Fellowship Year:
2026
Degree:
PhD
Research Country:
Kenya
Research Continent:
Africa
Project Title:
Ecological and spatial drivers of human-elephant conflict in a changing pastoral landscape of northern Kenya
Abstract:
This project examines ecological and spatial drivers of human-elephant conflict in the Samburu-Laikipia ecosystem of northern Kenya, where expanding elephant populations, land-use change and climate variability are intensifying competition over shared resources. Using elephant telemetry data, georeferenced conflict records, environmental and land-use data, and interviews with conservancy managers, the study maps current conflict hotspots and identifies the factors that best explain conflict patterns. The research will also model how conflict risk may shift under future climate scenarios to support targeted mitigation, land-use planning and early-warning strategies in one of East Africa’s most climate-vulnerable pastoral regions.