Wildlife damage and control methods around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

This study documents the different management and control measures developed and implemented by farmers to mitigate vertebrate pest attacks on crops and livestock around Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda. A semi-structured interview administered to 40 randomly selected park neighbours was supplemen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of pest management 2012, Vol.58 (1), p.25-31
Main Authors: Tweheyo, Mnason, Tumusiime, David Mwesigye, Turyahabwe, Nelson, Asiimwe, Asaph, Orikiriza, Lawrence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Conservation
control methods
crop raiding
Crops
Data processing
farmers
Farms
human-wildlife conflict
humans
Infectious diseases
interviews
Lakes
Livestock
Mburo
National parks
Parks
Pest attack
Pest control
Pests
Poisoning
Reviews
vertebrate pest
vertebrate pests
Wildlife
wildlife damage management
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Summary:This study documents the different management and control measures developed and implemented by farmers to mitigate vertebrate pest attacks on crops and livestock around Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda. A semi-structured interview administered to 40 randomly selected park neighbours was supplemented with key informant interviews, a review of secondary data, and direct observations of vertebrate pest problems and their management. All participant farmers had experienced some damage from vertebrate pests. Bushpigs ranked as the most destructive to crops, while leopards were most destructive to livestock. Most damage occurred during severe dry seasons. The most common methods for combating pests were guarding, fencing, and poisoning. Physical guarding was perceived as being the most effective method; however, there were reports of pest resurgence, which varied between pest species, seasons, and methods used. Bushpigs showed the greatest resistance against control measures. Control efforts were found to be tedious and time-consuming, and they created the possibility for the transfer of infectious diseases frompests to humans. We recommend conscious efforts to augment local control methods so as to enhance both biodiversity conservation and farm production.
ISSN:1366-5863
0967-0874
1366-5863
DOI:10.1080/09670874.2011.641605