HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS
Today, about 45% of the Asia, 35% of South-America and 30% of Africa continents are used for agriculture or breeding. As Human territories increasingly encroach on animal habitats, their numbers continue to dwindle, which can only eventually lead to the extinction of a species unless this process is reversed. In many cases humans benefit from their relationship with animals, but conflict between them humans are increasingly becoming a serious problem.
The most serious conflicts between animals and humans lead to the death of several hundred of people every year. Animal attacks generally occur during the day with most of the victims being young children. The main species responsible for these attacks are tigers, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and pumas.
Attacks on livestock by predators are one of the most frequent causes of conflict. Predators prey on livestock for two reasons. Firstly because livestock does not have any particular anti predator behaviour and are therefore easy prey, and secondly, livestock compete for food with wild herbivores. The main predatorily species responsible are tigers, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and pumas.
Finally, for many species whose natural habitat is being destroyed, crop raiding is an easy way to forage for food. People can lose up to 60% of their crops during the year. The main species responsible are baboons, rhinos, wild pigs, chimpanzees and elephants...
