By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By David (Jonah) Western

October 16, 2026

Six decades on from studying the ecology of Amboseli, I wrote in We Alone. How Humans Have Conquered the Planet.

By David (Jonah) Western

October 6, 2026

Last week saw the worst fires in years envelop Kilimanjaro.

By David (Jonah) Western

September 25, 2026

The extensive flooding in March of 2026 caused the closure of the Amboseli airstrip.

Post-Drought Perceptions of Herders on Livestock Production in the Amboseli Ecosystem: Impacts, Coping Strategies, and Future Sustainability

Authored by : David Western
Posted on September 5, 2023

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By David (Jonah) Western

October 16, 2026

Six decades on from studying the ecology of Amboseli, I wrote in We Alone. How Humans Have Conquered the Planet.

By David (Jonah) Western

October 6, 2026

Last week saw the worst fires in years envelop Kilimanjaro.

By David (Jonah) Western

September 25, 2026

The extensive flooding in March of 2026 caused the closure of the Amboseli airstrip.

Posted on September 5, 2023

By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

Recent Posts

By David (Jonah) Western

October 28, 2026

Ecotourism Kenya celebrated its 30th anniversary at festive gala held at the Hyatt Regency on 16th of October.

By David (Jonah) Western

October 16, 2026

Six decades on from studying the ecology of Amboseli, I wrote in We Alone. How Humans Have Conquered the Planet.

By David (Jonah) Western

October 6, 2026

Last week saw the worst fires in years envelop Kilimanjaro.

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September 25, 2026

The extensive flooding in March of 2026 caused the closure of the Amboseli airstrip.

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Herders from Amboseli, who are members of a community visited JKUAT.

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The deaths of two more elephants in the Amboseli area last week bring the total to 19, further fueling speculation

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Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) statisticians this week took Bayesian inference back 1 million years.

By Dr. David Jonah Western

August 5, 2026

Sixteen elephants have died in Amboseli in just a few weeks, alarming conservationists and the Maasai community

By David Western, Victor N. Mose*, David Maitumo, Winfridah Kemunto, Sakimba Kimiti, Immaculate Ombongi, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

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The latest Amboseli Ecosystem Outlook Report combines perspectives from local herders and livestock traders

By Victor N. Mose

July 22, 2026

Fireworks displaying EU–Kenya relations rocked the skyline in Loresho at Shamba Café, lighting up the evening sky

Contact Us

Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke