KWS's swift move to minimise human-wildlife conflict at Ol Donyo Sabuk

Residents neighbouring a game reserve in the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park in Matungulu Sub-County have welcomed the decision of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to erect an electric fence around the facility to end human-wildlife conflict.

The residents said this will put an end to the perennial human-wildlife conflict in the area.

Those who spoke to AVDelta News said it was a step in the right direction and that it will improve the security of the people and their property from animal attacks.

Local leaders have called on the contractor tasked with constructing the fence to give local youths first priority in order to create jobs for them and also as a way of making them own the project.

The leaders said this will in turn help in the management of the game park resources.

Speaking at Kyeleni village during a public participation, area KWS Senior Warden Frederick Kisera said all the preparation works for the major project had been done and work will start after public participation.

"The fence will help mitigate against loss of  lives and prevent farm in vasion by wildlife," Mr Kisera said.

He also revealed that the electric fence is not meant to kill the animals but to shock them back to the park.

The Senior Warden called the community living around the park to support the multi-million shillings project saying his office is committed to maintaining good human-animal relations.

The park is host to a variety of animals including buffaloes, monkeys, leopards, and hyenas.