Tatyana Humle of the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology outlines the consequences and causes of human-great ape conflict in Africa and explores many strategic alternatives for preventing this conflict. She gave this presentation at the ‘Linking Great Ape Conservation with Poverty Alleviation’ workshop hosted by CIFOR in January 2012.
One of the challenges facing great ape conservation is the rising level of interaction between humans and great apes, and the resulting conflicts that emerge. As human populations continue to increase and human development makes deeper incursions into forest habitats, such conflicts will become more widespread and prevalent in the habitat ranges of great apes, especially considering that the majority of great apes live outside protected areas. It is essential that we develop a comprehensive understanding of existing and potential conflict situations, and their current or future impacts on both great apes and humans. This understanding will require the integration of quantitative and qualitative data on multiple aspects of human and great ape behaviour and ecology, along with a good understanding of local people’s perceptions of the situation. Such knowledge can then be used to develop effective locally-adapted management strategies to mitigate human-great ape conflicts, whilst respecting both conservation objectives and socio-cultural-economic contexts.
-Mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park, DRC: The threat of human/animal conflict is real. Back in 2003, a juvenile in the Rugendo group called Bahati (whose mother Neza was subsequently killed in the unrelated 2007 attack) was stoned to death by locals in a field in Bikenge.
- Human misperceptions or exaggeration of conflict issues.
More encroachment into wildlife habitats Higher encounter rate between humans & wildlife Direct competition with wildlife over resources - Crop-raiding compromises biodiversity conservation initiatives by generating negative perceptions of wildlife, and threatens the economic and social security of rural people (Hill 2004; Madden 2008). - Records from 27 sites in 10 countries indicate that cultivar consumption by chimpanzees is widespread. A total of 51 plant parts from 36 cultivar species were recorded eaten by chimpanzees. The composition of crops eaten reflects a species-typical preference for fruit: fruits dominate the list of cultivated food items. -Most (86%) high conflict crops were fruits, compared to 13% of low conflict crops. Some widely farmed cash or staple crops were seldom or never eaten by chimpanzees and their potential suitability for conflict prevention and mitigation should be explored by wildlife managers.
Increase in frequency of encounters with humans and/or human waste Need for careful management of research and tourism activities and great ape habitat.
Sumatra, Indonesia : El Niño caused drought and fires in 1997-1998. Much forest was destroyed forcing orangutans into human agricultural landscapes and resulting in encounters between people and tigers.
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC - local association called HUGO (HUmans + GOrillas), who guard the crops by pushing the gorillas back into the forest using drums. It seems the technique doesn’t work anymore - the gorillas are no longer scared of the drums - in Chimpunga sanctuary: trained dogs to manage escapees
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC Also - Moat/trench/Natural river or stream
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC - – Are suitable areas available at all? – How big would a suitable forest area have to be? – Which other requirements should the new habitat have? – Which situation (threats, critical population size) could trigger the initiation of the translocation? – How many individuals from how many groups should be caught and translocated? – How would the gorillas be caught? – Who decides when and where which animals will be translocated? – Who coordinates the whole project?
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC - -Targeted at schools, villagers, officials…
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC - Social and economic studies : Evaluation of social impact & opportunity costs and quantification of economic impact, human demographic trends, as well patterns of development.
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC
Aimed at reducing the level of impact and lessening the problem and/or dealing with root causes of HWC