Browsing by Author "Kjellander, Petter"

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    Effect of supplemental feeding on habitat and crop selection by wild boar in Sweden
    (Taylor & Francis, 2022-01) Muthoka, Cecilia M.; Andren, Henrik; Nyaga, Justin M.; Augustsson, Evelina; Kjellander, Petter
    The wild boar population has increased rapidly during the last 2 decades in Southern and Central Sweden. This rise in population size has caused severe damages to agricultural fields through their foraging behavior. Given the hierarch ical nature of habitat and resource selection, wildlife management needs to under stand the selection on both levels to better understand the ecology of nuisance species and mitigate the damages they infer. Thus, there is an urgent need for more knowledge on the factors that influence habitat selection as a tool in the evidence-based management of wild boar to reduce the losses they cause in the agricultural sector. This study aims to evaluate a common management action (feeding stations) influencing wild boar selection of (1) habitats and (2) resources i.e., crop types, in South-Central Sweden during summer. Eleven wild boars were fitted with GPS/GSM-collars to record movement among different habitats and crops. Wild boar shows a high preference for clear-cuts, agricultural fields, and deciduous forests. The animals showed a high preference for crop fields with oat, spring wheat, and mixed crops. A binary logistic model revealed both a positive and negative significant influence of distance to feeding stations on the selection of different habitats and crop fields. In general, feeding stations influenced the selec tion of different habitats and crops negatively i.e., the closer a habitat or crop field is to a feeding station, the higher the likelihood of its selection. The study recommends adjustments to wild boar management and cropping systems to reduce damages on highly selected crop fields.
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    Human-Wildlife conflicts at the interface between Mt. Kenya National Park/National Forest and small holder farming communities in Embu County
    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2021-06) Nyaga, Justine M.; Rock, Kim; Kjellander, Petter
    Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a common problem for many farming communities around protected areas like parks, reserves and forests all around the world. In Kenya where most farming occurs at smallholder levels, HWC:s could be highly significant as it may lead to a complete loss of crops and livestock. Such cases have previously been experienced by smallholder farming communities around Mt. Kenya national park/natural forest, but many have gone unreported. To minimise these conflicts, the government of Kenya, in collaboration with the Rhino Ark Foundation have constructed an electric fence around the forest. The main aim of this study was to collate and document experiences of crop raiding by wildlife on small holder farms in Embu County, Kenya that are adjacent to the forest. It also aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the electric wildlife fence along the forest line through Embu County. To achieve this, questionnaires were administered to 181 small holder farmers living and farming within 5 km of the electric fence on the approximately 60 km long forest line. The questionnaires sought to gather information on the wildlife species causing damages, the magnitude of damage suffered by the farmers on the crops and livestock before and after the construction of the fence, the interventions they have in place to prevent such damage and other suggestions to prevent wildlife raids. Wildlife cameras were also used to track wildlife activity at night time. A total of 169 questionnaires were retrieved and 455 pictures downloaded from the cameras. Results show that the percentage of crops destroyed by wildlife was significantly higher in the year before the wildlife fence was constructed in 2016 compared to the period after the fence (2016-19). Currently the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Kenyan African (Tachyoryctes ibeanus) were reported as the most frequent pests on crops after the fence construction. Elephants were the most severe crop raiders before the fence construction, but their raiding ceased completely after the fence installation. The white tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) and eagles (Accipitridae family) were the most frequently reported raiders on livestock. Maize, macadamia and bananas were the most commonly targeted crops while chickens were the most targeted livestock. Over 90% of the farmers indicated that the fence significantly contributed to a reduction of HWC:s. However, they also suggested additional fencing for both crops and livestock, as well as trapping and poisoning of raiders like moles and mongooses that were responsible for most of the crop damage and livestock attacks. This study recommends that farmers devise innovative ways of dealing with the threat of small animals. These may include aggressive fencing and growing crops and keeping livestock that are not targeted by small animals. It is also recommends that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) develop innovative ways of compensating affected farmers and prevent further loss. The KWS may also train farmers on procedures to follow in reporting cases of wildlife invasion and on food choices of various wildlife species inhabiting the forest so that they avoid growing crops or keeping livestock that are prime targets for wildlife.