Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes

Rising human population and the associated demand for more land, water and other natural resources are intensifying conflicts between people and wildlife worldwide. We investigated the nature, intensity, seasonality, spatial and temporal patterns in human–hippo conflict incidences reported from wild...

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Main Authors: Kanga, E.M., Ogutu, Joseph O., Piepho, Hans-Peter, Olff, H.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/35291
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author Kanga, E.M.
Ogutu, Joseph O.
Piepho, Hans-Peter
Olff, H.
author_browse Kanga, E.M.
Ogutu, Joseph O.
Olff, H.
Piepho, Hans-Peter
author_facet Kanga, E.M.
Ogutu, Joseph O.
Piepho, Hans-Peter
Olff, H.
author_sort Kanga, E.M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Rising human population and the associated demand for more land, water and other natural resources are intensifying conflicts between people and wildlife worldwide. We investigated the nature, intensity, seasonality, spatial and temporal patterns in human–hippo conflict incidences reported from wildlife stations Kenya-wide over a 12-year period spanning 1997–2008. Overall, 4493 human–hippo conflict incidences were recorded, representing a mean rate of 4.46 ± 0.29 incidences per month. The conflict incidences increased by 1285% from 1997 to 2008, resulting in 937 peak incidences reported in 2008. Number of conflict incidences differed among conservation regions, with incidences increasing during severe droughts and over time. Crop damage was the most commonly reported type of conflict. Wildlife managers attended to 90% of all reported conflict incidences. Hippo mortality increased linearly with increasing conflict incidences, portending a precarious future for hippos outside protected areas of Kenya. This dramatic rise in human–hippo conflicts is a consequence of fundamental land use changes around wetland habitats.
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spelling CGSpace352912024-08-27T10:36:47Z Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes Kanga, E.M. Ogutu, Joseph O. Piepho, Hans-Peter Olff, H. livestock Rising human population and the associated demand for more land, water and other natural resources are intensifying conflicts between people and wildlife worldwide. We investigated the nature, intensity, seasonality, spatial and temporal patterns in human–hippo conflict incidences reported from wildlife stations Kenya-wide over a 12-year period spanning 1997–2008. Overall, 4493 human–hippo conflict incidences were recorded, representing a mean rate of 4.46 ± 0.29 incidences per month. The conflict incidences increased by 1285% from 1997 to 2008, resulting in 937 peak incidences reported in 2008. Number of conflict incidences differed among conservation regions, with incidences increasing during severe droughts and over time. Crop damage was the most commonly reported type of conflict. Wildlife managers attended to 90% of all reported conflict incidences. Hippo mortality increased linearly with increasing conflict incidences, portending a precarious future for hippos outside protected areas of Kenya. This dramatic rise in human–hippo conflicts is a consequence of fundamental land use changes around wetland habitats. 2012-12 2014-04-14T10:55:50Z 2014-04-14T10:55:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/35291 en Open Access Informa UK Limited Kanga, E.M., Ogutu, J.O., Piepho, H.-P. and Olff, H. 2012. Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes. Journal of Land Use Science 7(4): 395 - 406
spellingShingle livestock
Kanga, E.M.
Ogutu, Joseph O.
Piepho, Hans-Peter
Olff, H.
Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title_full Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title_fullStr Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title_full_unstemmed Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title_short Human-hippo conflicts in Kenya during 1997-2008: Vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
title_sort human hippo conflicts in kenya during 1997 2008 vulnerability of a megaherbivore to anthropogenic land use changes
topic livestock
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/35291
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