Human - Animal Conflict

The Problem

As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food.

The impacts are often huge.

People lose their crops, livestock, property, and sometimes their lives. The animals, many of which are already threatened or endangered, are often killed in retaliation or to 'prevent' future conflicts.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species, in diferent parts of the world, and is also a significant threat to local human populatons. And, if solutions to conflicts are not adequate, local support for conservation also declines.

How would you react to an elephant in your backyard or a bear in your garden?

Human-wildlife conflict is occurring more and more, affecting many different species. And the effects of climate change will probably worsen this process. From baboons in Namibia attacking young cattle, to the greater one-horned rhino in Nepal destroying crops, orang-utans in oil palm plantations or European bears and wolves killing livestock, the problem is universal, affects rich and poor and is bad news for all concerned.

Reducing Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

The good news is that WWF and its partners have a number of projects around the world to reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve the livelihoods of the people affected.

The solutions are often specific to the species or area concerned, and are often creative and simple. An important aspect of the work is that it benefits both the animals and local human communities, and actively involves these communities. This is about finding solutions that lead to mutually beneficial co-existence.

In most cases, the work has often led to people being more enthusiastic and supportive of conservation, and has demonstrated that people can live alongside wildlife while developing sustainable livelihoods.

Common Ground

The WWF report ‘Common Ground’ (PDF - 3.74MB) assesses cases of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), focusing on elephants as a flagship of these conflicts. Often the scale of the damage that can be caused by them, and the fact that they can injure or even kill humans, makes them the species that communities most fear.

Although the dynamics and drivers of HWC can be very different wherever it occurs, there are themes in the studies that can be used to compose a 'Common Ground' or a basic list of solutions available and tested. Here are some of them:

A united effort
In order to be truly effective, prevention of Human Wildlife Conflict has to involve the full scope of society: international organizations, governments, NGOs, communities, consumers and individuals. Solutions are possible, but many times they also need to have financial backing for their support and development.

Land-use planning
If we plan properly, there's room for every one. Ensuring that both humans and animals have the space they need is possible. Protecting key areas for wildlife, creating buffer zones and investing in alternative land uses are some of the solutions for that.

Community Based Natural Resource Management
The local community is key since they are the ones who may wake up in the morning with a tiger or bear in their back yard. And they are also who can benefit the most from that fact. If people are empowered to well manage their relationship with wild animals, these "unwanted" neighbors can become allies in bringing income and promoting a better quality of life for all.

Compensation / insurance
Compensation or insurance for animal-induced damage is another widely accepted solution. That are different ways this can be done. In Namibia, for example, community-based insurance systems exist for damage done to livestock. The Nepalese government pays compensation in areas around national parks.

Payment for Environmental Services
Payment for Environmental Services (PES) is a concept that has recently gained popularity in the international development and conservation community. The most popular one of these is financial reward for the sequestering of carbon, but it is also seen as a potential solution for human animal conflict.

Wildlife Friendly Products
This is where we can do our part from anywhere in the world. Always look for products that are environmentally friendly and recognized by serious organizations.

Field based solutions
There are a number of practical field based solutions that can limit the damage done both to humans and human property, and to wildlife. These are solutions that aim to prevent wildlife entering crops or villages. But this is something on a case-by-case basis. What people see as solution in one place, they may resist in another. What works in one place, may have the opposite effect somewhere else.