Abstract:
Conflicts between humans and wildlife are a paramount threat to conservation of flora and fauna around the
world. For instance, in Kenya, with much of the wildlife living outside protected areas, enhanced and
sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife has been a challenge. Humans expose themselves to
wildlife through poaching or settling along wildlife areas hence amplifying conflicts with wildlife. The main
objective of the study was to assess the impact of the Aberdare electric fence on human-wildlife conflict (HWC)
in Amboni area, Nyeri County, Kenya. The study purposively focused on three villages (Kiguru, Mutishieni, and
Ex-pages) which are directly adjacent to the border of the park fence, with 30% of the villages’ households
taking part in the study. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews while Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS v25) was used in data analysis. Results from paired t-test analysis showed that paired
sample test had negative t values and, therefore, significant for all the pairs. Only two of the pairs showed non-
significant values (P > 0.05). It was evident that variable changes for 7 of the paired differences (type of crop
damage, animal involved, land size affected, causal wild animal, domestic animal depredated, physical
infrastructure destroyed and access to natural resources in the park) were statistically significant with their p-
values less than 0.05. However, results of estimated losses (M = -0.03, SD = 0.67, t (155) = -0.445) and income
earned (M = 0.03, SD = 0.43, t (155) = -0.686) did not have a statistical significance change as a result of the
electric fence installation. The research concludes that the electric fence installed along the boundaries of
Aberdare National Park especially at the Amboni community has reduced some of the perennial human-wildlife
conflicts that were experienced before. The electric fence has facilitated reduction in the crop damages,
livestock depredation, reduction in affected farm coverage and reduction in property losses.
