Leopards, Livestock & Alternative Income Sources

In this second episode, we travel to Namibia and visit the #Gaingu conservancy to explore human wildlife conflict and effective coexistence and mitigation methods.

The landscape around the conservancy is flat and arid, in the shadow of the Spitzkoppe mountain with the main wildlife resources being kudu, gemsbok, springbok and leopard. But these species can cause great problems and hardship for local people.

In 2020, three herders from the conservancy were attacked by a leopard after attempting to protect one of their goats. The affected farmer received no help for this and although translocation was considered for the leopard and her cubs, nothing was implemented – and the animal continues to return periodically, injuring livestock.

We spoke to the victims of the 2020 attack and heard about the challenges of moving livestock to ensure they are fed and watered, whilst protecting them from predators.

In conversation with other members of the community, we heard their solutions and how animals can be an asset both financially and in terms of centuries-old coexistence.

Neville Hendricks is the Conservancy Manager and in his conversation with Gordon Buchanan, explores the themes of trophy hunting, conservation, and how communities can make decisions for – and benefit from – the wildlife around them.

We speak to those on both sides of the conservancy fence, beneath the baobab.

Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.

The video of this episode can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/@JammaInternational

https://www.nacso.org.na/conservancies/gaingu

https://www.nacso.org.na/sites/default/files/gaingu_fact_sheet.pdf

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