Human influence on wildlife behavior at nutrient hotspots in Kenya (Is eating worth dealing with people?)
Poore, Olivia Helman, Annabella Mitchell, Lindsey
Poore, Olivia
Helman, Annabella
Mitchell, Lindsey
Abstract
Humans influence wildlife globally by disrupting migration patterns, behavior, and modifying food availability. In Laikipia, Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy, livestock corrals abandoned by pastoralists create nutrient-rich hotspots called glades. These glades, enriched by livestock waste, attract herbivorous wildlife due to the abundance of lush grazing vegetation. The study aims to explore how human presence within the conservancy influences wildlife behavior, mainly grazing patterns. The study compares the grazing activity in twelve glades—six classified as old and six as new and assesses whether wildlife shows a preference for glades with less human activity. Additionally, the study examines whether animals shift their grazing to later times of the day to avoid humans, which could increase their vulnerability to predators. Results and data analysis are in progress. Knowledge gained from this work helps managers understand wildlife's grazing patterns as they are affected by human influence. This study provides a framework for wildlife management and human impact mitigation in Kenya's conservancies.
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Date
2025-05-14
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University of Wyoming Libraries
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Keywords
wildlife behavior,human impacts,food availability,human/wildlife interactions,biodiversity management