Human-wildife conflict with large predators
-
Upload
kirsten-anderson -
Category
Environment
-
view
166 -
download
0
Transcript of Human-wildife conflict with large predators
Large carnivores: What are the key elements to the successful management of human-wildlife conflict with large carnivores? Kirsten Anderson Tier 2 WLM Botswana March 2016
Initial response
� Engagement of stakeholders
� Sustainability
� Livestock management/husbandry � Kraals
� Wildlife management � Translocation � Population management
Human-wildlife conflict with large carnivores
� Most large carnivore species are experiencing ongoing declines due to anthropogenic causes � Significant decline in Africa over the last 30 years � Leopard, lion, cheetah, African wild dog, hyena
� Large carnivores have disappeared from areas of high human density
� Species most involved in conflict with humans are most vulnerable to extinction
Why?
� Human-wildlife interface is growing � Growing population � Increase in land acquisition � Wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation
� Wildlife harvesting is increasing � Less natural prey for large carnivores
Conflict undermines the viability of wildlife populations; the majority of large carnivore mortalities are caused by humans and the number of predators killed by farmers is related to the number of livestock killed by predators.
� Shooting
� Poisoning
� Snaring
These create population “sinks” around protected areas that can be strong enough to cause local extinction.
Why is it important to mitigate this problem?
� Biodiversity
� Ecosystem health
� Benefits from agriculture and wildlife resources at a national level
Key elements
� Livestock husbandry
� Education
� Compensation & incentivisation
� Wildlife management
� Sustainability � Social � Economic � Political
Livestock husbandry
Depredation is preventable (to an extent). Good husbandry provides short- and long-term benefits by reducing livestock losses.
� Kraals and herding
� Deterrents � Guard dogs (disease risk?) � Human activity/guards � Sound recordings, lighting
� Reduced cover near kraals (hyenas)
� Shorter calving season
Education
Engagement of stakeholders and public awareness are critical in promoting co-existence with large carnivores.
� Explain local and international benefits of predator conservation
� Dispel myths
� Provide information about livestock husbandry and personal safety in areas with predators
Compensation & incentivisation
� Governmental compensation for livestock losses � Variable (ostensibly 100% market value for lion kills,
none for jackals) � Subjective (relies on governmental assessment) � Can take months to process payment � But… encourages farmers to tolerate some level of
loss
� Incentivisation � None currently available � Could provide a cost-effective means of carnivore
protection by supporting positive husbandry practices
Wildlife management
� Translocation � Needs to be at least 200km away � Complications eg. location, movement, mortality
� Conditioned taste aversion (CTA)
� Lethal removal � Culling programs vs. hunting
Sustainability
� Social � Must involve farmers, community members,
government, vets & conservationists from the beginning to ensure long-term compliancy
� Economic � Must be viable for farmers and government based on
local costs and relative benefits
� Ecological � Must be ecologically and environmentally sound