𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) today hosted the 15th Carnivore Conference, a two day event bringing together scientists, researchers, policymakers, and community representatives united under the theme: “Enhancing Carnivore Conservation and Co-existence through Pragmatic Approaches to Human Carnivore Conflict Mitigation.” The conference was officially opened by the Principal Secretary State Department for Wildlife, Ms. Silvia Museiya.

In her remarks during the event, the PS said conservation cannot thrive in isolation, but thrives where communities have ownership, where counties have capacity, where researchers have support, and where partners have trust with the goal being making coexistence not just a policy, but a way of life.

She implored on the stakeholders to collaborate in the execution of the National Carnivore Conservation Strategy, scaling up human wildlife conflict mitigation, and guaranteeing benefits sharing to the very households that share space with wildlife.

Reiterating this call for unity, KWS Board Chairman Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Koipaton once again affirmed the Board’s commitment of advancing human wildlife coexistence.

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Koipaton  said predation does not only lead to economical loss but emotional loss as well. The chair said, Conservation should speak the people’s language as much as science, making communities shareholders in conservation.

KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga emphasized the balance between tradition, culture, and state-of-the-art science in safeguarding Kenya’s carnivore heritage

The DG said the relationship with predators has always been complex a mixture of fear, admiration, and fascination. Yet, their survival is increasingly at risk. He called on adoption of pragmatic, inclusive, and science-based approaches that will make conservation beneficial to the herder, the farmer, and the nation at large. 

The forum also featured an interactive exhibition that showed conservation innovations and success stories from Tsavo, Laikipia, Amboseli, and the Maasai Mara ecosystems where human-carnivore coexistence is already practiced.

KWS remains steadfast in leading collaborative, science-driven solutions that ensure both communities and carnivores thrive side by side. 

#ThrivingWildlifeForever #TunzaMaliYako