MPUS KUTUK (KIPSING) CONSERVANCY

Background

Mpus Kutuk (Kipsing) Conservancy (an area of 52,500 ha) is a young conservation initiative of Samburu communities currently living on part of the defunct Livestock Management Division. The conservancy is only one of two NRT community conservancies in Isiolo District and will be critical in connecting community conservancies to the south in Laikipia District (Il Ngwesi, Lekurruki and Naibunga) and to the north in Samburu District (Kalama, Meibae, Namunyak, Sera and West Gate). The benefits to conservation of having this area under integrated wildlife and livestock management by the local community is likely to be great in future.

Species Conservation

The Kipsing area is a vital corridor for wildlife dispersing between Laikipia District to the south and Samburu District to the north, and is identified as one of the most critical areas requiring conservation intervention within the Ewaso ecosystem in northern Kenya. This conservancy  is home to giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, lesser kudu, cheetah, eland, Oryx, elephant and lion, amongst other wildlife. Migratory populations of elephant frequently pass through this corridor and poaching has become a serious concern in the area. Giraffe and eland are two other species that have been seriously poached for meat in the past.

The community recently assigned scouts and a radio operator (as communication through the radio network is vital to improving security for both people and wildlife in the region) to monitor and protect wildlife in the area. Regular anti-poaching patrols are carried out within and outside the conservancy, particularly east of the Ngare Ndare River.These scouts have been trained in standardised data collection techniques that will provide long-term information on species trends and their threats in future. Most importantly though, these scouts play a huge role sensitising community on conservation, as well as alleviating human-wildlife conflict.

It is critical to continue to support and provide further training for community scouts in anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring activities. More radio communication equipment is also needed for regular communication between conservancy scouts and neighbouring community conservancies, like Lekurruki to the south and West Gate to the north.

Business Development

Considering that the Kipsing area falls under the Livestock Management Division (and therefore, government property), it is currently  quite difficult, if not impossible, to commence any kind of solid business development in this region. However, mobile camping safaris used to take place, until this suddenly stopped last year. Plans are underway to revitalise these mobile camping safaris by marketing the Kisping region to potential tour operators.

The Future of Mpus Kutuk Conservancy

• Provide capacity development and support to conservancy board and management team;
• Support the development and procurement of infrastructure and equipment;
• Provide security training and support to conservancy scouts and ensure frequent anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring patrols;
• Facilitate community liaison between Kipsing Conservancy and neighbouring community conservancies, namely Lekurruki and West Gate, for regular communication, planning and conflict resolution;
• Strengthen wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching activities,  especially  MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants);
• Hold community meetings  in terms of  identifying  the core conservation area;
• Identification of rangeland rehabilitation areas and activities;
• On-going joint grazing management with Lekurruki and West Gate Conservancies;
• Further market the Kipsing region as an ideal location for mobile/ camping safaris.