Wildlife Conflict Rises, Zimbabwean Communities Find New Ways to Coexist
Human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe is increasing due to climate-driven resource scarcity and expanding human populations encroaching on wildlife habitats. Authorities report thousands of incidents resulting in significant loss of life and livestock, prompting a search for new coexistence strategies.
Why it matters
The intersection of climate change, population growth, and conservation creates urgent humanitarian and ecological challenges in southern Africa.
He could not believe his eyes. Most of his cows were lying lifeless or injured and scattered outside of the enclosure. Scanning the area for tracks, Nebiri realized lions had attacked them during the night. He stood in silence, shocked.
“I felt devastated,” he told TriplePundit. “I swore to my ancestors not to keep cows ever again.”
Only one of Nebiri’s four cows survived. He has lost dozens of his livestock to lions, leopards and hyenas over the past three decades.
Human-wildlife conflict is on the rise across Zimbabwe. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of droughts, it reduces the availability of water and natural forage for people and animals. So, they must compete for inadequate available resources.
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