This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is facing a daunting task in Ndere National Park, Kisumu, as the rising waters of Lake Victoria threaten the existence of the protected tourist site.
Already, part of the island, home to several breeds of wildlife including the rare Sitatunga antelopes, has been submerged by the erratic waters.
Experts attribute the swelling waters to climate change, with the levels of the water going beyond two meters, according to the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.
With the developments, KWS now joins the list of other establishments counting heavy losses as a result of the swelling waters, including Kenya Ports Authority, which has seen some of its jetties consumed by the swollen lake.
Residents living next to the island on the mainland have presented a petition to KWS, complaining about the frequent attacks by wild animals from the park, including snakes and hippo attacks.
Records from KWS indicate that in the past three months, the number of cases of human-wildlife conflict has rapidly increased to 300, with more than 100 cases reported per month.
Ali Juma, a resident from Usoma, protested the slow-paced compensation from KWS, claiming that even after reporting several attacks on his family by wild animals, no action has been taken.
“It is a concern because we do not know how high the water levels will rise. It is a rare phenomenon that has affected the park adversely,” said a senior warder who sought anonymity.
Questions remain where the animals could be relocated to after the other facility based in Kisumu Impala Park is also facing a similar fate.
