Abstract:
Alleviating human–carnivore conflict is central to large carnivore conservation and is often of economic
importance, where people co-exist with carnivores. However, effective conflict mitigation requires
knowledge of underlying human and environmental drivers that is largely absent in South Africa. From
2006 to 2008, we interviewed land owners in the North West Province of South Africa to quantify; (1)
human–carnivore conflict characteristics and (2) determinants of perceived predation levels and retaliatory
persecution of carnivores. Carnivores reportedly killed 3755 animals, i.e. 2.77% of total game and
livestock holdings. Reported financial losses were unevenly distributed among individuals, but generally
not of sufficient magnitude to constitute a serious economic threat. Dense cover, increasing distance from
protected areas and land use were the most influential determinants of perceived predation levels. Cultural
group was by far the most influential determinant of carnivore persecution. Black-backed jackals
and caracals were most often implicated in predation and most frequently killed by interviewees. Conflict
in the North West Province appears to be driven more by social and environmental factors than by economic
losses. Therefore, mitigation efforts that foster positive attitudes to carnivores may have greater
impact than activities intended to reduce livestock predation losses. More generally, our combination
of socio-economic interviews and information theoretic analysis demonstrates a simple and effective
method for identifying the key determinants of complex human-wildlife conflicts.
