ABSTRACT
Human wildlife conflict (HWC) occur when wildlife requirements encroach on those of human populations, with costs both to residents and wild animals. As a result, there is a growing recognition that solutions focused on wildlife alone limit managers ability to effectively resolve conflicts. This has necessitated a focus on management solutions on humans as well. Various interventions have been used to mitigate the HWC. Here, the focus is on the predator-proof bomas (PPBs), with the aim of answering the question: Do PPBs improve well-being of local people? 25 PPBs were constructed and monitored for a period of six months in Amboseli ecosystem. The livestock predation incidences, time spent guarding at night and people’s perceptions before and after the construction of the PPBs was compared to determine the social and economic changes. Results yielded a very strong significant change in the hours spend per week gurading, with some respondents spending only a day per week (t = 30.01, n = 25, p = 0.00001). An additional paired t –test revealed a significant change in the numbers of livestock attacks inside the homestead after the construction of the PPB (t = 10.258, n = 25, p = 0.00001). Generally, livestock killing cases and injuries went down by 87.3% and 50% respectively. Although there are opportunity costs associated with the installation of PPBs, on comparison the PPBs contributed positively to the well-being of the livestock keepers in Amboseli ecosystem.
References
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