Leopards, National Park and Communities: Toward Co-Existence of Wildlife and Human Societies

更新日:2013/11/22

■　Date & Time：6th December, 2013（Fri）14:00〜16:00

■　Venue：JICC Hall, Embassy of Japan in Kenya

■　Speaker；　Ms. Yumi YAMANE（Kyoto University/KWS）

■　Panelists：
Ms. Grace Nzale (Community Warden, Kenya Wildlife Service)
Mr. Moses Mazola (Database Officer, Kenya Wildlife Service)
Mr. Ibrahim Paranae Kantet (Executive Director, Eseriani Wildlife Association)

■　Co-hosted by JSPS Nairobi Research Station & Japan Information & Culture Centre

■　Report

On 6 December, the JSPS Nairobi Research Station cosponsored a symposium with the Japan Information & Culture Centre of the Embassy of Japan in Kenya. Held at the Embassy, the symposium addressed the theme “Leopards, National Park and Communities: Toward Coexistence of Wildlife and Human Societies.”

The Nairobi National Park is a wildlife preserve located adjacent to Nairobi, East Africa’s largest city. A sizable amount of Kenya’s annual revenue comes from tourism, with the Park contributing significantly to that income. For the people living around the Park, however, wild animals that cross its boundaries can be menacing. Mandated to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) works to solve issues related to human-wildlife conflict.

Among these issues is the fact that the breeding and hunting activities of leopards and other predators are not confined to within the Park. Land development has been expanding over recent years in the area adjoining the southern side of the Park, bringing about increasing population along with the buying and enclosing of plots. This is disrupting the migration corridors of leopards crossing the Park’s peripheries, creating more frequent encounters and incidents with humans.

The symposium featured a presentation by Ms. Yumi Yamane of Kyoto University, who has been conducting a study of the leopard habitat within the National Park over a period of more than five years. From the KWS, Ms. Grace Nzale and Mr. Moses Mazola gave reports on their activities. Then, a community based organization offered a briefing on the state of wildlife-caused injury and harm to local people and the measures they are taking to prevent. Via these presentations, our understanding was strengthened and a discussion advanced on a complex set of issues related to coexistence between wildlife and human communities.

Ms. Yamane gives accounts on research methods

Ms. Yamane and Mr. Kantet; in discussion with attendants

Attendants; Japanese and Kenyan residents around NNP, other stakeholders and specialists

■　Links

•  Kenya Wildlife Service
• Activities of Ms. Grace Nzale as community warden (article from the Star)
• Eseriani Wildlife Association（facebook page）