Namibian Sun

Ellanie Smit

January 17, 2019

See link

<https://www.namibiansun.com/news/human-wildlife-incidents-rise-to-8-0002019-01-17/>

for photo.

A total of 8 067 human-wildlife conflict incidents were recorded in

Namibia’s conservancies during 2017.

These were recorded in 71 of the country’s 83 conservancies and there are

indications that the figure might be and underestimation of the situation

on the ground.

Human-wildlife conflict has more than doubled since 2004, when a total of 2

936 incidents were recorded in only 31 conservancies. In 2016 the figure

stood at 6 331 incidents in 69 conservancies.

This information is contained in the 2017 State of Community Conservation

in Namibia report.

According to the report the general increase in human-wildlife conflict is

mostly due to the increase in the area covered by conservancies.

“However, livestock attacks increased considerably during 2017.”

In 2017 there were on average of 106 general attacks and 0.2 on people, per

conservancy.

There were an average of 91.1 livestock attacks and 13.1 incidents of crop

damage, per conservancy, in 2017.

In 2014, when 82 conservancies held audits, there were 7 774 incidents

reported. This was the only year that more than 80 conservancies reported

human-wildlife conflict incidents.

However, the highest number of incidents were reported were 9 228 in 2013,

when 79 conservancies held audits.

The report indicated that in the Zambezi Region, animals that caused the

most conflict in 2017 were elephants, with 380 incidents recorded, while

200 conflict incidents were caused by crocodiles and 180 by hyenas.

In the Erongo and Kunene Regions about 700 conflict incidents were recorded

involving hyenas, 590 involving cheetah and 400 involving elephants.

The report said there were about 160 conflict incidents involving lions in

the Kunene and Erongo regions, with 8% of these lions being killed.

“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.”

The report said incidents have increased due to the increase in wildlife

populations and the shifting movement patterns of humans and wildlife, in

response to drought.

“However, the average number of incidents per conservancy remains generally

stable. Crop protection from raiders, especially elephants, remains a major

problem in the northeast.”