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[Biomes - Living Worlds] :: Impact :: Grassland :: Social Impact
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Cattle Ranching |
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Not only are plants and animals being affected by the increase of modern civilizations, but so are the native peoples that live in grasslands. The Masai people of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania have lived and depended on the grassland since ancient times. The Masai depend on their livestock for survival and believe that God put cows on the earth for them to use. This was their reasoning for fiercely raiding and stealing cows from other tribes on the grasslands. Traditionally the Masai were nomads , following the rain like the wildebeests. They grazed their livestock on fresh green grass. They often reach the best grazing grounds before the big herds of wildebeest and gazelle arrive. When the Masai were free to roam the grasslands, cattle would not remain in one place long enough to over graze. Today, since many Masai have turned to a life of farming and town populations are on the rise, the remaining Masai do not have enough open land for their cattle to graze. Sometimes the Masai cannot avoid the over grazing of some areas. |