Growing livestock numbers threaten one of the last refuges for large wild herbivores in Kenya

Description

Across Laikipia County in central Kenya, large wild herbivores, including endangered species like the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and African wild dog, coexist alongside rapidly growing numbers of people and associated livestock. A Biological Conservation study published this month reveals that whether wild herbivore species thrive or decline in Laikipia is linked mainly to the abundance of livestock in the region. The results of this study have actionable implications for translating science into public and private land management to conserve wildlife and ecosystems in Laikipia and beyond.