Agency adopts new technology in wildlife census

Director of the Wildlife Training and Research Institute in Naivasha, Dr Patrick Omondi joins students in planting trees at the Naivasha Wildlife Sanctuary. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

The Wildlife Training and Research Institute (WRTI) has introduced new technology- Earth-ranger in the ongoing national wildlife census.

The new platform will enhance patrols and offer real-time monitoring during the one-year exercise seeking to establish the current status of wildlife population and their distribution.

This came as the research institute kicked off the census in the Amboseli-Magadi ecosystem, the second of its kind in the country's history.

WRTI Deputy Director- Research David Ndereeh, said the census aims to provide accurate data on wildlife population, distribution and the health of the ecosystem.

Dr Ndereeh noted that the census would employ a combination of aerial survey, ground counts and camera trapping in gathering data.

"The Institute will employ a new platform, the Earth-ranger, which seeks to enhance patrols and offer real-time monitoring during the exercise," he said.

Dr Ndeereh noted that understanding the distribution and movement patterns of wildlife would aid in better habitat management.

"A team of WRTI researchers, data analysts, and pilots will work together to ensure comprehensive coverage of the Amboseli and Magadi regions. Advanced technologies such as GPS tracking and drone imaging will also be utilized to enhance data accuracy," he said.

WRTI Director Patrick Omondi, said the census comes after meticulous planning, extensive research and collaboration with stakeholders.

"The institute has developed rigorous scientific methodologies to conduct the wildlife census, and this ensures that we gather reliable data on wildlife population, their distribution and their habitats," he said.

Dr Omondi identified human-wildlife coexistence as an emerging issue, which had seen migration corridors closed and pasture land reduced.

He noted that as human population expands and encroaches on wildlife habitats, humans-wildlife conflict has intensified across the country.

Speaking in Naivasha, the WRTI Director said they would continue to engage local communities in conservation efforts while recognizing their role as stewards of the land and wildlife.

On the census, Omondi noted that gathering accurate data on wildlife distribution would enable them to develop more effective measures to address human-wildlife conflict.

He said that WRTI has developed rigorous scientific methodologies to conduct the census, to ensure they gather reliable data on wildlife population.

"By employing advanced technologies such as satellite imagery, GPS tracking and drone surveys, we aim to achieve a level of precision and detail that is unprecedented," he said.