Coexistence between human and wildlife: the nature, causes and mitigations of human wildlife conflict around Bale Mountains National Park, Southeast Ethiopia

Human-wildlife conflict around Bale Mountains National Park, Southeast Ethiopia, significantly impacts both humans and wildlife through crop damage, livestock predation, habitat disturbance, and killings. Agricultural expansion (30%), human settlement (24%), overgrazing (14%), deforestation (18%), illegal grass collection (10%), and poaching (4%) are the major causes of conflict. Farmers employ various mitigation strategies such as crop guarding (34%), live fencing (26%), scarecrows (22%), chasing (14%), and smoking (5%), while livestock protection relies on fencing (38%), chasing (30%), scarecrows (24%), and guarding (8%). The study recommends awareness creation, clear border identification, rule formulation, benefit sharing, and reduced settlement encroachment to foster peaceful coexistence. Stakeholders are advised to promote conflict mitigation strategies among local communities.

Mekonen, S. (2020). Coexistence between human and wildlife: the nature, causes and mitigations of human wildlife conflict around Bale Mountains National Park, Southeast Ethiopia. BMC Ecology, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-020-00319-1