The political ecology of human-elephant relations: comparing local perceptions of elephants around Chyulu Hills and Mount Kasigau in southern Kenya

Peter Ngugi Kamau

doi:10.2458/v24i1.20968

Abstract

Abstract Although African elephants have a global appeal and donors especially in the global North significantly support their protection, rural African's attitudes towards elephant conservation are complex, and discouraging in certain locations. A proper understanding of the attitudes of people living around protected areas towards elephants is important for designing successful elephant conservation programs. Using a political ecology framework, this study assessed attitudes towards elephant among two communities living near protected areas in the Tsavo region of Kenya; the Kamba who live around Chyulu Hills National Park and the Kasigau Taita who live around Mt. Kasigau Forest, Kenya. I conducted in depth interviews with local residents, to examine the link between local attitudes towards elephants with the political-ecological history of extra-local effects especially the establishment and management of protected areas. The results show that residents around Mt. Kasigau had more favorable attitudes towards elephants than those around the Chyulu Hills National Park. This article concludes that local perceptions about elephants in the Tsavo region are political, they are embedded in issues of rights to livelihood, and access to and control over lands and resources. I argue that local meanings and concerns about elephants need to be integrated in the management plans of protected areas. Key Words: elephants, Chyulu Hills, Mount Kasigau, conservation, political ecology, protected areas

Highlights

In Africa, elephants are a high profile species and the symbol of wildlife conservation: they are perceived as "enemies of rural development" by people living around protected areas in elephant range states
This study investigated attitudes towards elephants among the Kamba, who live around Chyulu Hills National Park (CHNP) and the Kasigau Taita people who live around Mt
In the villages under study, crop raiding is mostly seasonal, elephants invade farms around the months of February and March and June and July when maize crops and pigeon peas are about to mature. This corroborates official reports from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) which shows that incidences of human-wildlife conflict around CHNP are highest in the months of February and July (KWS 2008)

Summary

Introduction

In Africa, elephants are a high profile species and the symbol of wildlife conservation: they are perceived as "enemies of rural development" by people living around protected areas in elephant range states. At the dawn of the 20th century, when human population density was low, elephants roamed freely. Elephants open up forests and dense bush land, creating mosaic habitats of bush and grasslands that support other species. In drought conditions, they dig holes in dry river beds to access water that is used by other animals. Other African elephant range states have followed Kenya's example with Gabon, Malawi, and Republic of the Congo burning their ivory stockpiles in 2012, 2014 and 2015 respectively. Critics have observed that these widely popularized ivory burning events often held in African capitals might send a message to local communities that elephants have no value

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion