Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) arises when wildlife shares the same physical space with humans. According to [1] , HWC is a “contentious issue” that negatively impacts on the local resident’s socio-economic dimensions, while at the same time wildlife species are legally protected both nationally and internationally. Historically, HWC has been in existence since the dawn of humankind. For example, [2] affirmed that the first hominids fell prey to the animals with which they shared their habitats and shelters. In modern times, HWC can be “real or perceived, economic or aesthetic, social or political’’ [3] . HWC has been considered as a global problem occurring both in developed and developing world [4] [5] . The conflict is rapidly becoming a key issue to the wildlife conservationist and managers with increased interest by more people to actively participate in wildlife management decisions [6] .

HWC involves a wide range of occurrence environments and species from the grain poaching rodents to the man eating tigers (Panthera tigris) of the world [7] . For instance, in the Sanjiangyuan region of China, the brown bears are reported to raid villages and damage foods stores and kill sheep. It is estimated that the cost of addressing the damages ranges from $700 to $2800, which exceeds most family’s annual income [8] . In the United States of America (USA), [9] found out that vehicle collisions with the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were injuring upto 29,000 people and damaging properties worthy more than $1 billion annually in rural counties. In Manitoba Canada, conflict between elk (Cervus elaphus) and the farmers had been documented since 1880. However, the creation of the Riding Mountain National Park in 1930 and a ban in hunting increased the elk population and intensified elk-farmers conflicts. Elks damage fences and crops estimated to be over $ 24,000 annually and they are also associated with the spread of bovine tuberculosis to dairy cattle [10] .

In Africa, most countries still hold a considerable number of wildlife, and HWC is very high. This has been attributed to the poverty, defective institutions, and over-reliance of people on natural resources, which increases their contact with wildlife. Studies have shown that some communities in Africa lose up to 10% - 15% of their agricultural produce to elephants, a figure which might seem low nationally, but very significant to individual families [11] . Wildlife also kills and injures people, for example, in Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, where 70 people were killed by elephants in 2001-2002 while protecting their crops at night, while in Tanzania, 28 people were killed and 57 other injured by crocodiles between 1999-2004.

The Kenya wildlife heritage is a key asset for the tourism sector which accounts for about 10% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the third largest contributor to the GDP after agriculture and manufacturing. Wildlife tourism is occasionally the leading foreign exchange earner in Kenya, generating upto Ksh 75.2 billion (about US $1 billion) per year. The tourism sector accounts for about 9% of total formal employment in the country. Studies have previously established that approximately 70% of the gross tourism earnings in Kenya and 5% of total GDP can be attributed to the spectacular wildlife heritage in the country. Consequently, one of the key goals of Kenya Vision 2030 is to ensure that the wildlife heritage is protected and the annual revenue from the tourism sector is increased to about Ksh 180 billion. The establishment of wildlife heritage conservation areas in Kenya during the colonial times marked a major departure from communal or customary ownership of wildlife heritage to the state property regime. Since then, many wildlife heritage conservation areas have been surrounded by hostile people who have no sympathy for the wildlife which they consider as government property. This has also led to a wide range of HWC challenges. Between 2000 and 2007, for example, over 200 people were reported to have been killed by elephants in Kenya [12] .

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya’s state agency mandated to protect and conserve wildlife, together with other conservation stakeholders have introduced a number of HWC mitigation strategies to reduce the tension between people and wildlife. The most common are compensation scheme for livestock killed by carnivores, lion monitoring to alert the herds and evade lion areas, land zoning for wildlife and grazing, lion lights installation and predator-proof bomas. A boma is a Kiswahili term for a livestock or household compound enclosing structure.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of predator-proof bomas (PPB) as a HWC mitigation strategy in three community group ranches within the Amboseli region, namely Olgulului, Imbirikani and Kimana/Tikondo. The study was designed to fill up the identified gaps in the project so as to help inform future replications and designs by implementing organizations. In addition, there is an increasing pressure from the donors for “evidence” and hence the need for evidence-based conservation. The evidence is essential in measuring the effects of such projects and therefore providing a basis upon which donors, beneficiaries, researchers and the implementing organizations can replicate the project in other areas experiencing similar problems. [13] and [14] asserts that the effectiveness of conservation interventions in reducing conflicts has not always been adequately assessed. According to [15] , while considerable effort has been made to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, the evaluation of the success or failure of such interventions, has lagged behind. [16] also emphasized that judging the effectiveness of conservation interventions in different contexts is absolutely essential to ensuring that overstretched and scarce conservation funds go as far as possible in achieving conservation outcomes. Little has been done regarding the assessment of the predator-proof boma in mitigating conflict in Amboseli except for the study by [17] which dwelled on the human-carnivore conflict in Elerai and Olitiyiani conservancies. No studies had been conducted to assess the predator-proof bomas as a tool for mitigating conflict with carnivores in the livestock-dominated group ranches around Amboseli National Park. The specific objectives of the study were to: a) establish the most problematic predator on livestock attacks in the Amboseli group ranches and assess the local community’s attitude towards the main problematic carnivores, b) describe the community opinions on the effectiveness of the predator-proof barrier in mitigating livestock predation, c) assess the perceived social-eco- nomic benefits of predator-proof barriers to the beneficiary households and compare traditional bomas and predator-proof bomas characteristics.

