By KPC Reporter
Wildlife stakeholders including scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and community representatives are meeting in Nairobi for the 15th Carnivore Conference.
The two-day event is organized by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to advance coexistence between people and Africa’s great carnivores.
The conference, being held at the KWS Headquarters, focuses on enhancing carnivore conservation and developing pragmatic approaches to human–carnivore conflict mitigation.
Principal Secretary for Wildlife Silvia Museiya reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that conservation delivers tangible benefits to both people and wildlife.
She emphasized the Ministry’s efforts to implement the National Carnivore Conservation Strategy, scale up conflict mitigation, and strengthen partnerships that empower communities living alongside wildlife.
“Our carnivores — the lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas — are not only ecological keystones but also the lifeblood of our tourism industry,” she said.
“Our goal is to make Kenya a living laboratory of harmony between people and predators, where coexistence is not just a policy, but a way of life.”
The conference underscores Kenya’s continued commitment to safeguarding its iconic carnivores while fostering community well-being.
It also calls for collective action, innovation, and partnerships to ensure that the roar of the lion, the laughter of the hyena, and the grace of the cheetah continue to define Kenya’s natural heritage for generations to come.
KWS Board of Trustees Chairman, Walter Raria Koipaton, called for stronger leadership and collaboration across conservation actors, noting that effective coexistence requires both scientific insight and community participation.
“For conservation to succeed, it must speak the language of the people as much as that of science,” he said.
KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga highlighted the agency’s use of technology, including satellite tracking, community-managed conservancies, and predator-proof enclosures, to reduce human–wildlife conflict.
“Where communities benefit directly from wildlife, tolerance for predators increases dramatically,” he noted.