Problem animal control: Sometimes there are simple solutions, but which one is the problem animal?

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – There is an increase in human/animal conflict as seen recently. Rural small-scale farmers traditionally plant maize this time of year, which unfortunately attracts animals, elephants being the main intruders.

Natural game corridors have been encroached by these subsistence farmers, which inevitably results in ‘problem animal control’ (PAC) shootings. Rural authorities receive reports of crop damage and they in turn advise the National Parks authorities, who issue a permit to shoot the suspected culprits.

In my opinion the problem is not always the elephant! In South Africa there is an ongoing project to try to control human/elephant conflict by ring fencing rural village lands with bee hives. Elephants are instinctively afraid of bees, so will avoid or even flee from bee hives. It has proved very successful and thus reduced the number of elephant deaths from PAC action.

I am not aware of any such human/elephant conflict control in this country, which leads me to believe the elephant population is not in danger. However, the fact of the matter is that you shouldn't put out bird seed if you expect the birds not to eat it…