Drivers of Human‒wildlife interactions in a co-existence area: a case study of the Ngorongoro conservation area, Tanzania

Habitat requirements—water, pasture, shelter, and space—drive nearly all human-wildlife interactions within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania. A study of 396 households in four Maasai villages revealed that these needs, alongside factors such as wildlife population growth, firewood collection, livestock management, and cultural practices like lion hunting for defense or rituals, fuel conflicts. Climate change and large household sizes exacerbate these interactions, posing threats to coexistence through injuries, deaths, disease transmission, and property damage. Mitigation strategies proposed include expanding boarding schools, improving water access, increasing food assistance, implementing population control measures, promoting zero-grazing practices, discouraging human-cattle co-sleeping, enhancing wildlife attack record-keeping, and disseminating research findings to local communities.

Linuma, O. F., Mahenge, A. S., Mato, R. R. A. M., & Greenwood, A. D. (2022). Drivers of Human‒wildlife interactions in a co-existence area: a case study of the Ngorongoro conservation area, Tanzania. Discover Sustainability, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-022-00113-7