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This study assessed the nature and local people's perceptions of human-crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) conflicts (HCCs) for the period 2007 to 2016 in Kariba town, northern Zimbabwe. A mixed-method approach was used with 150 local fish folks interviewed between July and October 2017 through face-to-face interviews and secondary data on HCC were retrieved from the wildlife authority's records. In contrast to the general perception from fish folks that there was an increase in HCC, secondary data analysis showed no significant trends of crocodile attacks on people for the period under study. HCC was mainly driven by fishing activities which exposed people to crocodile attacks. The study concludes that despite the recorded non-increasing trend in HCCs, HCC is a major conservation issue in Kariba town given enhanced human–wildlife interactions due to the economic needs for local livelihoods. Community educational programs are recommended as a way to manage HCC and close gaps between the conventional scientific and local knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulture populations are declining globally largely due to deliberate and unintentional persecution and poisoning of animal carcasses which the birds consume. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess local people's knowledge and perceptions of vultures and their ecological importance and (ii) determine the socio-cultural uses of vulture body parts in communities adjacent to the northern Gonarezhou National Park, south-eastern Zimbabwe. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered through interviews with randomly selected household representatives (n = 81) in August 2016. Our results showed that the majority of study respondents, 72.9% (n = 59) reported the need to conserve vultures for their socio-ecological importance to the local communities. Respondents acknowledged the importance of vultures as agents of cleaning the environment, hence maintaining ecosystem health. However, a concern for vulture population decline due to poisoning was reported by most respondents of 71.6% (n = 58). Vulture's organs were reported to be used mostly to enhance dreaming or having visions about the future followed by healing and lastly magic use. We recommend enhanced conservation awareness and education on vultures' conservation and restrictions on access to and use of hazardous chemicals which may likely be used in poisoning wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife conflicts are a concern in southern Zimbabwe which is part of Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. Study objectives were to assess cost value of crop/livestock loss incurred by farmers as well as to identify drivers of human-wildlife conflicts and explore mitigation measures on agro-based communities of Mutema-Musikavanhu, adjacent to Save Valley Conservancy in southern Zimbabwe. Data collection was done in November 2016, using questionnaires administered to randomly selected 300 households and 20 key informants. Majority of farmers (86%, n = 258) had incurred annual household economic loss ranging from US$ 671.00 to US$ 998.21 per household, though perceived and actual losses differed by 63.2% for mono-specific stands of crops and livestock herds for the period October 2014 to October 2016. It was concluded the main drivers of human-wildlife conflicts were African elephants (Loxodonta africana) raiding crops like maize (Zea mays), bananas (Musa sapientum) and legumes (Cucurbita sp.), whereas, lions (Panthera leo) kill livestock, mainly cattle (Bos taurus). Ineffective deterrents such as setting fires around fields at night, guarding crops and herding livestock were methods employed to minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Local people suggested erection of an electrified fence to reduce trespassing of wild animals from protected area to human settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) impact on baobabs (Adansonia digitata) was conducted along a surface water availability gradient in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Data on baobab height, basal area, density and elephant damage were recorded from three strata with varying distance of 4 km, 26 km and 50 km from the Zambezi River. Rukomechi stratum which is furthest (50 km) from Zambezi River recorded tallest mean baobab height, largest mean basal area, highest mean baobab density and the least level of elephant induced damage on baobabs as compared to study sites on Sapi River and Fourways strata which are all less than 26 km from Zambezi River. It was concluded that there was high disturbance pressure on baobabs close to water sources and this seemed to influence baobab abundance and structure in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed flight behavioural responses of impala (Aepyceros melampus) and kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) to human disturbance and compared densities of common large herbivores across Gonarezhou National Park (non- consumptive land use) and the adjacent Malipati Safari Area (consumptive land use) in southeast Zimbabwe. Animal vigilance was measured by flight behaviour and compared in terms of area and group size. Distance sampling method was used to collect data on densities of large herbivores including namely; impala, kudu, zebra (Equus quagga), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprytnnus), elephant (Loxodonta africana), warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), steenbok (Raphicerus campestris), common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), and in both study sites. The vigilance of impala and kudu were higher in Malipati than Gonarezhou {p < 0.001). Vigilance in impala was not significantly different with increasing animal group sizes in both Gonarezhou and Malipati (p > 0.05). Densities of common large herbivores were marginally different with Gonarezhou having higher animal densities than Malipati (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that hunting is important in triggering increased vigilance behaviour of herbivores as well as influencing animal densities. Thus, it is important to monitor and reduce negative human activities on animal populations in the study area for enhancing tourism activities and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment was done to determine the abundance and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitata) across Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Baobabs were sampled on fifteen belt transects of constant width of 300 m with fifteen baobabs in each belt transect determined the length of a particular belt transect between May and June 2012. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in basal area, height and density of baobabs across Gonarezhou. Moreover, elephant (Loxodonta africana) dung counts and damaged baobabs were similar across Gonarezhou. Our findings suggest a relatively similar spatial effect of elephant herbivory and other disturbance regimes on baobabs in Gonarezhou. We recommend the continuous monitoring of baobab woodland stands across Gonarezhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed woody vegetation composition and structure in Mapembe Nature Reserve, eastern Zimbabwe. Woody vegetation was sampled during the period May-June in 2012. Using a stratified random sampling design, we delineated the study area into three strata; plains, mountain and wetland areas. We recorded a total of 1443 woody plants representing 17 woody species assessed from 30 sample plots. Our results from Kruskal Wallis-H test showed significance differences in plant height, canopy volume, and tree density across the study strata (P < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in basal area, shrub canopy volume, shrub density and woody species diversity. Our study results highlighted woody vegetation degradation on wetlands and mountains of Mapembe Nature Reserve, which was attributed to anthropogenic factors. The study recommends in-depth woodland inventory, collaborative arrangements with the local surrounding human communities and improved law enforcement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which aims to compare the population density of baobab and the annual rate of baobab mortality in the northern region of the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe from 1984 to 2005. Topics include the role of elephants in the decline of the baobab population and the need to formulate conservation strategies to protect the trees from local extinction.