Living in the wild: the bidirectional impacts of human-wildlife interaction in Binga and Nyaminyami rural districts, Zimbabwe

Human-wildlife conflicts have become more intense because of the encroachment of human activities into wildlife habitats. These conflicts have serious ecological, social, and economic consequences. Therefore, this study explored the bidirectional impacts of human-wildlife interaction in communities within or adjacent to wildlife-protected areas. Data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and secondary data. The secondary data on human-wildlife conflict were obtained from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The data were subjected to thematic and frequency distribution analysis. The study findings show that the participants perceive a rise in the presence of wild animals within their respective communities, resulting in increased negative encounters that pose risks of injuries or loss of life for both humans and animals, damage to infrastructure and posing a threat to household food security. Between 2021 and 2023, 119 human-hippo and 118 human-elephant cases were recorded. Human responses such as killing problematic animals and erecting fences and barriers undermine conservation efforts. The study recommends the government, conservationists, local authorities, researchers and local communities to collaborate in the designing and implementation of wildlife management strategies, to promote environmental stewardship among locals to reduce human-wildlife conflict.