SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS ON AGRICULTURE BASED LIVELIHOOD IN THE PERIPHERY OF SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY, SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE.

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]