Human wildlife conflict systematic review in Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract In Ethiopia, human-wildlife conflict is a major problem where most people depend on domestic animals and crops. These activities exacerbate human-wildlife conflict. Therefore, this systematic review examined human-wildlife conflict in Ethiopia by synthesizing data from 64 studies conducted between 2009 and 30 August 2025. The papers were searched in major academic databases like Google scholar and Scopus. A total of 53 wildlife species were identified as crop raiders and livestock predators across different geographical locations of Ethiopia. Human-wildlife conflict across geographical locations in Ethiopia was driven by several factors. Among these causes, crop raiding (33 of 64 studies) and livestock depredation (30 of 64 studies) were the most frequently reported sources of conflict. Crop raiding was the leading source of human-wildlife conflict. The northern regions of the country recorded the highest crop loss, with an average of 120.2 kg per household per year. This was due to agricultural expansions around wildlife habitats. Livestock loss caused by wildlife varies across different geographical locations of the country. In the eastern parts of the country, the highest livestock loss was recorded, with an average loss of 14 number of livestock per household year per. Local communities used several techniques to manage human-wildlife conflict. Among these management techniques, guarding, physical barriers, symbols, and chasing were the most commonly used methods. Guarding was the primary human-wildlife conflict management technique. The perceptions and attitudes of local communities towards wildlife populations varied across the regions. In all regions of the country, local communities generally showed a negative attitude towards the wildlife population. Therefore, integrated management approaches, coordination, and awareness creation for the local communities are essential.