The Problem of Human–Wildlife Conflict
“Human-wildlife conflict occurs when the needs and behavior of wildlife impact
negatively on the goals of humans or when the goals of humans negatively impact
the needs of wildlife. These conflicts may result when wildlife damage crops,
injure or kill domestic animals, threaten or kill people” (WPC Recommendation,
this issue). Such conflict may occur because a lion has attacked someone’s
livestock or a gorilla has raided a person’s crops. The conflict also occurs when a
person or community seeks to kill the lion or gorilla, or when a person retaliates
against the authorities that are in charge of conserving wildlife and its habitat.
HWC escalates when local people feel that the needs or values of wildlife
are given priority over their own needs, or when local institutions and people are
inadequately empowered to deal with the conflict. If protected area authorities
fail to address the needs of the local people or to work with them to address such
conflict adequately, the conflict intensifies, becoming not only conflict between
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humans and wildlife, but also between humans about wildlife. Frequently, wildlife
conservation initiatives suffer, the economic and social well-being of local people
is impaired, local support for conservation declines, and conservation and development
efforts meant to offset more general “costs” of living near a protected
area may be impeded.