Large carnivores: What are the key elements to the successful management of human-wildlife conflict with large carnivores? Kirsten Anderson Tier 2 WLM Botswana March 2016

Initial response

�  Engagement of stakeholders

�  Sustainability

�  Livestock management/husbandry �  Kraals

�  Wildlife management �  Translocation �  Population management

Human-wildlife conflict with large carnivores

�  Most large carnivore species are experiencing ongoing declines due to anthropogenic causes �  Significant decline in Africa over the last 30 years �  Leopard, lion, cheetah, African wild dog, hyena

�  Large carnivores have disappeared from areas of high human density

�  Species most involved in conflict with humans are most vulnerable to extinction

Forms of human-wildlife conflict

�  Livestock depredation

�  Human attack

�  (Disease)

Why?

�  Human-wildlife interface is growing �  Growing population �  Increase in land acquisition �  Wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation

�  Wildlife harvesting is increasing �  Less natural prey for large carnivores

Conflict undermines the viability of wildlife populations; the majority of large carnivore mortalities are caused by humans and the number of predators killed by farmers is related to the number of livestock killed by predators.

�  Shooting

�  Poisoning

�  Snaring

These create population “sinks” around protected areas that can be strong enough to cause local extinction.

Why is it important to mitigate this problem?

�  Biodiversity

�  Ecosystem health

�  Benefits from agriculture and wildlife resources at a national level

Key elements

�  Livestock husbandry

�  Education

�  Compensation & incentivisation

�  Wildlife management

�  Sustainability �  Social �  Economic �  Political

Livestock husbandry

Depredation is preventable (to an extent). Good husbandry provides short- and long-term benefits by reducing livestock losses.

�  Kraals and herding

�  Deterrents �  Guard dogs (disease risk?) �  Human activity/guards �  Sound recordings, lighting

�  Reduced cover near kraals (hyenas)

�  Shorter calving season

Education

Engagement of stakeholders and public awareness are critical in promoting co-existence with large carnivores.

�  Explain local and international benefits of predator conservation

�  Dispel myths

�  Provide information about livestock husbandry and personal safety in areas with predators

Compensation & incentivisation

�  Governmental compensation for livestock losses �  Variable (ostensibly 100% market value for lion kills,

none for jackals) �  Subjective (relies on governmental assessment) �  Can take months to process payment �  But… encourages farmers to tolerate some level of

loss

�  Incentivisation �  None currently available �  Could provide a cost-effective means of carnivore

protection by supporting positive husbandry practices

Wildlife management

�  Translocation �  Needs to be at least 200km away �  Complications eg. location, movement, mortality

�  Conditioned taste aversion (CTA)

�  Lethal removal �  Culling programs vs. hunting

Sustainability

�  Social �  Must involve farmers, community members,

government, vets & conservationists from the beginning to ensure long-term compliancy

�  Economic �  Must be viable for farmers and government based on

local costs and relative benefits

�  Ecological �  Must be ecologically and environmentally sound

Conclusion

�  Several key elements necessary for successful management of human-wildlife conflict with large carnivores

�  Must be socially, economically and ecologically acceptable