Quantifying wildlife responses to conservation fencing in East Africa

The fencing of protected areas is increasing worldwide. However, the implementation fences for conservation has outpaced scientific assessment their effectiveness, non-target impacts, and long-term costs. We assessed landscape predictors fence crossing sites employed camera traps over a one-year period to investigate wildlife responses around Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya. Specifically, we measured impact on wild mammal movement, temporal impacts maintenance crossings behavior. Cameras captured more than 65,000 detections animals approaching fences, with 3626 observed 2818 trap nights at 19 sites. Using these data, developed guide classifying fence-specific behaviors. Thirty-eight species approached known weak points in fence, 27 were recorded fence. No single environmental variable predicted detection or all species, but seasonality, human activity, habitat visibility, proximity an adjacent area each correlated species-specific locations. Additionally, breaches repaired fence-crossing locations occurred within days maintenance. conclude that popular, ‘one-size-fits-all’, designs may be ineffective costly restraining movement many species. recommend those deploying start clearly articulated management goals, informed by taxa-specific tendencies breach managers consider strategic creation corridors, overpasses, ungulate-proof link fenced surrounding habitat.