Impact of the Maasai's animals on the Maasai land?

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Impact of the Maasai's animals on the Maasai land?

by Marion Dargue
(England)

We have just returned from our holiday in the Masai Mara and the plains were green and lush ready for the great migration.

But the Maasai land close by was completly bald.

It's their land and they belong there but, as they count their wealth in cattle, I'm wondering if they are buying too many animals which the land cannot sustain?

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Impact of the Maasai's animals on the Maasai land?

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Jun 01, 2010

still concerned
by: marion Dargue

It was the end of April when we were in the Mara after the rains and the land adjoining the mara was bare then. I also sympathize with the indigenous peoples all over the world. The point i am trying to make for a solution to the problem If the maasai were still on the serengeti and mara Where no doubt they should be as good protectors of the land but in the past they didn't have such vast amounts of livestock if they were back on the savanna with all the animals they have now there would be no migration as there would be nothing to eat when they arrived

May 21, 2010

Bald and Bare
by: Archie Melrose

Marion, thanks for your question and of course to Beverley for her response.

The recent rains and even more than usual has turned most of Kenya back to its green state. In fact when I was in Nakuru in Feb/March this year I had the joy? of hailstones battering the car.

Beverley makes an interesting point on 2 issues - Taking of land and taking of livestock. I hope she will find a moment to expand on that. I honestly do not know and hope she can let us all know. I am not an expert on land management and the effects of over grazing but I am sure that there must come a point where the available grazing land cannot sustain the animals grazing thereon. Its logical even here in UK.

So what is the answer? If it was up to me I would let nature take its course - The Masaai Mara and other so called parks should be opened up and let the indigenous citizens of Kenya wander free with their herds of cows and goats. They survived long before the tourist industry arrived. Last year when in Nakuru, I saw herds of cows on the outskirts just trying to find some grazing. It was quite sad to see but needs outweighed the lack of grazing elsewhere.

Unfortunately it is not within my remit to express more, I would love to but this forum is way too public.

Beverley, I take your point about women walking to get water for life. I know that many NGO's are addressing this situation and hopefully it will help but it will take many years. With the nomadic nature of Masaai what would you suggest is the best way forward?

Kind Regards

Archie

May 20, 2010

Maasai & Samburu Lives at Stake
by: Beverly

I think the point you are missing is that the Kenyan government continues to take land from both the Maasai and Samburu which leaves them less land for their livestock. The Maasai and Samburu need to feed their livestock not only because livestock is their only form of currency but also because it is a large source of food & water for them (via the milk from the cows, goats). The women of these tribes walk many miles every day just to get water to drink. Without the milk from their livestock, many tribespeople could perish.
In addition, the Kenyan government steals the livestock from the tribes and takes more land away from them on an ongoing basis.
We should be more concerned about the treatment of the Maasai and Samburu people and about helping them "keep" their livestock rather than talking about them having "too much livestock".
The question we should ask is...what is more important...the lives of the tribespeople who have lived off this land for centuries...or having more land for tourists and government projects?

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Impact of the Maasai's animals on the Maasai land?

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Impact of the Maasai's animals on the Maasai land?