In seeking mitigating solutions, the CLT has always been committed to finding sustainable long-term strategies by working together with farmers instead of berating and alienating them. We are sensitive to the reality of what is happening in some regions where farmers are often pushed to a point of absolute desperation due to pervasive conflict with predators. We are aware that there are many farmers who have tried various options and methods in an attempt to manage their predator problems in a more humane way, sometimes with mixed success. So-called ‘damage-causing animals’ (DCA’s) are responsible for a significant loss of revenue for the farming industry every year.
But most DCA’s are simply wild animals doing what they are programmed to do – survive. It is expected of predators to kill – this is their very nature. Often, DCA’s are labelled ‘problem animals’, and many times this is a case of mistaken identity, as DCA’s are often misidentified on an individual or even species basis (for instance, leopards, caracals and jackals often get blamed when the real culprits are feral dogs). However, it is also true that some predators can develop stock killing habits – often because of a scarcity of natural prey, or because vulnerable livestock are abundantly and very easily available.
From the CLT’s standpoint, we prefer to work with farmers to pre-empt these conflict situations by applying alternative, holistic livestock management practices. Given that different areas present different challenges and each farming operation is unique, it does take time and a certain amount of experimentation to find sustainable working solutions.
Some may argue that the simplest solution is to just eliminate the problem entirely, but it has been shown that in many cases the removal (killing or relocation) of an individual predator may exacerbate the problem instead of solving it. In fact, a farmer’s resident predators can potentially be his best allies (provided he holistically manages his stock), because dominant territorial predators prevent outsiders from entering and operating in their territories. This is especially true in the case of top predators like leopards, who will keep the presence and numbers of smaller predators like caracal and jackal in check. In areas where dominant predators prevail, and where those animals have not developed a stock habit, there is the lowest incidence of predation. In these areas predator numbers are generally lower, more stable, and more manageable than where predators are heavily persecuted.
So merely killing all the predators is not sustainable and is a biological disaster. This method may be one of the least effective approaches to reducing conflict and may be more expensive in the long-run compared to non-lethal options. The CLT fully endorses the concept of actively managing and protecting domestic livestock, rather than trying to manage and eradicate wild predators. Livestock need to be taken off the predators’ menu, so to speak – and herein lays the challenge. Very often, cases of livestock depredation by leopards are made possible by the fact that the stock – calves, lambs, etc, are left unattended and entirely unprotected in mountainous habitat where leopards roam freely. In such cases, simple solutions can often go a long way in mitigating the conflict.
There are several effective and acceptable strategies that farmers can deploy to safeguard their stock and reduce losses. However, it takes time and considerable patience to change mindsets and convention – a process that is only achieved via incremental steps and positive reinforcement. Solutions to farmer-predator conflict lie first and foremost in establishing constructive dialogues with all stakeholders – including farmers, statutory agencies like CapeNature and NGO's like the Cape Leopard Trust. Positive results are directly proportional to the levels of co-operation, patience, trust and mutual respect among all parties.
For centuries, agricultural communities have been trying to ‘control’ damage-causing animals, but despite these efforts, damage still occurs regularly and in some cases the losses are escalating. Proactive and holistic prevention of potential conflict is key to managing this issue and ultimately to ensuring human-wildlife coexistence. With a significant percentage of South Africa's most threatened biodiversity occurring on private or community land, we recognise the fact that farmers and rural communities are integral to the protection of our natural heritage. Farmers play a vital role in ensuring that ecosystem processes and services are protected for the future.
