Effects of Land Use and Cover Changes on Elephant Home Ranges and Distribution in Maasai Mara Landscape, Narok County, Kenya | Chapter 4 | Emerging Challenges in Environment and Earth Science Vol. 1

 The goal of the study was to examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes in the Maasai Mara landscape using remote sensing data from 1997 to 2017; to examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes in the Mara landscape; and to determine changes in elephant home ranges in relation to land use and cover changes in the Mara landscape. An integrated methodological approach was used to investigate the impact of land use and land cover changes on elephant ranges and distribution. The changes that have occurred within the study area over a 20-year period were determined by analysing 10-year changes in land use and land cover using three epochs from 1997, 2007 and 2017 to generate six land use classes. The Maasai Mara Landscape (MML) is home to one of the world's most diverse wildlife populations, but it has seen significant change in the previous century, primarily due to the conversion of former rangelands to croplands. Elephants have both temporal and geographical needs, and if these aren't met, they become sensitive to land-use patterns. Using an integrated methodological approach, the study analysed land use and vegetation cover changes that have occurred, as well as their effects on elephant movements and distribution within the MML. For the three epochs, 1997, 2007 and 2017, the study indicated changes in land use and land cover classifications over a 20-year period. Due to their enormous densities, elephants' range has been constrained to locations with high vegetation densities within certain ecosystems, hastening habitat deterioration and degradation. Elephants' forage has been substantially reduced as a result of these changes, forcing them to travel larger distances outside of their natural region in search of sustenance. Humans have induced changes in land use and cover, which have a negative influence on the ecosystem and ecosystem services.

The Maasai Mara region maintains one of the world's most diverse wildlife populations, but it has seen significant land modification in the previous century, especially through conversion of former rangelands utilised primarily for tourism and grain production, such as wheat. The survival of elephants in Kenya depends on land outside of the national parks and reserves. Little is known about how human occupation has harmed elephants' (Loxodonta africana) habitats, movements, and ranges in these areas. The existing ongoing demarcation/fencing of land in most regions of Narok County confirms this. Elephants, like other landscape animals, have temporal and spatial requirements that, if not met, make them vulnerable to human land use practises. The goal of the study was to examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes in the Maasai Mara landscape using remote sensing data from 1997 to 2017; to examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes in the Mara landscape; and to determine changes in elephant home ranges in relation to land use and cover changes in the Mara landscape. The report discusses the various changes that have occurred inside the MML, as well as how these changes have impacted elephant populations, trends, and distribution throughout the MML. An integrated methodological approach was used to investigate the impact of land use and land cover changes on elephant ranges and distribution. The changes that have occurred within the study area over a 20-year period were determined by analysing 10-year changes in land use and land cover using three epochs from 1997, 2007 and 2017 to generate six land use classes. According to the findings, there were considerable changes in several classes throughout time. Between 1997 and 2017, the coverage of forest, water, and open shrubs declined. The study area's continual increase in bare ground coverage over the study years was identified as a major problem by classification. Elephant numbers have been expanding at a 2.69 percent annual pace in the area. The creatures are dispersed throughout the countryside. Due to their high concentrations inside a given environment, elephant distribution has been constrained to high densities within a specific habitat, accelerating the rate of habitat damage and degradation. These changes have dramatically reduced elephant vegetation, forcing them to travel longer distances in search of food, hence expanding elephant home ranges.

Author(S) Details

Lokitela Peter
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Africa Nazarene University, P.O Box 53067 – 00200 Nairobi, Kenya.

Mark Ndunda Mutinda
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Africa Nazarene University, P.O Box 53067 – 00200 Nairobi, Kenya.

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