In an effort to promote sustainable tourism in Homa Bay County, the government has begun conducting a wild animal census at Ruma National Park.
The Wildlife Research and Training Institute, a division of the government, started conducting the census to determine the country’s population in order to promote tourism.
Inaccurate population data held by the government leads to ineffective management and conservation efforts for wild animals.
Wildlife Research and Training Institute’s research scientist Vasco Nyaga said they are capturing the animals on both the left and right sides using an aeroplane.
“Collection of data involves the use of current technology such as taking photographs and recording audios of the animals. There is a use of the GPS for mapping the location of the wild animals,” Nyaga said.
Present were the Natural Resources Management Scientist in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Joseph Gathua and KWS senior assistant director in charge of Western Conservancy Mungumi Chongwa.
Speaking to journalists during the exercise at Ruma National Park offices, Nyaga said the scientific method they are using in capturing the data is accurate and will give accurate result.
“The use of cameras to capture the animals enables us to verify the numbers we got. The census is done scientifically and accurately,” he said.
Ruma has a rare roan antelope species which makes it the only park with the wild animal in Kenya.
Besides the roan antelopes, the park has other wild animals such as buffalo, giraffe, hyena, white and black rhinos and zebra among others.
