Conflict between Wildlife and People in Kariba Town, Zimbabwe

This article analyses the findings of a questionnaire survey that sought to establish the relationship between wildlife and the people of Kariba and to make some policy proposals. The survey showed that there are conflicts between wildlife and people in Kariba town. Elephants and buffaloes damage and destroy property and frighten or kill people. Baboons vandalise homes. Residents are not compensated for death, injury or property damaged by animals. In response, people drive elephants away from residential areas using stones and burning fire logs. They also kill or injure buffaloes using snares. There is conflict between residents and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management officials over illegal procurement of resources from the national park. Despite the conflicts, over 80% of the residents are positively inclined towards conservation since they indicated that poachers should be arrested, it is necessary to conserve animals, there should be no free access to the resources. Over 50% indicated that animals and people should be isolated to alleviate the existing problems. It is proposed that a multi-action approach should be used to ameliorate the human-animal conflict in Kariba. This should include protection of residents from wildlife, extension of benefits to residents, involvement of residents in the management of the resource, setting-up a fund to assist and/or compensate victims of wildlife injuries or deaths, educating residents on how to coexist and reserving the game corridors for wildlife movement. This will help to foster and create more positive attitudes towards wildlife conservation. Otherwise, human hostility will continue to pose a danger to animals and national park resources in general.