| dc.description.abstract | One of the major challenges of conservation is the balance between the needs of local communities and the protection of nature. Human-wildlife conflicts are recognized as an immense challenge globally, impoverishing human communities and diminishing local biodiversity. There is a need to mitigate these conflicts on behalf of all parties involved. Through surveying a total of 250 respondents in 10 villages surrounding Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS), Myanmar, this study aimed to investigate human-wildlife conflicts in the area. Focusing on crop raiding, bushmeat consumption and human perceptions of three ungulate species, Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii), Muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) and Wild boar (Sus scrofa). Findings suggest a partially ongoing human-wildlife conflict between the local population in SWS and the interests of the PA, with ungulate populations potentially threatened by bushmeat consumption. The most consumed bushmeat was Wild boar > Muntjac > Eld’s deer, with parameters of age, livestock ownership, farmland ownership and gender affecting people’s involvement. The farmland owners in communities surrounding SWS were experiencing a degree of crop raiding from Wild boar, creating a two-way conflict with the animal. Human perceptions of Wild boar were mostly negative and varied with the experience of crop raiding. However, attitudes towards the other ungulates and the PA-staff were mostly positive. With females having negative perceptions of the ungulates more often than men. There were big differences in conflict level between regions of SWS, as crop raiding incidences and bushmeat consumption varied with geographic location of villages. | |
