Dealing with human wildlife conflict
Posted by African Press International on June 17, 2012
- ODHIAMBO DICKSON reporting from Kisumu, Kenya.
THE Management of the Kenya Wild life Service has urged members of the public living near wildlife habitat to live harmoniously so as to reduce human and wildlife conflict.
KWS Board of Directors Chairman David Mwiraria said those residing near
wildlife natural homes should really learn on how to co-exist peacefully with
such creatures.
Addressing a gathering during the official opening of the Kisumu’s Impala Eco
Lodge Hotel, the KWS Chairman said human wildlife normally occurs when there is invasion of the wildlife habitat by the people.
Mwiraria who is also the former Kenya’s Finance Minister urged the locals to be extra careful so as to minimize the vice.
The Chairman at the same time directed the management of KWS through its
Director Julius Kipng’etich to have marine patrol boats along various beaches
so as to monitor the wildlife habitant around such
places.
He added that the Government should give priority in the removal of the dreaded water hyacinth in the Lake Victoria and other water bodies in the country which has been a major impediment towards ensuring that visiting tourists do not travel smoothly along the Lake so as to visit other sites near it.
“The government should surely give a priority towards the quick removal
of the dreaded water hyacinth in Lake Victoria and other water bodies as this
has really block the visiting tourists to travel smoothly in the water so as to visit other sites which are not accessible by road,” Mwiraria said.
The chairman also underscored the need to enhance the security of the visiting tourists in the country especially at this time when the country is faced with threats from Al-Shabaab militants.
“If the security of the visiting tourists can be fully enhanced especially at
this time when the country is facing threats from the Al- Shabaab militants
then Kenya will still remain to be one of the best tourists’ destinations in the world,” he added.
The Monarch Group Limited, the Company which owns the new Kisumu’s Impala EcoLodge facility Chairman Jared Kangwana said the investment is a positive step towards realization of the Country’s Vision 2030 tourism pillar.
“We have created a lodge that aims at attracting both local and international leisure and business travelers who are environmentally conscious with preference to stay in a small luxury lodge located in a totally unique pristine natural environment,” Kangwana said.,
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