Millions paid out for human-wildlife conflict

More than N$38.7 million has been paid in total for human-wildlife conflict since 2008.The amount paid each year for wildlife conflict has increased from N$70 000 in 2008 to more than N$7.72 million this year.In 2021, a total of 590 human-wildlife conflict cases were reported, which included 10 people who were killed in wildlife attacks.This according to a presentation made by the environment ministry at the Namibia Professional Hunting Association’s (Napha) annual general meeting.According to the presentation, human-wildlife conflict is caused by competition for resources between growing human and wildlife populations, movements of people and continued negative attitudes towards wildlife and problem animals.The presentation noted that conflict caused by wildlife result in the loss of human lives, injuries to people, predation and killing of livestock, damage to property, destruction of crops and gardens, and competition with livestock for forage.Other causes include careless exposure to areas populated by dangerous wildlife, modification of wildlife habitats due to infrastructure development and development projects.And, although government recognises that such conflict has always existed, it is not always possible to eradicate it all, the ministry noted.Millions lostMeanwhile, the direct cost of theft and predation on livestock farms amounted to over N$14.7 million and N$22.5 million respectively last year.This is according to another presentation made by the Agricultural Trade Policy Institute at the meeting.The institute carried out a study in the Erongo, Hardap, ||Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Oshikoto regions to assess the direct and indirect effects of livestock theft and predation on the output and revenue generated by the livestock sector and that of poaching on the wildlife sector.It was found that the number of total livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) lost due to theft and predation last year totalled 5 300 and 10 103 respectively, while the cost of control measures (indirect cost) for both theft and predation was N$12.3 million and N$6.4 million in 2021.Furthermore, the direct loss of wildlife in 2021 was valued at N$17.6 million, and anti-poaching measures cost N$10.3 million, while the cost of damages due to human-wildlife conflict in the study was estimated at N$7.9 million. The cost of deterrent measures was about N$6 million.ChallengesAccording to the presentation, most of the agricultural land in Namibia is used by freehold and subsistence farmers for livestock and wildlife farming."The livestock and wildlife sub-sector face major challenges such as livestock theft, livestock predation, animal diseases, human-wildlife conflict and poaching."

Millions paid out for human-wildlife conflict

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-16

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Millions paid out for human-wildlife conflict

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-16

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