Wajir: The Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) has commenced the Garissa-Wajir National Wildlife Census to evaluate wildlife population trends in the region, in response to ongoing climate-induced challenges.
According to Kenya News Agency, WRTI Principal Scientist Bernard Ngoru highlighted that the census aims to provide up-to-date data to guide conservation strategies, particularly in the northern region, which hosts the majority of Kenya’s reticulated giraffes.
Ngoru emphasized the importance of the census, recalling the 2021 estimate of the giraffe population at 6,000 in the region, and expressing the need to assess changes following the devastating 2022 drought. He noted that the findings will play a critical role in shaping policy and guiding the designation of conservation areas, especially in counties like Wajir that currently do not have a national park or game reserve.
The 11-day exercise forms part of the 2024 to 2025 National Wildlife Census, as mandated by the Wildlife Conservation
and Management Act, which requires regular status reports on Kenya’s wildlife populations. Ngoru explained that this census employs a sample count approach, enhanced by advanced technologies such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping and the JOLI application for data analysis, alongside dictaphones for audio capture from aerial observers.
While the census has not faced significant difficulties yet, Ngoru identified wind and high temperatures as potential challenges, necessitating early morning and late evening flights when wildlife is most active. The ultimate aim is to provide a foundation for evidence-based decisions at both national and county levels.
Ngoru further stated that the data will benefit local communities by enabling land-use planning and the development of conservancies, as well as guiding the designation of critical wildlife habitats. Mungumi Bakarichongwa, Senior Assistant Director of KWS in charge of the Northern Conservation area, reaffirmed the significance of the census, des
cribing it as a legal requirement under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
Bakarichongwa added that the census is being conducted using a one-government approach, involving collaboration among several institutions, including KWS, WRTI, the Kenya Forest Service, the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, the State Department for Wildlife, and county governments.