Mpala WILDLIFE RESEARCH AND CONSERVANCY IN A RANCH
Like any part of the world, even Africa is facing severe conservation problems. While poaching is one problem, loss of habitat due to cattle grazing is another larger problem. Added to +-16+059.JPG)
this, periodical drought will have its own effect on the ecosystem.
How do you conserve the grasslands so that the cattle and wildlife get their due share? What will be the effect of not allowing cattle grazing? What if the cattle is allowed to graze, but made to move fast from one area to another, so that there is no over grazing? What will be the effect of cutting trees in the bushes? Will it allow growth of more grass?
If such questions arises in India, one should try to find theoretical answers. But such experiments are going on here along with other researches like the impact of Grevy’s zebra on lion population, conservation pattern in community ranches, mapping the different topography through satellite pictures and so on. Name the research in wildlife conservation, the Mpala research and conservancy has it.
Interestingly, Mpala itself is a ranch property, which has been bought by Sam Small, a retired Royal Canada Army personnel in 1957. He handed over the property to his brother George Small, who wanted to use it for the benefit of Likipia district and conservation of wildlife in the area.
For a common man, the research centre may appear like a different world altogether. After travelling around 15 kms from Nyanuki, you don’t have an asphalted road and the world of ranches begin from there. The next 30 kms, you pass through various ranches, before reaching the research centre.
The ranch extends to around 250 sq kms and power is a distant dream here. The research centre depends on some solar panels and generator for power. Internet connection is through satellite and mobile network is absent. And, talk of road, it is does not exist for over 100 kms.
The researchers here live in either `bandas’ (a stone hut), located at a distance of around 20 meters each. Other than cluster of office buildings and dining hall, you are living literally in a forest for all other practical reasons. Katie, a veterinary doctor, who is studying about rabies among carnivores in tropical forests, had tranquilised a Lion next to the house of a research centre direc+-16+069.JPG)
tor Margaret Kinnaird.
Even I had a chilling experience during my stay here. One night, three elephants had blocked the door of the 'banda' I stayed in. Patrick, the security in charge of the research centre had a tough time moving the elephants from my way so that I could safely enter the banda and lock myself from inside. All through the night, the elephants were around. I was also used to occasional hauling of hyenas and other during nights.
Though the private ranches are in good shape – covered with bushes and green grass when it rains, denudation in the community ranches is visible. The debate on “How long the African forests can withhold the cattle grazing pressure,” is going on for a long time. The people, especially Maasais, are getting used to cash economy from their traditional cattle economy. Along with the cattle, goats and sheep are joining the herds, which have put extra pressure on the forests.
However, Siva put up an argument saying that the number of cattle has not gone up. Thanks to periodical drought, which wipes out 80 per cent of the cattle population and the people have to start from the scratch. But, he agrees that the population was going up and the people are trying to have more cattle.
The second problem is about the economic recession, which has affected tourism here. Unless the wildlife earns revenue, how can people conserve them?
Margaret is optimistic that a via media is always found during the crisis. “At the centre, we take up biodiversity monitoring of the region as well as research on a long term monitoring process. We are also experimenting on alternative grazing management, which is giving good results,’’ she said.
The centre has also tied up with the local community ranch on alternative grazing system. There are grazing zones and non-grazing zones. The difference between the landscapes is glaring, though there is occasional violation of non-grazing zones by the community. Out of 13 local county councils, nine have agreed to implement alternative grazing pattern and the centre has an outreach programme in the community ranches. Besides, the centre has conducted a census of 17 wildlife and five live stock in the region. The research is conducted on soil, termites, and trees to predators.
Margaret and her husband Tim O’ Brien, who is a scientist with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), New York, have set up a camera trap to study the nocturnal wildlife and their land use pattern. Both have good experience in wildlife biology. Margaret trailed tiger in Indonesia for almost 13 years, but says that she could never sight a tiger in wild. She was in Somalia during ivory war and she has also done research on hornbills.
Even Tim is concerned over the future of wildlife, but refuses to buy the theory of dooms day predictors. “In Likipia, the population of predators is quite healthy and the camera trap results prove that. There are apprehensions that the predators, especially when they prey on cattle are persecuted and poisoned. That is a different story, but there is a positive side to it as well.’’
Tim points out at the experiments on wildlife tourism across Likipia, which is generating some revenue to the community. “At least 30 ranches are offering wildlife tourism and in different segments like walking, bikes and night safaris. This may be become the reason for conserving wildlife, despite the conflict,’’ he pointed out.
When asked about recession, Tim smiled. “In Kenya, wildlife tourism started in 1964, when the country got its independence. It has seen many such recessions and great depressions and has still survived. People have realised that wildlife is their long term trump card, which earns them revenue. They have learned to live with economic variations also,’’ he added.
