Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Zoological Society of London

Contractor:
Zoological Society of London (ZSL)

Project Code: 031-680-048	Start Date: 01-Apr-92	End Date: 01-Mar-95
Commitment: £98,000	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Kenya's rangelands support one of the most abundant and diverse fauna in the world, both inside and outside protected areas, presenting numerous opportunities for sustainable utilisation and socio-economic development. Indeed, over 30% of Kenya's foreign exchange revenue is derived through tourism, most of which is based on the attraction of its wildlife, whilst the use of wild resources is a reality of everyday life supplementing rural incomes considerably.

This important national resource, however, is under immense pressure. Kenya's human population is burgeoning; most agriculturally productive land has been exploited and settled with vast areas (20% of the country) now devoid of the forests and animals once abundant. Marginal areas are also under pressure, so too protected areas, due to social, economic and political factors. Morever, wildlife and people are inextricably linked and conflicts are intensifying, the costs of which are paid for by wildlife and rural, usually poor, people.

Wildlife requires management and professional expertise, not only to conserve it but to alleviate human/wildlife conflicts and develop sustainable utilisation options. The usefulness of veterinary work as part of wildlife management and research has become apparent in recent times and the lack of such expertise within Kenya was identified as being a critical factor if successful wildlife utilisation and conservation objectives were to be achieved.

Project Objectives:
To establish a Vet Investigation Unit which will have capacity to evaluate disease outbreaks, take appropriate action and identify areas of disease risk.

To provide an integrated veterinary section in KWS to service management and research needs for biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development. To integrate the veterinary activities of KWS into the broader veterinary and research community in Kenya thereby developing a wider professional and academic infrastructure.

Intended Outputs:
The role of the veterinary unit is to:

* provide a conduit for the resolution of human/wildlife conflicts due to disease, animal incursions, and competition with domestic stock.

* assist with the development of the economic utilisation of wildlife through tourism, ie: maintenance of obviously healthy populations of species, and through such enterprises as ostrich farming which require considerable veterinary input.

* train Kenyan nationals to assume responsibility for wildlife management with skill and confidence.

* develop the institutional capacity of KWS.