Impact of Human-Wildlife Conflict and I’Ts Driving Force in and Around Gibe Sheleko National Park, Southwest, Ethiopia

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a continuous problem in the world and has a significant impact on both human and wildlife populations. The main objective of the study was to identify the driving force of HWC in the study area, to determine the major impact of HWC on conservation action and local people and to recommends the possible mitigation measure of HWC in the study area. The data for this study was collected through structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion, interview, direct observation and secondary sources. The collected data was analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 20). Human–wildlife conflict happens when the needs and behavior of wildlife impact negatively on humans or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. The nature and extent of human wildlife conflict in the study area were profoundly impacted humans, wild animal and the environment through crop damage, habitat disturbance and destruction, livestock predation, and killing of wildlife. The major causes of conflict manifested that wildlife habitat disturbance (41%), increment of wildlife population (24.3%), expansion of agriculture around forest edge (24%), and deforestation (20.7%). To defend crop raider, farmers have been practiced crop guarding (39.5 %), scarecrow (20.6 %), chasing (7.6%), smoking (20.6%) and other traditional method (7.1%). As emphasized in the present study, human–wildlife conflicts are negative impacts on both human and wildlife. Accordingly, possible mitigate possibilities for peaceful co-existence between human and wildlife should be reduce heavy losses of crops, palatable seasonal crops such as maize, sweet potatoes should not be grown near the forest edge, Create or find work opportunities and find option for the local people who depended only on crop production, option like bee keeping, integrating farming for example poultry with other aquatic fauna and flora or organisms and the like.

Keywords: Driving force, human wild life conflict, impact, Gibe Shelleko National Park.

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/64-01

Publication date: April 30^th 2023