Like any other ranches, cattle ranching is part of the Mpala experiment and Margaret is too fond of her cattle.
+-16+059.JPG)
this, periodical drought will have its own effect on the ecosystem.How do you conserve the grasslands so that the cattle and wildlife get their due share? What will be the effect of not allowing cattle grazing? What if the cattle is allowed to graze, but made to move fast from one area to another, so that there is no over grazing? What will be the effect of cutting trees in the bushes? Will it allow growth of more grass?
If such questions arises in India, one should try to find theoretical answers. But such experiments are going on here along with other researches like the impact of Grevy’s zebra on lion population, conservation pattern in community ranches, mapping the different topography through satellite pictures and so on. Name the research in wildlife conservation, the Mpala research and conservancy has it.
Interestingly, Mpala itself is a ranch property, which has been bought by Sam Small, a retired Royal Canada Army personnel in 1957. He handed over the property to his brother George Small, who wanted to use it for the benefit of Likipia district and conservation of wildlife in the area.
For a common man, the research centre may appear like a different world altogether. After travelling around 15 kms from Nyanuki, you don’t have an asphalted road and the world of ranches begin from there. The next 30 kms, you pass through various ranches, before reaching the research centre.
The ranch extends to around 250 sq kms and power is a distant dream here. The research centre depends on some solar panels and generator for power. Internet connection is through satellite and mobile network is absent. And, talk of road, it is does not exist for over 100 kms.
The researchers here live in either `bandas’ (a stone hut), located at a distance of around 20 meters each. Other than cluster of office buildings and dining hall, you are living literally in a forest for all other practical reasons. Katie, a veterinary doctor, who is studying about rabies among carnivores in tropical forests, had tranquilised a Lion next to the house of a research centre direc
+-16+069.JPG)
tor Margaret Kinnaird.Even I had a chilling experience during my stay here. One night, three elephants had blocked the door of the 'banda' I stayed in. Patrick, the security in charge of the research centre had a tough time moving the elephants from my way so that I could safely enter the banda and lock myself from inside. All through the night, the elephants were around. I was also used to occasional hauling of hyenas and other during nights.
Though the private ranches are in good shape – covered with bushes and green grass when it rains, denudation in the community ranches is visible. The debate on “How long the African forests can withhold the cattle grazing pressure,” is going on for a long time. The people, especially Maasais, are getting used to cash economy from their traditional cattle economy. Along with the cattle, goats and sheep are joining the herds, which have put extra pressure on the forests.
However, Siva put up an argument saying that the number of cattle has not gone up. Thanks to periodical drought, which wipes out 80 per cent of the cattle population and the people have to start from the scratch. But, he agrees that the population was going up and the people are trying to have more cattle.
The second problem is about the economic recession, which has affected tourism here. Unless the wildlife earns revenue, how can people conserve them?
Margaret is optimistic that a via media is always found during the crisis. “At the centre, we take up biodiversity monitoring of the region as well as research on a long term monitoring process. We are also experimenting on alternative grazing management, which is giving good results,’’ she said.
The centre has also tied up with the local community ranch on alternative grazing system. There are grazing zones and non-grazing zones. The difference between the landscapes is glaring, though there is occasional violation of non-grazing zones by the community. Out of 13 local county councils, nine have agreed to implement alternative grazing pattern and the centre has an outreach programme in the community ranches. Besides, the centre has conducted a census of 17 wildlife and five live stock in the region. The research is conducted on soil, termites, and trees to predators.
Margaret and her husband Tim O’ Brien, who is a scientist with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), New York, have set up a camera trap to study the nocturnal wildlife and their land use pattern. Both have good experience in wildlife biology. Margaret trailed tiger in Indonesia for almost 13 years, but says that she could never sight a tiger in wild. She was in Somalia during ivory war and she has also done research on hornbills.
Even Tim is concerned over the future of wildlife, but refuses to buy the theory of dooms day predictors. “In Likipia, the population of predators is quite healthy and the camera trap results prove that. There are apprehensions that the predators, especially when they prey on cattle are persecuted and poisoned. That is a different story, but there is a positive side to it as well.’’
Tim points out at the experiments on wildlife tourism across Likipia, which is generating some revenue to the community. “At least 30 ranches are offering wildlife tourism and in different segments like walking, bikes and night safaris. This may be become the reason for conserving wildlife, despite the conflict,’’ he pointed out.
When asked about recession, Tim smiled. “In Kenya, wildlife tourism started in 1964, when the country got its independence. It has seen many such recessions and great depressions and has still survived. People have realised that wildlife is their long term trump card, which earns them revenue. They have learned to live with economic variations also,’’ he added.
Like any other ranches, cattle ranching is part of the Mpala experiment and Margaret is too fond of her cattle.
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