People in a Biodiverse Region Experienced Varying Types and Timing of Conflict With Multiple Wildlife Species

Abstract

Background & Research Aims: Understanding how people and wildlife coexist is crucial to informing conservation and management of biodiverse areas, supporting both wildlife conservation and human well-being. Yet, most studies of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence focus on a limited number of wildlife species. Methods: This study characterizes patterns of reported human-wildlife conflict in the Okavango region of Botswana based on records for all species from the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (2008 – 2016). Results: The reported incidents implicated a diverse range of wildlife species in conflict. The patterns indicated that for conflicts like crop and property damage, only a few main species were implicated, while livestock damage reports had more diversity of conflict species. Additionally, people in this region faced wildlife challenges throughout the year. Conclusion & Implications for Conservation: Having such variable types and timing of conflict, and from diverse species, may make it particularly difficult for people to mitigate costs and prevent further conflicts.