The Amboseli ecosystem is located in the Loitokitok sub-county on the boarder of Kenya and Tanzania. The sub-county is located at the southern end of the Kajiado County between longitudes 36˚5' and 37˚55' East and between latitude 1˚10' and 3˚10' South [18] . The Amboseli ecosystem comprises of six group ranches: Olgulului, Kimana/Tikondo, Kuku, Rombo and Eselenkei which cover an area of about 506,329 hectares (Figure 1) [19] . The ecosystem is a semi-arid characterized by a warm and dry climate [20] , and receives a bimodal rainfall pattern, with short rains between October and December, and the long rains between March and May. The annual mean rainfall ranges from 500 - 600 mm while the annual average temperature is 18.9˚C [21] . The main vegetation type species are Acacia, Commiphora and Balanites spp. species, while the dominant grass is Pennisetum and Chloris guyana species [21] . The sub-county is rich in natural endowment with range of wildlife species such as elephants, buffalo, Zebra, cheetah, hyena, lions, wildebeests, giraffes, elands among others [21] . The Amboseli ecosystem is estimated to have 64 ± 20.96 lions, 272 ± 59.31 hyena and 25.56 ± 3.53 jackals [19] , with over 400 species of birds [22] . Pastoralism is the main economic activity with over 75% of the population deriving their livelihood from livestock which accounts for 60% of the total labour force [17] [21] . About 31% practice both livestock keeping and crop cultivation, 22% practice crop farming only, 2% are employed and 1% rely on small scale business [17] .

The PPB project in the study area entails upgrading the traditional Maasai manyatta by adding posts, rolls of chain-links and flattened oil drum doors. In March 2015, a total of 175 traditional Maasai bomas had been upgraded to “Predator-Proof” status both in Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem in Kenya and West Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The project is implemented on a cost sharing basis, with community members contributing 25% of the material and operation costs [23] . The project focuses on livestock predation at night and intend to change the perception of the beneficiaries of the project and encourage others to adopt the PPB. However, livestock predation in the field while grazing is likely to negatively influence the community attitudes to the project and the predators. There is also the question of whether the PPB are “diverting” predators to the traditional bomas (unfenced) or not. This study was conducted between 29^th April and 8^th May 2015, and the study area comprised of six key clusters, namely: Imbirikani group ranch (MGR), Olgulului group ranch (OGR), Eselenkei group ranch (EGR), Kuku/Rombo group ranch (K/RGR), Enduimet and Kimana/Tikondo (KGR/Tikondo) with 175 predator-proof bomas which formed the target population.

The latest map of predator-proof bomas location and a list of their respective GPS were obtained from the Born Free Foundation. Although, the entire Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro region had a total of 175 predator-proof

bomas, we concentrated on MGR, OGR and KGR/Tikondo which had the highest number of chain-link fenced bomas that had been in existence for at least six months since fortification. This study dwelled on Maasai pastoralist who own bomas only. Random sampling method was used in selecting respondents from each cluster. The purpose of choosing this method was to avoid bias and ensuring a representative sample is selected. The sampling procedures used were as follows:

Ÿ Stage one: From the six clusters, elimination method was used to select three cluster-MGR, KGR/Tikondo and OGR. The selected clusters had at least 50% of the PPBs having been in existence for more than six months.

Ÿ Stage two: All the homesteads in the three clusters that were picked were then awarded numerical 1 - 3 separately to form a sampling frame. Numbers were then assigned to households in three selected clusters. The numbers for each cluster were then written onto separate pieces of papers and folded. All the folded papers were thereafter put in a basket and thoroughly shaken to mix them up. Numbers were then drawn from the basket, one after another, until the sample size of 15 per cluster was reached. Using the paired experimental design, for every predator-proof boma sampled, a traditional boma (control) within a range of a kilometre (to avoid overlapping with the next PPB) was selected at random using the North, South, East and West directions. Using this procedure, a sample size of 90 was randomly obtained for the study.

Ÿ Stage three: The areas to be survey were first visited by the researchers and a permission to carry out the survey granted by the respective local leaders. Six locally trained enumerators were trained by the researcher on the objectives of the survey and the approach to be employed. The questionnaires was pre-tested in group ranches (Eselenkei and Rombo), outside the three selected study area to ensure that all questions are clear, and a final version prepared before sampling took place.

