Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife Corridors and Migratory Species: A Case of Nairobi National Park – Kitengela – Athi Kaputei Plains

Wildlife corridors are crucial ecological linkages that facilitate the movement of species between fragmented habitats, enabling access to forage and water, gene flow, seasonal migration, and overall resilience of the ecosystem. Climate change has impacted wildlife corridors and migratory species in many ways. Invasion by exotic species, loss of habitat, dramatic shifts in physical and atmospheric conditions, climate events, natural disasters, and high prevalence of wildlife diseases are a few results of climate change. This research seeks to assess the impact of climate change on the Nairobi National Park – Kitengela – Athi-Kaputei wildlife corridor and the migratory species. The study captured a period of 30 years (1994 to 2024). The researchers examined the extent to which climate variables (rainfall and temperature) have shifted over a period of 30 years, and their impact on the wildlife corridor and migratory species. The researchers acquired satellite images for the years 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2024, respectively. The images were processed using Erdas Imagine, and maps were prepared by ArcGIS. The analysis employed the use of indices such as the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and rainfall density maps. The findings of the study were that the average temperature increased from 19.00C in 1994 to 20.00C in 2024. The average annual rainfall decreased from 89.58ml in the year 1994 to 62.76ml in the year 2004. Rainfall average further reduced to 59.02ml in 2014. In 2024, the average annual rainfall took an unexpected turn, defying the pattern by rising to 87.86ml. On the other hand, the annual average temperatures are constantly rising. The results present shifting and unpredictable climatic conditions. This study provides recommendations on future conservation plans, including strategic management actions to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on the wildlife corridor and migratory species.