Abstract:
Increased human–wildlife
conflicts in shared and partially closed conservation areas
encompassing terrestrial and aquatic systems such as Ngezi Dam in Zimbabwe may
arise from competing uses. This case study aimed to (i) estimate the abundance and
distribution of Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), (ii) identify potential human–crocodile
conflict hotspots, (iii) assess the perceptions and attitudes of Ngezi Dam
side communities towards crocodiles and their effects on rural livelihoods and (iv)
examine the application of co-existence
and adaptive co-management
concepts in
human–crocodile
conflict resolution. A mixed-methods
research approach integrating
field surveys, focus group discussions and face-to-
face
interviews was used to collect
data on crocodiles and human communities. A total of 54 and 57 Nile crocodiles were
observed in 2017 and 2018, respectively, with no significant spatiotemporal differences
(p > 0.05) in crocodile abundances. Crocodile hotspots (Getis-Ord
>1.96) detected
round the dam indicated potential human–crocodile-
livestock
conflicts. Most
respondents (76%) showed a negative attitude towards crocodiles, which they indicated
destroy livelihoods through injury, death and livestock depredation. The lopsided
losses, for example human injuries and fatalities, loss of fishing equipment and
livestock in human–crocodile
conflicts drawn from this case study reflected a need to
delicately recalibrate the contextualised optimisation and balanced implementation of
conservation, co-management
and human needs in shared landscapes. Astute crocodile
conservation whilst offsetting human needs requires an inductive rather than
deductive perspective lens. We propose a human–crocodile
conflict contextual resolution
framework (HCCCR), which prioritises interactive adaptive co-management
in
a specific context in shared conservation landscapes.
