Kenya says fast tracking law to reduce human-carnivore conflict

Kenya is fast tracking the enactment of regulations that aims to reduce human-carnivore conflict, wildlife officials said on Thursday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Senior Assistant Director Dr Erustus Kanga told a media briefing in Nairobi that the draft Wildlife Conservation Management Policy will soon be presented to stakeholders for review.

"The draft policy will then be presented to cabinet for approval and thereafter adopted by parliament," Kanga said during the opening ceremony of the 14th Annual Conference on Carnivores.

The two-day event brought over 100 researchers and policy makers to review ways of reducing human wildlife conflict.

The most common carnivores in Kenya are lions, hyenas, leopards and cheetahs.

Once the regulations are in place, it will provide a framework to manage the growing carnivore-human conflict.

Kanga said carnivores in Kenya are used to moving freely in the ranges but encroachment of their land by humans is resulting in conflict.

He noted that Kenya's population has increased since independence and this has led to extension of human settlement.

"Unfortunately some of the urban centers are now located on the migratory path of the carnivores," he said. According to KWS, the best way to manage human wildlife conflict is through community involvement in wildlife conservation.

"We will ensure that communities living next to wildlife habitats can directly benefit from the presence of animals," he added.

The senior assistant director added that communities will be allowed to set up conservancies in order to generate income from eco-tourism. Endit