Contraction of Wildlife Dispersal Area in Olgulului – Ololorashi Group Ranch Around Amboseli National Park, Kenya

ABSTRACT

A majority of large mammals from Amboseli National Park rely on group ranch wildlife dispersal areas for wet season dispersal. However, the contraction of wildlife dispersal areas around Amboseli may be increasing, but the extent is unknown. This study investigated the contraction of wildlife dispersal area by human infrastructure in Olgulului – Ololorashi Group Ranch, which surrounds over 90% of Amboseli Park. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used for location and Geographical Information System (GIS) was used for spatial analysis to determine the area occupied by the structures. The minimum distance of wildlife kept away from institutions was 275 ± 20 m, followed by bomas (214 ± 16 m), roads (163 ± 9 m), and livestock (192 ± 12 m). The minimum distance of wildlife from human infrastructure was used as an index of wildlife displacement. All infrastructure occupied an actual area of 66 km2 (5%) of the group ranch. This increased to 281 km2 (23%) with wildlife displacement. Of the area occupied by human infrastructure, fourteen settlement clusters (199 km2, 10.82%) were located. Bomas covered 10% of the group ranch area, followed by institutions (6%), roads (5%), and agriculture (2.13%). The infrastructures were widely distributed in the group ranch and around the Amboseli. Although more dispersal space was available, the spatial distribution of clusters and infrastructure threaten wildlife dispersal. If the obstruction of dispersal routes is not addressed, the group ranch will be compromised as a wildlife dispersal area for Amboseli National Park.

Keywords:

Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Olgulului-Ololorashi Group Ranch, wildlife conservation, wildlife dispersal areas.