The government will embark on a global marketing strategy to market local parks and reserves .
According to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua the number of visitors currently being recorded in the parks and reserves is not impressive.
Speaking in Kwale county during the celebrations to mark World Wildlife Day, Mutua announced that the government will now embark on a marketing strategy to help boost the numbers,
"Why is it that our parks and reserves record low number of visitors, whey are we not creative enough and say we create something unique like here in Shimba hills when a visit comes they are also attracted to that unique thing and not just the animals.'' argued Mutua.
Adding "I want to announce here that we will be embarking on a marketing strategy to bring visitors to our parks and reserves.''
Mutua underscored the government’s commitment to wildlife conservation, highlighting the recent collaboration with the private sector in translocating 21 rhinos from various parks to the Loisaba Conservancy. He stated that the government needs collaborative efforts to achieve optimal wildlife conservation.
Kenya boasts an impressive natural heritage with over 25,000 species of wild animals and 7,000 species of plants, making it one of the most biodiverse countries in Africa. The wildlife conservation and management act of 2013 mandates the Kenya wildlife service to conserve wildlife and their habitats wherever they occur.
The CS noted the increasing trend of devolving conservation efforts, with landowners in wildlife rich areas taking on management responsibilities. This decentralised approach aims to involve local communities in the preservation of their natural surroundings.
“The government’s long term strategy in conservation involves sustained collaboration with communities, conservation partners and stakeholders in the tourism industry”, said Dr Mutua.
On human- wildlife conflict the CS revealed that the government will soon be launching a compensation plans to the victims of the conflict which turned out to be a major debate during the event.
Mutua further directed the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to rehabilitate it's airstrips saying they are currently on a bad state.
"Our airstrips are in a really bad state, no aircraft can actually land them. I want you (KWS) to start the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the airstrips before the beginning of the long rains.''
Key events during the World Wildlife Day celebrations included the launch of the Sable Antelope and Action plan (2022-2031) . Sable population has been facing threats from poaching, snaring, inbreeding and predation.
Sable antelope population reduced from 265 in 1960 to the current number of 56 individuals. Mitigation measures put in place to raise numbers include enhanced electric fencing which has been improved to 14 strands. Construction of water dams alongside awareness creation are among the measures being undertaken to save the sable.
The Kenya wildlife service is also undertaking restocking of herbivores including the Sables to reduce predation . During the event the Diani-Chale Marine national reserve was also commissioned. The event was attended by by the chairman of KWS board of trustees Lt. Gen (rtd) Walter Raria Kaiptanon, Kwale county Governor Fatuma Achani among other guests.
