By Titus Too

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel have killed dogs to contain frequent attacks on Sitatunga antelopes.

The animals, a rare species, inhabit Kingwal swamp in Nandi Central District.

The operation follows the killings of two young female antelopes by domestic dogs along the expanded swamp.

KWS saw the attacks as a threat to the existence of the rare antelopes.

The KWS Nandi Chief Warden Joel Kanda said yesterday the operation would continue and asked residents to confine dogs within their compounds.

He said personnel from the service have been dispatched to the swampy area and warned that dogs straying into the habitat would be shot on sight.

Mr Kanda said a meeting would be held next week in locations bordering the swamp to inform wananchi of emerging threats to the Sitatunga.

Speaking to The Standard in Kapsabet town on Thursday, Kanda urged residents to step up conservation efforts on the wetlands and the antelopes, which he said, would boost the Western Kenya tourism circuit.

Kanda commended local community-based organisations for their efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. There have been complaints by residents over destruction of crops at night by the antelopes while some villagers have been attacking the animals for slaughter, believing their meat has medicinal value.

At the same time, Kanda cautioned farmers against use of fire in preparing their farms.

He said fires had destroyed several hectares of the wetland in the past, destroying the antelopes’ habitat.

Sitatunga is a shy antelope and lives in papyrus reeds. It only emerges during the night to graze along the rivers.