Conservancies see more wildlife conflict
More than 6 300 human-wildlife conflict incidents were recorded in Namibia's conservancies during 2016.
These, however, were only recorded at 69 of the 82 conservancies in the country and indicate that the figure might be an under-estimation of the situation on the ground as eight conservancies did not hold audits in 2016.
The figure indicates that human-wildlife conflict has more than doubled since 2003 when a total of 3 019 incidents were recorded in only 29 conservancies in the country.
The information is contained in the 2016 State of Community Conservation in Namibia.
According to the report, in 2016 there were an average number of 92 attacks per conservancy and an average of 0.2 attacks per conservancy on people.
That year the average attack per conservancy was 75.5 and the incidences of crops damaged averaged 13.4.
Comparing these incidents of human-wildlife conflict to 2014, when all 82 conservancies held audits, there were 7 774 incidents reported, while the highest number incidents were reported were 9 228 in 2013.
The report indicates that in the Zambezi Region animals that caused the most conflict in 2016 were elephant with 380 incidents recorded, while 180 conflict incidents with crocodiles were recorded and 70 conflict incidents with hyaena.
In the Kunene Region, a total of 630 conflict incidents were recorded with hyaena, 500 incidents with cheetah and 490 with elephants.
According to the report, the number of conflict incidents with elephant in the Zambezi Region has decreased dramatically from 714 in 2015, to 354 in 2016. Elephants range freely between Botswana and Namibia, making the numbers of human-wildlife conflict incidents unpredictable.
Meanwhile, in the Erongo-Kunene regions the number of lions destroyed as a percentage of the number of conflict incidents increased from 1.5% to over 4% between 2015 and 2016 and for leopards, from 0.25% to over 2%.
This demonstrates that lions are not so much killed for the damage they cause, but because of the danger or perceived threat these species pose to farmers themselves, according to the report.
The general increase in the total number of human-wildlife conflict incidents in conservancies is mostly due to the increase in the area covered by conservancies.
“Recorded incidents of human-wildlife conflict have increased due to the increase in wildlife populations and shifting movement patterns of humans and wildlife in response to drought. However, the average number of incidents per conservancy remains generally stable.”
ELLANIE SMIT
These, however, were only recorded at 69 of the 82 conservancies in the country and indicate that the figure might be an under-estimation of the situation on the ground as eight conservancies did not hold audits in 2016.
The figure indicates that human-wildlife conflict has more than doubled since 2003 when a total of 3 019 incidents were recorded in only 29 conservancies in the country.
The information is contained in the 2016 State of Community Conservation in Namibia.
According to the report, in 2016 there were an average number of 92 attacks per conservancy and an average of 0.2 attacks per conservancy on people.
That year the average attack per conservancy was 75.5 and the incidences of crops damaged averaged 13.4.
Comparing these incidents of human-wildlife conflict to 2014, when all 82 conservancies held audits, there were 7 774 incidents reported, while the highest number incidents were reported were 9 228 in 2013.
The report indicates that in the Zambezi Region animals that caused the most conflict in 2016 were elephant with 380 incidents recorded, while 180 conflict incidents with crocodiles were recorded and 70 conflict incidents with hyaena.
In the Kunene Region, a total of 630 conflict incidents were recorded with hyaena, 500 incidents with cheetah and 490 with elephants.
According to the report, the number of conflict incidents with elephant in the Zambezi Region has decreased dramatically from 714 in 2015, to 354 in 2016. Elephants range freely between Botswana and Namibia, making the numbers of human-wildlife conflict incidents unpredictable.
Meanwhile, in the Erongo-Kunene regions the number of lions destroyed as a percentage of the number of conflict incidents increased from 1.5% to over 4% between 2015 and 2016 and for leopards, from 0.25% to over 2%.
This demonstrates that lions are not so much killed for the damage they cause, but because of the danger or perceived threat these species pose to farmers themselves, according to the report.
The general increase in the total number of human-wildlife conflict incidents in conservancies is mostly due to the increase in the area covered by conservancies.
“Recorded incidents of human-wildlife conflict have increased due to the increase in wildlife populations and shifting movement patterns of humans and wildlife in response to drought. However, the average number of incidents per conservancy remains generally stable.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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