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Journal of Tourism & Hospitality

Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

ISSN: 2167-0269

+44 1300 500008

Abstract

Assessing Wildlife Consumption Awareness and the Attitudes of the Local Lambwe Valley Community towards Ruma National Park, Kenya

George Ariya and Momanyi S

The study was conducted around Ruma National Park within Lambwe Valley in Kenya. The study fulfils the gap of knowledge about wildlife consumption awareness and attitudes of the local Lambwe valley community towards the park. It is believed that understanding the level of awareness and community attitude would provide imperative information that could contribute to wildlife conservation within the park. The key objective of the study was to establish how the locals perceive the national park and their level of awareness of illegal wildlife consumption in the area. The study adopted survey design using both structured questionnaires and focus group discussions to collect information from the local community. In order to disseminate questionnaires, simple random technique was further used to select the respondents. The respondents comprised households living adjacent to the national park. Structured questionnaire interviews were complimented with focus group discussions in order to gather more information and to collect diverse views. The data collected was subjected to descriptive and inferential tests. The study established that majority of the local community had negative attitude towards the park and did not require the park within their locality. Local community were aware that snaring of wildlife took place in and around the park and majority believed the future of the park was bleak. Illegal wildlife hunters were mainly from the local community and the status of wildlife numbers outside the park was declining. Majority were also not aware about Kenya’s wildlife laws prohibiting illegal hunting and bushmeat consumption. The study concludes and recommends that local communities in the area should be sensitized and educated on Kenya’s wildlife laws specifically laws relating to illegal hunting and bushmeat consumption and trade. Creating local awareness on the benefits of wildlife conservation without tangible benefits from the park might not influence attitude change and deter wildlife utilization in the area. New policies could be formulated for integrated park management where local community, especially the youth, could actively participate in wildlife conservation. Developing and promoting alternative forms of tourism in the area could bring benefits to the local community thus leading to attitude change and alternative source of livelihood.

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