Athi Kapiti landscape game count report conducted on 4th June 2023

The Athi Kapiti conservancies and ranches wildlife game count was conducted on 4th June 2023. The count aimed at establishing the current wildlife population and spatial distribution in the Athi Kapiti landscape following concerns raised by landowners of declined wildlife populations in the area after a severe drought and increased human activities. Subsequent counts will help in identifying wildlife trends and possible impacts of the expanding and continuous anthropogenic activities that peril wildlife existence in the landscape. The game count was conducted in eight conservancies. Each conservancy established blocks to guide in data collection totaling to 43 blocks. The participants were divided into groups with each block having at least 3 participants; a driver, an observer and a recorder. For each block data were recorded in a data sheet and on a mobile phone in the CyberTracker app. The highest number among herbivores were respectively recorded for common zebra (N=3787), Thomson’s gazelle (N=3022), Grant’s gazelle (N=1531) and impala (N=1167). Lower numbers were recorded for Masai giraffe (N=374), eland (N=214), warthog (N=226), wildebeest (N=171), Coke’s hartebeest (N= 17), gerenuk (N=44), lesser kudu (N=10) and stein buck (N=1). The Coke’s hartebeest and wildebeest recorded a low number compared to the usual numbers that have been observed before the severe drought. Among birds, a select number of birds were recorded. Ostriches recorded the highest on the count among birds (N=530). Other birds observed were grey crowned crane (endangered), Kori bustard (near threatened), martial eagle (endangered), tawny eagle (vulnerable), grey heron (least concern) and Ruppel’s vulture (critically endangered). Five species of carnivores were recorded: bat eared fox (N=3), black backed jackal (N=42), hyena (N=166), cheetah (N=2) and lion (N=1). One python was recorded. Baboons (N=209), Sykes monkey (N=93) and vervet monkey (N=92) were also observed. Small mammals such as rock hyrax, mongoose, ground squirrel, African hare and porcupine were recorded as well as ad hoc observations during the game count. Maanzoni, Lukenya wildlife conservancy (Malinda ranch) and Kasanga ranch conducted a game count on 7th May 2023 which is a month prior to the joint game count. The three conservancies used the same methodology used during the 4th July game count. The data of the three conservancies’ game count is summarized separately and well stipulated in this report.