A pan-African spatial assessment of human conflicts with lions and elephants

Human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving lions and elephants, threatens both human safety and wildlife populations. This study maps human-wildlife conflict hotspots across Africa, revealing that 82% of sites with lions and elephants are near high human pressure. Severe risk areas (high human, crop, and cattle densities) cover 9% of the species' range perimeters, located in 18 countries holding ~74% and 41% of lion and elephant populations respectively. The study assesses mitigation fences as a cost-effective strategy, suggesting strategically placed fences offer a high return on investment by reducing livestock losses and crop damage, particularly in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Enrico Di Minin, Rob Slotow, Christoph Fink, Hans Bauer, Craig Packer