-Laikipia, Kenya

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of different wildlife herbivores was studied in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. The study sites included; Mpala and Oljogi, both commercial ranches in Laikipia district; Oldonyiro and Kipsing community areas in Isiolo district; West Gate Conservancy, Ngaroni Community area, Kalama Community area and Sessia-Barsalinga Community area in Samburu district; and Buffalo Spring National Reserve and Samburu National Reserve both protected areas in the landscape. The objectives of the study were: 1) Determine the influence of different land use on seasonal abundances and distribution wildlife species and 2) Examine the influence of livestock, human settlements and water on wildlife species in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. Distance sampling was used to estimate wildlife, livestock and bomas densities. Distance to nearest water was projected from GPS coordinates for both wildlife and livestock sighting using ARCGIS. Our analysis showed non-uniform distributions of wildlife groups across the Samburu-Laikipia ecosystem largely driven by seasonal rainfall patterns and land use types. Like predicted, most wildlife groups occurred in higher abundances on protected areas, Laikipia commercial ranches and community conservancies unlike in community grazing areas in both dry and wet season. However, large grazers increased substantially in community grazing areas over the wet season when livestock grazing was heavy, stimulating growth of short annuals plants of high-quality nutrients. Human activities had negative influences on all wildlife groups. Our findings indicate that the type of land -use influenced herbivore distribution and abundance in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. This suggests that human activities, including pastoralism, in conjunction with season rainfall patterns and land-use shape herbivore distribution and abundance in the area. Conservation strategies for successfully increasing survival of wildlife therefore, requires maintenance of a mixture of land-use types with well controlled and sustainable development.