Government to Conduct Wildlife Census Next Year, CS Tourism Peninah Malonza Announces

The government will conduct a wildlife census next year in an attempt to launch the current status of the wildlife sector and rising challenges in the country.

This comes as the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife launches the National Wildlife Research Agenda 2023-2027 which will be held by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI).

Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry Peninah Malonza, said that for a couple of years now the country has been functioning blindly due to insufficient certified wildlife data.

She said that next year’s wildlife census would be part of the programme that seeks to understand and identify challenges facing that sector.

“The last wildlife census was conducted in 2021 and the next will be held next year with a view of establishing the current status of this critical sector,” she said.

Speaking during the launch at WRTI in Naivasha, she said the programme would emphasize on wildlife Species Population Dynamics, Habitat Dynamics, Health, Genetics and Forensics.

“This programme will also look into Natural Resource Governance, Human-Wildlife Interactions and Socio-Economics, Bio-prospecting, Climate Change and Wildlife Resource Information Management,” she said.

On the drought, the CS said that the Ministry would in the coming days hand out a report on the effects of weather vagaries to the wildlife and the ecosystem.

The Director of the Institute Dr Patrick Omondi said that currently, the institute was carrying out 16 wildlife research in different parts of the country with the aim of forming enlightening policies.

“Currently we are undertaking studies on various parks and ranches in the country with a view of destocking them from the high number of wild animals,” he said.

Dr Dickson Kaelo, The Chair Research and Innovations board said that the research results would help the government in decision making.

“The National Wildlife Research Agenda will look into disease patterns, early warning systems, climate change and wildlife habitats among others,” he said.