February 2019, ScientificAmerican.com 13TONY K ARUMBA
Getty Images
CONSERVATIONGhosts of
Wildlife Past
ivestock and ildli e in Kenya
can thrive together en a nati na ar serve as oases in an
increasingly human-cro ded orld, but they
are not a conservation panacea. As in much
o ast A rica, a striking t o thirds o the
country’s ildli e resides outside o national
parks—and these animals are not elcome
visitors or many lando ners, ho see them
as competition or livestock. But in a rare
in- in situation or humans and nature,
researchers have no sho n that livestock
D³lÿ§l§
x`D³Ux³xî
ß ̧xD` ̧îxßÜä
presence. A study published last October in
Nature Sustainability ound that ildli e can
boost bottom lines by providing opportuni-
ties or tourism, and livestock improve the
uality o grass or all grazing species.
ecent history explains this symbiosis.
Animals and savanna grasses evolved
together or millennia—but Kenya’s ild-
li e population dropped by about per-
cent bet een and , according to
a PLOS ONE study. With e er ani-
mals around to encourage ne gro th by
removing old and dead grass stems, it
äxxä§þxäî ̧`¦DþxäîxÇÇxl³î ̧§§îDî
ecological role.
“ hink o livestock as the ghosts o
ildli e past, says Felicia Keesing, a com-
munity ecologist at Bard College and lead
author o the ne study. “Without theassist rom livestock, ildli e could keep
going into a do n ard spiral.
Keesing and her colleagues ocused on
aikipia, a heavily ranched region home to
percent o Kenya’s ildli e but no
national parks. he researchers looked into
common lando ner concerns about dis-
ease transmission and competition by sur-
veying ticks, grass uality and animal num-
bers at 3 properties covering percent
o aikipia. ome properties had only live-
stock or ildli e others ere integrated.
o the team members’ surprise, they ound
̧³§āUx³xîä³` ̧U³³ ̧lxßDîx³ø-
bers o cattle and ildli e. At mixed prop-
erties, livestock treated or ticks reduced
the overall number o those pathogen-car-
rying parasites by 5 percent—and grass
uality as higher than in livestock- or
ildli e-only areas, hich tended to be
overgrazed or undergrazed, respectively.
“ o me, one o the most amazing things
about this ork is that ildli e conser vation
D³lßD³`³`D³Ux³xîxD` ̧îxß ̧þxß
big spatial scales, says acob oheen, an
animal ecologist at the niversity o Wyo-
ming, ho as not involved in the study.
Keesing notes, though, that drought,
poverty and politics can easily overpo er
äø`ä ̧§øî ̧³äͳöć¿è"D¦ÇDäøxßxl
a series o violent raids by cattle herders
rom other parts o drought-stricken
Kenya. “People and ildli e in this region
Dþxøßxl ̧øîÿDāäî ̧` ̧xĀäîîDî`D³
ork, Keesing says. “But the ecological,
economic and social potential o this kind
o management can be stressed by cir-
cumstances largely beyond their control.
— Rachel NuwerCattle and zebras graze at a pri-
vate wildlife conservancy in Kenya.Explore Panama with Caravan Tours.FREE Tour Catalog
Call 1-800-CARAVAN
Caravan.comand Panama Canal Cruise
8-Day Guided Tour $ 1295
Call now for choice dates.Fully Guided Tours Since 1952“
Brilliant, Affordable Pricing
—Arthur Frommer, Travel Editor”Caravan makes it so easy - and so
affordable - for you and your family
to visit Panama. Explore rainforests,
sandy beaches, and take two daytime
cruises on the Panama Canal.
Your Panama tour is all-inclusive
with all hotels, all meals, all ground
transportation, all activities, and a
great itinerary with a professional
7RXU'LUHFWRUIURPVWDUWWRÀQLVK
Discover why smart shoppers and
experienced travelers have chosen
Caravan Tours since 1952.
Let Caravan handle all the details
while you and your family enjoy a
well-earned, worry-free vacation.
¡Hasta la vista!Choose an Affordable Tour
10 days Guatemala with Tikal
9 days Costa Rica Natural Paradise
8 days Panama Canal Cruise & Tour
10 days Nova Scotia and P. E. Island
9 days Canada Rockies with Glacier
8 days California Coast, Yosemite
8 days Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion
8 days Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore
8 days New England Fall Foliage© 2019 Scientific American