Human–wildlife conflict

Human-wildlife conflict, often called HWC, describes negative interactions between people and wild animals. These encounters create undesirable consequences for both human societies and wildlife populations. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) defines it as any interaction that harms human social, economic, or cultural life. It can also harm the conservation of wildlife or the environment.

This conflict is a serious global threat to sustainable development and food security. It affects both busy urban centers and quiet rural landscapes.

Most conflicts stem from competition for natural resources. Humans and wildlife both require food, water, and space to survive. As human populations grow, people transform how land is used. This changes the habitats that animals rely on for survival. When animals lose their natural territory, they may enter human spaces to find what they need.

This competition can lead to crop destruction and reduced agricultural productivity. It also causes competition for grazing lands and shared water supplies.

There are many different ways these conflicts manifest in the real world. One common type is livestock predation, where predators kill farm animals. Another type involves damage to infrastructure, such as buildings or equipment. In some cases, HWC leads to direct injury or death to humans.

Even animals face risks, such as increased disease transmission among wildlife and livestock. In modern settings, road accidents are a major form of conflict. In 2023 alone, over 1.8 million distinct conflicts occurred as animals were hit by vehicles on roadways. This is often referred to as roadkill.

History shows that these interactions have existed since prehistory. Early human ancestors faced predators like saber-toothed cats, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Fossil evidence provides specific details about these ancient dangers. For example, the Taung Child fossil shows marks suggesting it was killed by an eagle. In Olduvai Gorge, hominid specimens show bite marks from a large horned crocodile called Crocodylus anthropophagus.

These fossils prove that humans and predators have competed for survival for millions of years.

Different regions of the world face unique challenges based on their local species. In Africa, biodiversity hotspots create high levels of human-predator and human-elephant conflict. In Namibia, more than 8,000 conflict incidents were reported in 2017. Between 2011 and 2016, hyenas killed more than 600 cattle in the Zambezi Region.

In Asia, the growing human population increases encounters with tigers and elephants. In some areas, poor waste disposal in tourist towns has even changed the behavior of sloth bears.

Human actions can also cause massive ecological shifts through conflict. During China's Four Pests campaign from 1958 to 1960, the Eurasian tree sparrow was targeted for extermination. Citizens destroyed nests and hunted the birds to protect grain. This caused severe ecological disruption and contributed to the Great Chinese Famine.

Similarly, the introduction of European rabbits to Australia in 1859 led to a population explosion. This caused severe agricultural losses and ecological damage that required biological controls like the myxoma virus to manage.

To solve these problems, many countries now include HWC in their national policies. As of 2020, management strategies included lethal control, translocation, and population size regulation. Modern approaches are interdisciplinary, using scientific research, sociological studies, and even the arts. The goal is to move from conflict toward coexistence.

The IUCN SSC Coexistence Specialist Group provides guidelines to help people and wildlife live together. This requires understanding the social, cultural, and economic contexts of each specific area.