Lake Bogoria Landscape (LBL) is home to the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). The LBNR is recognized as a World Heritage Site, a Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area for its role in biodiversity conservation. The Greater Kudu though categorized as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, it is considered threatened within the Lake Bogoria Landscape (LBL) due to land degradation. In 2019 a study was conducted to assess the impact of anthropogenic pressure on the behavior and dispersal patterns of the Greater Kudu within the LBL. The study methodologies included surveys using line transects, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The threats to the Greater Kudu conservation within the LBL in order of severity are: Habitat loss due to agriculture and charcoal production >Competition for resources from livestock keepers >Expansion of human settlements >Trophy hunting >Bushmeat poaching. The pressure on the kudu population and its habitat is exacerbated by low literacy levels, socioeconomic and political marginalization, inadequate land tenure policies, vulnerability to climatic variability. Our line transect survey results indicated the Greater kudu’s dispersal area during the dry period extends into agricultural fields of the neighbouring agropastoral Endorois and Illchamus communities and thus heightened human/wildlife conflicts. On a positive note though, our study found out that more than 70% of the local communities embrace traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) in the conservation of wildlife including the Greater kudu. There is need for increased funding for the Greater Kudu conservation initiatives within the Bogoria Landscape.
**Lecture to be presented by Prof George Ogendi, Egerton University, Kenya
