Abstract:
Human–wildlife conflict occurs when the needs and behavior of wildlife impact negatively on
humans or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. To explore the nature, causes
and mitigations of human wildlife conflict, the coexistence between human and wildlife
assessment was conducted around Bale Mountains National Park. Data were collected by means
of household questionnaires, focus group discussion, interview, field observation and secondary
sources. 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 and human. The major causes of
conflict manifested that agricultural expansion (30%), human settlement (24%), overgrazing by
livestock (14%), deforestation (18%), and illegal grass collection (10%) and poaching (4%). To
defend crop raider, farmers have been practiced crop guarding (34%), live fencing (26%),
scarecrow (22%), chasing (14%), and smoking (5%). However, fencing (38%), chasing (30%),
scarecrow (24%) and guarding (8%) were controlling techniques to defend livestock predator
animals. As emphasized in this 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 create awareness and training to the local communities,
identifying clear border between the closure area and the land owned by the residents, formulate
rules and regulation for performed
local communities, equal benefit sharing of the local communities and reduction of human
settlement encroachment into the national park range. Generally, researcher recommended that
stakeholders and concerned bodies should be creating awareness to local community for the use
of wildlife and human–wildlife conflict mitigation strategies.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation, Human–wildlife interactions, Management, Protected
area
