Subsistence hunting and mammal conservation in a Kenyan coastal forest: resolving a conflict

Synopsis

Over 1000 local households hunt and trap a wide range of mammal species from Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya, including elephant-shrews, small rodents, bushpigs, duikers and two species of primate. Patterns of harvesting have changed over time: in particular the overall intensity has increased as a result of human population increases and a decline in wildlife habitat; different species are now targeted; and there has been an increase in trapping, particularly at the edge of the forest, and a decline in hunting. The available evidence suggests that primates and large ungulates are over-harvested, while current offtake rates of elephant-shrews, squirrels, bushpigs and duikers are probably sustainable. Species which are hunted, rather than trapped, are particularly vulnerable to overharvesting. While game meat harvesting is important for local people, both as a source of protein and to reduce crop raiding, over-harvesting will threaten mammal populations and reduce the biodiversity value of Arabuko-Sokoke. One possible solution may be to maintain the ban on hunting while allowing trapping on the forest periphery to continue, reducing the pressure on primates and large ungulates, and still allowing people to harvest the smaller species and control crop raiding.