Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The period between 2009 and 2019 has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the
number of human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) resulting in people being injured and/or
killed by the wildlife in Botswana. This national tracer study, guided by constructivism
approach, covered 66 HWC victims and their families in over 65 villages. The study
utilised mixed methods approach to ascertain the magnitude and social impact of HWC
on victims and their families following injuries and loss of life from the wildlife. The
results of the study indicate that the advent of HWC is transforming rural communities’
livelihoods from being agriculturally based, to being dependent on a costly government
aided destitute program. The study also found that victims of HWC experience recurring
headaches, itching and other pains which are symptomatic of bacterial infections from
claws and the mouth of predators that gets injected deep into the body when animals
bite people. The study recommends that government should ensure development of a
comprehensive medical health care and effective therapeutic rehabilitation policy to
facilitate psychosocial adjustment of HWC survivors. Collaborative research between
wildlife veterinarians, medical practitioners and allied health service providers is urgently
required to guide development of comprehensive medical health care and effective
rehabilitation post-traumatic wildlife attack.
Keywords: Botswana, destitute, elephants, human-wildlife conflict, post-traumatic
stress disorder, psychosocial, social impact.
Description:
The series comprises of papers which reflect work in progress or limited research efforts,
which may be of interest to researchers and policy makers, or of a public education
character. Working papers may already have been published elsewhere or may appear in
other publications.
