The effects of land use practices on human-baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis) interactions in Laikipia County, Kenya

In this study we use Wildlife Value Orientation (WVO) to explore human–baboon interactions in various land use systems to better understand associated patterns of human-baboon coexistence). The premise of WVO models is that... [ view full abstract ]

In this study we use Wildlife Value Orientation (WVO) to explore human–baboon interactions in various land use systems to better understand associated patterns of human-baboon coexistence). The premise of WVO models is that human interactions with wildlife are derived directly from basic values of people towards nature. We, therefore, explore the values associated with contrasting land use practices. The primary question is – how do different anthropogenic habitats influence patterns of human-primate symbiosis? We use data from semi-structured and structured interviews with people in different land use system (i.e., commercial ranching; commercial-tourism; pastoralism; pastoralism-tourism; farming agro-pastoralism; and agro-pastoralism-tourism) collected over 21 months (September 2009-December 2010) in Laikipia County, Kenya. These data reveal that people’s values towards baboons were not associated with land use systems, but rather with the duration of living in areas with baboons, level of education, and land tenure system. Land use, on the other hand, was a prominent factor associated with people’s reports of the nature of direct interactions with baboons and the motivations underlying them. This research contributes towards our understanding of factors that influence human-nonhuman primate symbiosis and provide insights on management strategies in different anthropogenically modified landscapes.