Human–Elephant Conflict

Human-wildlife Conflict

The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest has for many years faced many conservation challenges. Rural communities living next to the forest have more and more exploited it for their livelihoods and settled on its boundary which inevitably resulted in human – wildlife conflicts. Crops were raided by wildlife species including elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, monkeys, birds and rodents. Of particular importance was crop raiding by elephants, which was a major concern to forest adjacent communities.

A 110 km solar powered electric fence was erected around the forest over the years and has solved the problem of elephants and buffalo damaging crops adjacent to the forest. Arabuko- Sokoke Forest is today an island, entirely surrounded by an electric fence. Crop destruction by elephant and buffalo was the greatest threat to the livelihoods of adjacent communities prior to the electric fence erection. The communities around the Forest value the fence highly and appreciate the protection it provides. Baboon are now the greatest threat to crops close to the Forest edge.

Challenge

To deliver good management of protected area, tremendous infrastructure is required including roads, fence and outposts. Good roads in the forest are vital for both law enforcement and tourism and outposts serves as a base for all field operations. Our communities live on the periphery of the forest and are likely to feel the effects of living near wildlife. As many people rely on subsistence farming to survive, their crops were often raided by elephants and other animals, thus all our forest was fenced to mitigate elephant – human conflict. 

Activities

Impact