Human Wildlife Conflict - what to do?

Hi there blog readers,

In Namibia, there are 2.1 million people (and that is counting pregnant women) and quadruple (if not more) that number of wildlife (excluding insects, fish, and birds).  What do we do, when the two clash?  Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is a serious topic for which, I fear there is not one solution that pleases all who are affected.

Namibia has a Game Products Trust Fund where any revenues earned from wildlife are stored in trust to pay for research, refund citizens for some of their losses due to wildlife clashes and maintains the areas where the wildlife live.  And this is a good thing; though local people are complaining that the compensation schedule is insufficient.  There are moves to upgrade things.  Let's see how that goes in the end. Proposed laws can take YEARS to move along and people are getting hurt now.

Protecting wildlife environments, keeping data and statistics, and educating people about living with wildlife is expensive and now that Namibia is in a terrible recession, the budget cuts hit hardest in areas like the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and most that are allocated has to go into staff salaries, the maintenance of the national parks and the anti-poaching efforts.

Anyway... the debate in on about how much should be paid for a human being killed by wildlife, or a goat or crops eaten or houses destroyed?  It is hard and I am not sure about 'the' right answer (if there is one.)

Question - where is the incentive for local people affected by HWC to get smarter about wildlife-proof fencing and changing old and inefficient traditional ways of maintaining livestock in wildlife areas, when compensation for wildlife eaten by predators is worth more than the animals' replacements costs?  There will always be 'cheats' to the system and those who lose animals to drought or normal mishap who will attempt to 'file for' the compensation.  What about someone falling asleep under a tree, drunk, in areas where lions are known to roam vs someone taken by a crocodile while fishing in a swollen river in the Zambezi region?  Or someone who is careless about allowing their animals to find grazing unattended and then claiming compensation because one 'goes missing?'  The administration is not our strong suit here in Namibia.  Scams are easily perpetrated, particularly if there are under-the-table kick-backs on offer. (and sooner, not later...they will be.)  There is a major recession here and people are struggling to make it right now.

Where is the effort from the farmers to at least TRY to protect what they have? I'd like to see more state funds used for training, providing weapons for protection of human lives, serious fencing, herd guard dogs, red pepper concoctions to ward off elephants, thorny bushes to cage in cattle, wood and supplies for all-night bonfires, wage supplements for farmworkers in heavy predator areas and other techniques that are proven to work to varying degrees?  On the other hand, if someone loses an entire herd of goats, they may well be in poverty, destitution, and starvation in weeks due to such a loss.  Some compensation is needed.  What is fair?

Too many people in countries that do not live with elephants talk too loudly about saving all elephants at all costs.  The people here believe that many in this world value an elephant or rhino or hippo or lion more than they value the life of a black farmer or innocent African child who wants to play outside in safety.

Check out:  www.newera.com.na/2017/11/29, for some current information.  Google Human/Wildlife Conflict, Namibia for more articles to follow this problem.  Feel free to send me any thoughts you might have on the matter.

Come to Namibia and see how beautiful it is here.  The exchange rate from hard currency countries is GREAT! Now is the time to plan your 2018 visit - tourism is doing well right now so the best locations are booking up fast!

Check out the Gondwana Chain of lodges which are superb and well run or Ongava that is a bit more upscale in cost, but worth every penny!  These photos are from Ongava's website!  Their place is wonderful!

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year's holidays!