A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF LIVESTOCK PREDATION ON THE GROUP RANCHES IN THE DISPERSAL AREAS OF MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA BY Ngari, Solomon Mwangi. ABSTRACT. The study conducted a. cost-benefit analysis of livestock predation in the group ranches adjacent to Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) between July 1994 and February 1995. To determine the costs, the number of livestock and persons killed and/or injured were recorded from 127 homesteads sampled randomly in Koiyaki and Olchorro Oirouwa Wildlife Conservation and Management Association (OOWCMA) : respondents assigned socially acceptable prices to livestock; human injuries were valued using working hours lost during recuperation and/or treatment; and predation associated costs were determined using the number of hours spent on night surveillance, as well as construction and renovation of anti-predatory structures. The labour cost was quantified using a shadow-priced daily wage rate of Kshs 10.50.
To determine benefits generated from wildlife-based tourism, Narok County Council Local tour agents, village leaders, and members of group ranch committee were f interviewed to procure data on group ranch fund, bed night tariffs for campsites, cultural villages and sale of artifacts. A total of 1205 and 130 livestock valued at Kshs.2,938,199 (Kshs. 7,197,117 p.a.) and Kshs. 443,516 (665,274 p.a.) was lost during the study period in Koiyaki and OOWCMA, respectively. The cost of injuries was estimated at Kshs. 94,86l.7 p.a. in Koiyaki, no injuries were reported in OOWCMA; opportunity cost of labour spent on predation associated costs stood at Kshs.144,108.9 p.a. and Kshs. 16,308 p.a. in Koiyaki and OOWCMA respectively. Benefitcost analysis (BCA) for Koiyaki group ranch indicated a net benefit of Kshs. 5,182,277 and a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.69; the group ranch fund contributing to 33%, campsites bed night tariff 24%, concession fee 16%, OOWCMA game viewing levy 16%, commission from lodges and camps 5% and cultural villages entry fee 5%. Procurement of data on benefits for OOWCMA was beyond the scope of this study. Regression analysis revealed that distance from the reserve had a positive relationship, where as livestock holdings and number of families per locality showed a negative relationship to livestock predation (P<0.05). There is a need to make the Maasai community partners in conservation, the sharing of tangible benefits among the local pastoralists as compensation for the negative impacts of wildlife is a necessary precondition for the long term success of community conservation initiative. A review of the current revenue sharing programme and formation of wildlife associations are proposed. Education through dissemination of research findings is also recommended to enlighten and sensitize the Maasai community on the nature and magnitude of the problems facing them-:livestock adjacent to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Source: Year: Moi University. 1997.
Reference: 20014996.
.~
~I
._. ;,