Solomon Kyalo

Ethno-Ecological Study of the Hirola Antelope in Kenya

An adult male and sub-adult female Hirola Antelope on a recently burnt livestock grazing site.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Garissa
Tana River 		Kenya
Africa, Mammals14 Aug 2000

The Hirola Antelope, found only in the Garissa and Tana River districts of Kenya, is critically endangered. Only a small population of perhaps 1500-2000 individuals remains, despite efforts in the past to transplant populations to other areas such as the Tsavo East National Park. In-situ conservation is now seen as the species' best hope for survival.

This project aims to strengthen recent conservation efforts by the local communities through integrating traditional and scientific knowledge of the species. By working with existing conservation groups in the Hirola's home range, Solomon Kyolo will document traditional knowledge of the Hirola to explain the past population decline. He will investigate local communities' perceptions of the Hirola and its place within their culture and explore how these have changed with time. The objective is to use this traditional knowledge to identify and recommend interventions and strategies towards Hirola recovery and explore how to develop community conservation measures.

Project Update: May 2002

It is very interesting to see communities participating in wildlife conservation especially in Africa. It is easy to work with them if they can conceptualize conservation benefits and at the same time very difficult if they can not.

I wish to report at this time that my project has yielded. I am now writing my report on the implementation of my project. It was necessary to implement it gradually for it to be successful. We have covered all the activities of the project and as you will find in the report, it has been a task. We planned for an appraisal meeting for next week but we are rescheduling the activity due to weather uncertainties. It has rained so much in the Hirola range area that bringing together community representatives to the meeting is very difficult at this wet season. I will be updating you on my progress with the report.

Final Report

The implementation of the project brought together for the first time in the history of Hirola conservation, diverse interest groups mainly from among the communities in the Hirola range and those interested in the Hirola. All the groups discussed issues on conservation and management of the species and to develop a community driven plan of action. Implementation of the project resulted in:

•Efforts to Hirola conservation were boosted
•The local community forged a common stand, goal and voice in wildlife conservation in the north eastern province
•Potential areas that could be used as alternative refuge for the Hirola were considered for establishment of conservancy areas
•An integrated National Plan of Action to conserve and manage Hirola in Kenya developed. The plan emphasizes focus on hirola conservation in-situ and provide opportunities for the local communities in the species range to benefit from the conservation efforts
•Emphasis on and efforts towards in-situ conservation of the Hirola articulated
•Best options and approaches in the Hirola conservation set for integration into the action plan for Hirola conservation
•A long term conservation plan sorted for the Hirola and other wildlife in its range.


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