Causes Of Human-Wildlife Conflicts

QUESTION

Can human beings and the wildlife co-exist?

INTRODUCTION

Human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) takes place when wildlife requirements infringe on those of human/residents, which mutually costs the wildlife and residents as stated by (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2003). From my point of view, as human populations inflate it causes natural habitats to diminish. This inevitably causes a brawl for living space between the two parties. As stated by (Center for Applied Research and Department of Environmental Affairs, 2010) human-wildlife conflict is most widespread near protected areas (PAs), where wildlife populations are highest, and amid protected areas where migratory corridors cross vulnerable community land. (Madden,

Human development requirements – the origin of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is the growing human populations and wildlife for the same diminishing living spaces and resources. The conversion of forests, savannah and other ecosystems into agrarian capacities or urban agglomerates as a result of the growing demand for land, food production, energy and raw materials, has led to a intense shrinkage in wildlife habitats as stated by (Muruthi, 2005).

(Siex, 1999.) Further argues that this is predominantly true in Africa where the human population came near to trebling in the four decades from 1960 and where, as a result, developed agriculture has extended to new marginal rangelands causing impingement into wildlife habitats. Under these circumstances, the battle between wildlife and local communities is inevitable. In addition to that, a concern of opening new lands and villages into areas that used to be private wildlife refuges, is the formation of new bush paths between these settlements. This creates a greater traffic of pedestrians, increasing the risk of contact with wild

One of the issues commonly raised is that of food security. Wildlife such as elephants in some areas like Zimbabwe and Kenya cause approximately 75 – 90 percent damage food crops as established by (Hoare, 1993). This therefore has a detrimental effect on the local communities/farmers as they start pondering how to sustain themselves until the next ploughing season. Furthermore, damages caused by wildlife have a domino effect as it results in other economic and social costs. Lack of sufficient income may lead to effects on nutrition, health, education, and eventually development as a whole. Another issues is that of safety. The hazard of wildlife attacks limits some actions which are viewed as risks, such as walking, guarding crops, etc. Security procedures are then used at the community level as described by (Hoare, 1993). When guarding against wildlife, these altercations more often than not lead to some form of damage/injuries either to people or the