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A manual for reducing and mitigating Human Ungulate Conflict - KAZA
| Author: | Connected Conservation and KAZA TFCA Secretariat |
| Language: | |
| Topic: | Conservation |
| Type: | Strategy and guides |
| Last updated: | 13 April 2026 |
The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) spans Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, hosting Africa’s largest contiguous elephant population, 25% of African wild dogs, and 20% of lions. It is home to 3 million people, primarily rural communities reliant on subsistence farming. The region faces significant human-ungulate conflicts (HUC), including crop raiding, disease transmission, human attacks, and environmental damage caused by species like buffalo, eland, kudu, impala, duiker, and wild pigs.
The manual aims to improve understanding of HUC and equip communities with best practices to mitigate conflicts. It targets farmers, wildlife managers, and individuals interested in coexistence with ungulates. Common issues include crop destruction, zoonotic diseases, and attacks on humans, which result in economic losses, environmental degradation, and threats to livelihoods.
To address HUC, the manual outlines strategies such as fencing, community awareness, human vigilance, traditional barriers, acoustic deterrents, trapping, lethal control, alternative water sources, and land-use planning. Fencing can prevent interactions but may disrupt wildlife movement. Community awareness programs educate locals on practical techniques to manage conflicts. Vigilance, traditional barriers, and acoustic deterrents can help protect crops and people. Trapping and lethal control are used for specific species but require careful implementation. Providing alternative water sources and participatory land-use planning can reduce encounters and conflicts.
Continuous training for stakeholders is essential to improve technical capacity and implement effective mitigation measures. Collaboration among communities, conservation authorities, and other stakeholders is critical to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and ungulates, protect biodiversity, and support local livelihoods.
To address HUC, the manual outlines strategies such as fencing, community awareness, human vigilance, traditional barriers, acoustic deterrents, trapping, lethal control, alternative water sources, and land-use planning. Fencing can prevent interactions but may disrupt wildlife movement. Community awareness programs educate locals on practical techniques to manage conflicts. Vigilance, traditional barriers, and acoustic deterrents can help protect crops and people. Trapping and lethal control are used for specific species but require careful implementation. Providing alternative water sources and participatory land-use planning can reduce encounters and conflicts.
Continuous training for stakeholders is essential to improve technical capacity and implement effective mitigation measures. Collaboration among communities, conservation authorities, and other stakeholders is critical to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and ungulates, protect biodiversity, and support local livelihoods.