Primary data was gathered through a face-to-face interview using questionnaires, photographs and field measurements while secondary data was obtained from existing map of the area, predator-proof boma unpublished project reports, articles and magazines. Data from the respondents was collected using questionnaires which had precise and closed questions with a list of possible answers to each question, and a board and open questions giving respondents an opportunity to freely express their opinions. The questionnaire had four parts, the first designed to provide respondent’s background and boma characteristics such as area of resident, gender and age categories, livestock numbers, size of households, location and type of boma. The second part sought information on the performance of the traditional bomas on livestock losses, and the third part had questions to determine the performance of the predator-proof bomas. The second and third sections examined the livestock losses both in the boma and in the field grazing, predators involved in the attacks, respondents rating of the boma types and frequency of livestock guarding at night. The fourth part had information on community’s perception on human-predator conflicts. This section had questions pertaining mainly to the most problematic predators and seasonality of predations both in the boma and in the field while livestock are grazing.

The questionnaires were administered to the 90 respondents. Before beginning the interview, the general purpose of the study was explained to each willing respondent and the confidentially of their information assured. The homestead heads were targeted as the respondents but in case where they were absence, their wives or another permanent resident adult (above 18 years) were interviewed. Each enumerator, administered 5 questionnaires per day for a period of 3 days. In addition to the questionnaires the study included field measurements and observations. This involved the measurement of the circumferences of the boma, thickness and height of the boma wall using a 100 m length tape measure. The distance between the observed nearest habitats type that can conceal a predator was determined by pacing. The damaged parts of the boma were determined by observation and counting.

Data processing, tallying and analysis was done at Microsoft Excel-Pivot Tables software 2013 and SPSS statistical package version 20.0. Data on sample households characteristics were treated according to clusters: OGR, MGR and KGR. Correlation tests were used to determine relationships between characteristics among the three area and paired-students t-test used to test significance difference in traditional boma and predator-proof bomas characteristics. Other data on boma characteristics, performance of the boma on livestock losses and community perceptions on human-predator conflicts were analyzed by calculating means, percentages and frequencies. Where questions had alternative answers on a Likert scale (such as Agree, Disagree, Strongly Agree, Strongly Disagree and Don’t Know) were tested using modes to evaluate the opinion of the community.

In conclusion, our study findings suggest that predator-proof bomas are effective in reducing livestock predation at night. However, the effectiveness of the boma is largely depending on the size, livestock numbers, number of entrances to the boma and the type of predator that challenges the boma. The predator-proof bomas have also proved to be a highly valued mitigation measure by the respondents. Of importance is the maintenance aspect to avoid creating avenue for predator entry into fortified bomas. A change in herding practices can reduce livestock loss in fields and hence supplement the predator-proof boma project effects. Human-carnivore conflicts are a regular occurrence in Amboseli homesteads, with predation problem on livestock being more pronounced in the field than in the traditional bomas.

Although several species of predators are involved in the livestock loss, hyenas are singled out as the most problematic predator, disliked by the respondents. This can be attributed to its nature of attacks and the number of livestock losses it causes at a go. The respondents are averagely tolerant to the predators. The small proportion that thought otherwise should be given more attention to deter any possible retaliatory killings of the predators. Promoting positive attitudes to predators and helping individuals to understand the value of predator in the landscape could still be necessary to reduce human-predator conflict in Amboseli, particularly as predators not only attack households at night, but also livestock grazing in the field. Depredation can result to considerable losses for individuals, and some pastoralists may continue to harbor negative attitudes towards carnivores despite the existence of fortified bomas.

The livestock predation results to both social and economic losses to the community. The findings of this study suggest that conflicts could be significantly be reduced by improving husbandry practices. Therefore, human-wildlife conflict mitigation project should not only minimize conflicts, but also enhance the livelihood of the beneficiaries. The predator-proof bomas are larger than the traditional bomas. This is as result of PPBs providing safety for livestock at night and reducing livestock predations at night. The study also demonstrates that the larger the boma, the more attacks it is likely to have. Larger bomas had more entrances, more livestock and people. More gates are expected to be easy entry points for predators and high number of livestock reduces the durability of the bomas structure. However, the presence of more people was contrarily to the expectations, that more people would be an additional security. Therefore, it is the structure of the boma that determine the predation incidences and not the attentiveness and number of people in it.

Based on the findings, it is recommended that awareness campaigns should be carried out to encourage the community to keep vigilance of livestock during grazing in the field to avoid predation during the day. The livestock should also be returned home early enough and counted, so that any lost livestock in the bush can immediately be searched before dark. The construction and maintenance of the predator-proof boma should be encouraged as a long term solution to livestock loss at night and regular maintenance is done for durability of the structure.

David OwinoManoa,FrancisMwaura, (2016) Predator-Proof Bomas as a Tool in Mitigating Human-Predator Conflict in Loitokitok Sub-County Amboseli Region of Kenya. Natural Resources,07,28-39. doi: 10.4236/nr.2016.71003