Assessing the effectiveness of Electric Fencing in mitigating Human Wildlife Conflicts and Frontline Community Perceptions around Murchison Falls National Park, Nwoya and Oyam Districts, Northern Uganda.

Abstract

Communities that live adjacent to conservation areas are stewards in conservation, as they regularly engage with park resources. The effectiveness and sustainability of conservation strategies therefore rely on their support and participation. Uganda Wildlife Authority is implementing various strategies to address human-wildlife conflicts, including installation of an electric fence around Murchison Falls National Park. However, the sustainability of these initiatives is not well known, yet this insight is vital for enhancing strategies to optimize conservation outcomes. The goal of this study was to contribute knowledge for implementing sustainable measures for wildlife conservation. Specifically, the study i) assessed the perceptions and attitudes of park frontline communities towards management practices used to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, ii) assessed the efficiency of utilizing electric fencing in reducing human-wildlife conflicts and iii) examined the constraints to implementation of the electric fence strategy. Four hundred fourteen randomly selected households from six villages adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park participated in this study. Additional information was obtained from 10 local government offices through key informant interviews and 6 focus group discussions. Based on perceived effectiveness towards keeping away problem animals, there was a statistically significant difference in preference for management strategies by the community, as demonstrated by a statistically significant variation (χ2 = 902, df =5, P ≤ 0.001). Electric fencing was ranked as the most preferred, while trenches dug on the park boundary, were the least preferred. No single strategy was considered effective in controlling all problem animals. Electric fencing, scare shooting, and trenches were perceived to be more effective on elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes. In contrast, bee hives and chili bricks effectively affected baboons and monkeys. In areas where electric fencing was implemented, there was a statistically significant reduction in a number of crop raids and injuries (t -3, df = 46, P ≤ 0. 003) arising from wildlife. As a result, almost all respondents (99%) supported the establishment of the electric fence. Despite its effectiveness, fencing was associated with increasing distance to and cost of firewood, water, and local medicine. These results shed light on the complexities surrounding human-wildlife conflict management and offer valuable considerations for continued conservation efforts in Murchison Falls National Park.