The hidden costs of Human-Wildlife conflict in Mukungule Game Management Area,Mpika District,Zambia

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has presented serious challenges to people living in Mukungule
Game Management Area (GMA). Located next to the North Luangwa National Park (NLNP), the
people living in the GMA have over the years experienced HWC. Many of their livelihood
activities usually come in contact with wildlife. The major livelihood activities for the local
people are farming and charcoal production. Both these activities involve the clearing of land
leading to massive encroachments of areas which are predominantly habitats for wildlife.
Furthermore, the perceived increased in wildlife populations due to reduced poaching has led to a
lot of wildlife leaving the Park into the GMA, where human activities are allowed.
The aim of the study was to examine the nature of human-wildlife conflict and their subsequent
hidden costs in Mukungule GMA, northern Zambia. Four objectives were set for the study, these
were; determine the main type of HWC that occur within the study area, investigate factors
leading to conflict, identify the hidden costs associated with HWC within the study area and to
explore the distribution of hidden costs among community members.
By using questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and field
observations, the study examined the nature of Human-wildlife Conflict and their subsequent
hidden costs on the affected communities living in the GMA. The study area was divided into
three clusters where a sample of 124 households was conveniently sampled for the household
survey. Three FGDs were conducted, one in each cluster, and three key informant interviews were
conducted in each cluster. Furthermore, key informant interviews and focus group discussions
were conducted in each cluster.
The study shows that expansion of agricultural activities has led to an increase in humans
encountering wildlife, leading to HWC. Elephants, bush pigs and monkeys are the most
problematic animals. Crop raiding was found to be the most common form of conflict, largely
because faming is widely practiced and is the major economic activity in the area. The hidden
costs of conflict identified were; increased exposure to mosquitoes, reduced incomes, food
insecurity, school dropouts and opportunity costs.
The study recommended that in order to address HWC there is need to, introduce alternative
livelihood sources such as bee keeping alongside there farming activities, growing crops that are
unpalatable to wildlife in areas that are prone to crop raiding, while growing crops for
consumption near their homesteads and strengthen the enforcement of land use plans of the GMA
to ensure that they are followed strictly by all members of the community. This will help to safe
guard crops as agriculture will be concentrated away from known HWC hot spots.