Human‐Carnivore Conflicts and Associated Economic Losses in Villages Adjacent to Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest, Western Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Human‐wildlife conflict frequently occurs at the borders of protected areas, where the demands of humans and wild mammals greatly overlap. The Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest is a protected area located in Ethiopia where human‐wildlife conflict is becoming a serious issue for local people. Conflict between humans and carnivores was assessed in the nearby settlements of the Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest, western Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify carnivore species responsible for livestock depredation, assess the associated economic losses, and examine local strategies used to mitigate human–carnivore conflict around the Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest. A multistage sampling method was used to evaluate human‐carnivore conflict cases and associated economic costs within the study area. Five villages were purposively selected within a 5 km range of the forest. Data were collected through a household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, group discussions, and field investigations from November 2019 to September 2021 during both wet and dry seasons. Our results showed that out of the six carnivore species involved in livestock depredation, spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ), olive baboon ( Papio anubis ), and leopard ( Panthera pardus ) accounted for 55.62% (115,576 US$), 20.43% (42,460 US$), and 18.50% (38,454 US$) of livestock and economic loss, respectively, in the study area. To alleviate human‐carnivore conflicts, the local communities utilized guarding (96.25%), chasing with dogs (83.34%), and cleaning shrubs around the home (74.53%) as the common mitigation measures. To sustainably mitigate human–carnivore conflict around the Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest, coordinated, site‐specific land‐use planning is recommended. This should include developing and strictly implementing a participatory land‐use planning system that clearly delineates wildlife habitat, grazing areas, and settlement zones to minimize overlap between people and carnivores. In addition, buffer zones around the Jorgo‐Wato Protected Forest should be established and expanded to reduce direct encounters between carnivores and livestock.