The herbivores in Kenya are in danger

Experts claim that more and more species in Kenya are approaching the red line. Thomson's deer (Eudorcas thomsonii), warthogs (Phacochoerus), ramy beisa (Oryx beisa) (pictured) are just three of many other species whose number has decreased in recent decades by about 70%

Anyone who has visited the reserves and open spaces in Kenya knows the sight of the huge herds of herbivores: deer of various species, zebras and buffaloes filled the area from horizon to horizon. Fill in the past tense because according to surveys the number of animals is decreasing. Israeli travelers have shifted the focus of nature trips from Kenya to Tanzania, but for many others, Kenya and its reserves are one of the highlights of a trip to Africa.

Old visitors to Kenya feel that they see less and less animals in the field, now the feeling is justified. Experts claim that more and more species in Kenya are approaching the red line. Thomson's deer (Eudorcas thomsonii), warthogs (Phacochoerus), ramy beisa (Oryx beisa) (pictured) are just three of many other species whose numbers have decreased in recent decades by about 70%.
The number of Kobus (Kobus) and Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) fell below 2000 individuals, which puts them in serious danger of extinction.
Dr. Joseph Ogutu, who serves as a senior statistician at the Bioinformatics unit of the University of Hohenheim in Germany, conducted aerial surveys of wildlife in Kenya from 1977 to 2018. Ogutu attributes the fall in numbers to the growth of the human population which leads to an increase in numbers the sheep and cattle, as well as climate change.

According to the study published in the journal Earth and Environment (https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/38859/), violent invasions of cattle herds into reserves increased by more than 1000% in the decades under review. The herds of cattle and sheep cause overgrazing, which results in a decrease in food sources for wild animals. The intrusion of herds into reserves and overgrazing in open areas has harmed the wild animal population. There was a huge increase in cultivated areas outside the reserves, but the villagers were not satisfied with that and invaded the areas of the reserves as well.
The intrusion of herds of cattle and sheep into reserves causes wild animals to invade cultivated areas and damage crops, which leads to friction as well as the danger of disease transmission to domesticated animals and people. Although the number of cows decreased, at the same time the number of sheep and goats increased by about 80%. It is known that goats are less "picky" and therefore when there is no supervision and regulation, their injury in the field is great.

The constant increase in the human population and in the agricultural areas creates pressure on the environment and causes devastating consequences for animals and wild plants. According to Dr. Aguto "despite efforts and resources invested in conservation attempts, a loss of about 70% in the last forty years is a serious injury."

In addition to the general statistics, there are species whose number has decreased by almost 90%. In 1913, seven species were defined as critically endangered, 19 species were defined as endangered and 37 species as vulnerable. In addition, 44 endangered habitats (ecosystems) were defined.

One of the reactions of herders to climate change is to move to raising camels, which are better suited than cattle to the dry and hot conditions that are becoming more and more frequent. Since the camels are a relatively new factor, it is not clear how they affect the pastures and the wildlife, but it is clear that the combination of warming, periods of drought and dryness with some competition is harming the wildlife's chances.

The global warming that causes periods of drought worsens the destruction of habitats and causes the fragmentation and separation of habitats, which makes it more difficult for the animals and endangers the survival chances of the herbivores. That is why Dr. Ogoto says that: "When Kenya's biodiversity is in danger, it is essential to understand what contributes to its loss, so that it is possible to improve wildlife conservation."
According to him, "There is a glimmer of hope in the launch of the conservation plan (The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act in 2013 in Kenya), but it is necessary to improve the plan in order to see progress."

And I will add in my own way that instead of controlling the environment for the sake of the human population, there should be control of the human population for the sake of the environment.