The Tsavo ecosystem consists of two national parks (Tsavo East and Tsavo West) that together encompass one of the largest terrestrial protected areas in Kenya. The Taita Hills are surrounded by these parks and are intimately connected to them ecologically and economically.
Geography and Coverage
Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park cover a combined area of approximately 20,000 square kilometers. The parks are separated by the highway and railway that run through the region. The Taita Hills rise within or near this ecosystem, creating a dramatic landscape of highland and lowland terrain.
Wildlife Populations
The Tsavo ecosystem is home to large populations of elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and numerous other wildlife species. The parks support one of the largest elephant populations in Kenya, numbering in the thousands. The diverse wildlife makes Tsavo one of Kenya's most important wildlife conservation areas.
History and Establishment
Tsavo National Park was established in the 1940s as a protected wildlife area. The parks were created during the colonial period but have been managed and expanded since independence. The parks have experienced periods of poaching pressure, particularly of elephants for ivory, which devastated elephant populations in the 1980s.
Tourism and Economy
The Tsavo parks are a major tourism destination, attracting visitors from around the world. Tourism based on wildlife viewing generates significant economic activity, including lodges, guides, transport services, and other hospitality services. Much of this tourism is concentrated on the eastern side of the highway.
Relationship with Taita Communities
Taita communities live in areas adjacent to the parks and have complex relationships with the wildlife. Human-wildlife conflict occurs when elephants and other animals leave the parks and damage crops or threaten people. Conservation efforts attempt to balance wildlife protection with the needs of surrounding communities.
Ecological Integration
The Taita Hills are ecologically integrated with the Tsavo ecosystem. Water from the hills feeds rivers in Tsavo. Wildlife corridors connect the parks to the hills and other protected areas. However, habitat fragmentation and settlement patterns increasingly constrain this ecological integration.
See Also
Sources
- Mosley, Paul. "The Settler Economies of Kenya and Southern Rhodesia, 1900-1963". Oxford University Press, 1983. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/
- Kenya Wildlife Service. "Tsavo East and West National Parks Management Plan 2014-2024". Government of Kenya, 2014. https://www.kws.go.ke/
- Newmark, William D. "Tropical forest fragmentation and the local extinction of understory birds in eastern Tanzania". Conservation Biology, 1991. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/