Kenya: 400,000 Cattle Invade Game Park

James.Grage

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As cattle numbers are increasing the pressure on park land is increasing. Maybe the government should fly a helicopter over the park and shoot the cattle on park lands... Something the Tanzanian government did a few years back.

cattle-feed-lot-jpg.49213


Kenya: 400,000 Cattle Invade Game Park

By Mathias Ringa
At least 400,000 head of cattle have invaded the Tsavo West National Park, depriving wildlife of pasture and water.

Hundreds of herders damaged an electric fence before driving the massive number of cattle into the expansive park, according to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Assistant Director Robert Obrein.

He said the KWS had incurred huge losses after the herdsmen destroyed sections of the fence, which is meant to prevent elephants from leaving the park for nearby farms.

The assistant director said some power transformers had also been damaged by the herdsmen as they attempted to disable the electric fence for their livestock to enter the park.

INCREASED PATROLS

Mr Obrein told the Daily Nation that the cattle came from northeastern Kenya, Kajiado and Tanzania.

"At the moment, there are about 400,000 head of cattle grazing in Tsavo West. More continue to pour in as the electric fence and transformers were damaged by the herders," he said over the phone.

"Due to prolonged drought, pastoralists sneaked in their cattle, depriving herbivorous animals in the park of pasture and water," he said.

Mr Obrein said KWS had intensified patrols in the park to arrest the herders before driving out their animals.

He added that rangers arrest 10 herders daily with between 500 and 1,000 head of cattle.

"Campaigns to drive out the massive number of livestock are in top gear. However, our efforts are being hampered by herders who drive more animals into the park," he said.

"Everywhere you go in the park, you spot cows. The watering points for wildlife have dried up after the cattle consumed everything," he added.

BLOW TO WILDLIFE SAFARIS

Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Coast branch Chairperson Monika Solanki said the large number of cattle in Tsavo and Amboseli parks has dealt a blow to wildlife safaris.

She said the cattle had denied international wildlife enthusiasts of the opportunity to enjoy game viewing.

"We have received numerous complaints from German and Dutch tourists, among others, expressing their frustrations after seeing cattle rather than wildlife," she said.

"They say they are not interested in cattle because they have them in their native countries."
 
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Africa is a complicated place. More than the anti's will ever comprehend.
 
TIA :E Shrug:
 
So, Kenya has lost 70% of its wildlife since the hunting ban of 1978.

Wonder what that percentage will be in 2020?:confused:
 
...............
Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Coast branch Chairperson Monika Solanki said the large number of cattle in Tsavo and Amboseli parks has dealt a blow to wildlife safaris.

She said the cattle had denied international wildlife enthusiasts of the opportunity to enjoy game viewing.

"We have received numerous complaints from German and Dutch tourists, among others, expressing their frustrations after seeing cattle rather than wildlife," she said.

"They say they are not interested in cattle because they have them in their native countries."

Ahhh, poor tourists think it's a zoo.

cattle-feed-lot.jpg



Can't they see the huge cultural contrast available for the viewing? These guys are hands on.

ptg00402193.jpg


_39988313_cattle300.jpg





You can still see the wildlife. Look, there is a Zebra!

1108zebra2-1.jpg
 
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In 1975 Kenya had a population of 13.5M people. (Closest number to 1978 hunting ban I found) Today there is a population of 46.5M.

This in an area smaller than Texas and just as arid. Texas has about half the population.

Wealth for many is measured in the number of cattle, not the quality of cattle. A mentality of free range grazing is deeply imbedded in society.

A modern day rinderpest (type) outbreak may be wildlife's best hope.

BTW. The UN estimates that Kenya's population in the year 2100 will be 160M.

We are blessed that we live in "the good old days"!
 
Were they "lured" into the park? Are any of them collared? Where is Theo when you need him? Do they have names? I feel so sorry for those poor rangers who have to become wranglers with such a huge boundary to patrol. The grass can recover, the wildlife not so much. Tomorrow has no meaning in Africa.
 
W. The UN estimates that Kenya's population in the year 2100 will be 160M

This is where education is SO important. It is the only hope for population control. It is why first world countries are slowing or even reversing their growth. Now how you educate those who don't want it I do not kmow, but there has to be a way to do it and age the society.

Japan actually became the first country a couple of years ago to purchase more adult diapers than baby diapers. All possible jokes aside, think about that...
 
Yes, it may be terrible, but frankly, what should we expect? Hungry people with families to feed should forgo feeding their only source of food and wealth to watch animals, in which they have absolutely no interest, prosper? So that "German and Dutch" tourists can have cute animals to take pictures of? Come on!

Seriously folks, who out there wouldn't be doing exactly the same thing? I know I would.

Unless . . . someone gave me a reason to support wildlife . . . like it had some value to me, rather than being in competition with my children's lives.

Kenya has so much ego - and dollars from antis going to politicians - that they can't or won't admit that there is a solution to this problem. It's called the Namibian model, or the South African model. Until Kenya gets its act together, I for one will not be critical of anyone who does what he has to to keep his family alive and fed.
 
Back to education Hank
 
- and dollars from antis going to politicians - t.

Prior to independence the WaKikuyu were the dominant tribe of Kenya. After independence they became the ruling class and their name was changed to the WaBenzi due to the number of Mercedes Benz they drove around.

Sorry, old post independence joke your comment reminded me of.:) Just pick a country and it was applicable.
 
Brickburn, the joys of having tetsi flies in Moz....
 

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