A rare antelope species Sitatunga is continuously being displaced from its natural habitat as water levels increase in wetlands due to heavy rains.
The semi-aquatic antelopes found in Nandi County along the Kingwal swamp and its tributaries are emerging out of wetlands at night in search of food along riverbanks because the water volumes have submerged reeds and other vegetation the species depend on.
The trend is exposing the antelopes to the dangers of stray dogs and are also likely to cause conflicts with communities neighbouring wetlands over destruction of food crops.
“They are now out in large numbers to feed because the grass available is already submerged due to heavy rains. They often roam at night and feed on crops they come across including those in the farms,” said Alfred Lagat, a honorary warden in Nandi.
Mr Lagat noted that poaching of the antelopes has drastically reduced following intense sensitisation of communities by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and groups under Kingwal community conservancy area.
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But he said the antelopes stray into farms and feed on food crops like vegetables, beans and maize.
“Their population has increased since the community stopped poaching them after a series of sensitisation by the KWS and conservancy groups.
As they move from their natural habitat, they feed on any crop they come by leading to losses on the part of farmers,” said Lagat in Eldoret. “I am calling upon KWS to include Sitatunga among animals classified as destructive so that farmers can seek compensation for crop destruction.
Currently under KWS management Act 2013, it is not included amongst wild animals that compensation can be sought for destruction.”
