Botswana Predator Conservation Trust

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is an increasing challenge in rapidly changing landscapes, where agricultural expansion, settlement growth, and infrastructure development intersect with critical wildlife corridors. Addressing these conflicts requires spatially explicit methods that can evaluate trade-offs among competing land uses. This study demonstrates the application of the open-source Land Use Conflict Identification Strategy (Open-LUCIS), a suitability-based framework that integrates open geospatial data, domain knowledge, and goal-driven land-use modeling. Using Pandamatenga in Botswana's Chobe District as a case study, we identified areas of potential conflict among agriculture, human settlement, and wildlife conservation. High-conflict zones were concentrated where commercial farms overlap with transboundary wildlife corridors, highlighting the tension between agricultural development and conservation. A sensitivity analysis indicated that existing land use, road accessibility, and development constraints strongly influence conflict dynamics. The application demonstrates a clear pathway for using open-source tools to support HWC studies. By relying on open data and reproducible methods, Open-LUCIS offers a cost-effective and accessible alternative to proprietary software, with direct implications for advancing sustainable land development in regions with limited resources. Given that the dynamics observed in Chobe reflect pressures common across many parts of Africa and beyond, the framework is broadly applicable as a transferable approach for managing land-use conflicts in many rapidly developing, ecologically sensitive frontiers worldwide.

The Herding for Health (H4H) model integrates ecosystem restoration with improved livestock management to address rangeland degradation, livestock losses, and market constraints in pastoral communities. This four-year case study evaluates the implementation of H4H in Eretsha, Botswana, where annual cattle losses exceeded 30%, primarily due to predation, disease, straying and unknown causes. Compared to free-roaming (FR) systems, H4H significantly reduced overall herd losses to 11% vs 32% in FR, primarily mitigating predation (1.6% vs 8.1%), disease (2.7% vs 7.9%), and other husbandry-related losses. Despite FR producing more calves (214 vs 161 in H4H), H4H retained a slightly larger net herd size (739 vs 727) and generated substantially higher revenue (US$30 780 vs US$4 574.64). Rangeland assessments showed increased herbaceous biomass and ecological value in planned grazing areas (F(2,21) = 20.4, p < 0.001). Biomass peaked in abandoned corrals, but veld condition was highest in grazed plots due to palatable perennials. While H4H offers clear ecological and economic advantages, limitations such as reduced nighttime grazing and drought-related stress indicate the need for adaptive management. This research highlights that structured grazing management, under favourable conditions, enhances rangeland restoration and livestock productivity, with a progressive market serving as a key driver for improved pastoral practices.

Remote monitoring of communal marking sites, or latrines, provides a unique opportunity to observe undisturbed scent marking behaviour of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). We used remote camera trap observations in a natural experiment to test behavioural scent mark responses to rivals (either familiar neighbours or unfamiliar strangers), to determine whether wild dogs exhibit the "dear enemy" or "nasty neighbour" response. Given that larger groups of wild dogs represent a greater threat to smaller groups, including for established residents, we predicted that the overarching categories "dear enemy" vs. "nasty neighbour" may be confounded by varying social statuses that exists between individual dyads interacting. Using the number of overmarks as a metric, results revealed an interaction between sender and receiver group size irrespective of familiarity consistent with this prediction: in general, individuals from large resident packs overmarked large groups more than they overmarked smaller groups, whereas individuals from smaller packs avoided overmarking larger groups, possibly to avoid detection. Monitoring a natural system highlights variables such as pack size that may be either overlooked or controlled during scent presentation experiments, influencing our ability to gain insights into the factors determining territorial responses to rivals.

Fungus-growing termites (FGT) are important agents in subtropical and semiarid ecosystems for the biological and geological modifications they bring through the construction of their mounds. In order to survive and thrive, the mounds are designed to host the Termitomyces fungus in pre-set conditions of humidity and temperature. The interior structure of FGT mounds has only been scarcely studied in the scientific literature, making knowledge about mound morphology and development incomplete. In this study, a relic FGT mound in northern Botswana was analyzed using a combination of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), particle size distribution (PSD), X-ray computed microtomography (X-ray micro-CT), and soil micromorphology methods. Specifically, we set out to investigate (i) whether changes in the measured soil resistivities reflect expected changes between the various functional compartments of the mound; (ii) what changes in soil texture and structure are associated with the resistivity variations; and (iii) whether this information can be used to better understand the mound compartments and their development. Our results suggest that ERT may eventually provide an attractive and efficient method to investigate the interior structure of FGT mounds that is non-destructive. The use of ERT does not require to remove the epigeal of the mound. The modifications brought by FGT to the texture and structure of the soil, respective to the function of each mound compartment, can increase resistivity of up to three orders of magnitude. Further, the work presented in this paper helps to (i) identify processes involved in the sediment transfer between the mound and its surroundings, (ii) increases the understanding of mound morphology, and (iii) show that fungus-growing termitaria affect durably savanna landscape. Finally, this study demonstrates that ERT is a pertinent non-destructive method to investigate mound structure.

Translocation is a valuable conservation tool, but poses significant risks for the transported rhinoceroses. Interventions reducing these risks are required to ensure positive welfare during transportation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of journey duration and feeding during the transport of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum). A total of 32 animals were transported by road during two events, five days apart. Fifteen rhinoceroses in the first transport event (37.0 ± 2.4 hr duration) were not fed, while 17 rhinoceroses in the second event (32.2 ± 1.5 hr duration) were offered lucerne. Blood samples were collected at capture and after transport for the evaluation of changes in serum clinical chemistry analytes. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare differences between the groups. In all rhinoceroses, transport resulted in changes in serum electrolyte, metabolite and enzyme concentrations, indicating a loss in total body water, nutritional shifts, stress and fatigue. Fed rhinoceroses, transported over a shorter time, displayed greater changes in osmolality (p < 0.006), serum sodium and chloride concentrations (p = 0.005 and = 0.001, respectively) indicating a greater degree of total body water loss than non-fed rhinoceroses. Feeding and a shorter transport duration reduced, but did not prevent, nutritional challenges. A greater increase in the muscle enzymes CK and AST (p = 0.027 and = 0.001, respectively), indicated greater fatigue in non-fed rhinoceroses transported over a longer time. Further work to distinguish the effects of feeding and journey duration is required to better understand the role feeding may play in mitigating welfare challenges during rhinoceros translocation.

Coexistence with large carnivores poses challenges to human well-being, livelihoods, development, resource management, and policy. Even where people and carnivores have historically coexisted, traditional patterns of behavior toward large carnivores may be disrupted by wider processes of economic, social, political, and climate change. Conservation interventions have typically focused on changing behaviors of those living alongside large carnivores to promote sustainable practices. While these interventions remain important, their success is inextricably linked to broader socio-political contexts, including natural resource governance and equitable distribution of conservation-linked costs and benefits. In this context we propose a Theory of Change to identify logical pathways of action through which coexistence with large carnivores can be enhanced. We focus on Africa's dryland landscapes, known for their diverse guild of large carnivores that remain relatively widespread across the continent. We review the literature to understand coexistence and its challenges; explain our Theory of Change, including expected outcomes and pathways to impact; and discuss how our model could be implemented and operationalized. Our analysis draws on the experience of coauthors, who are scientists and practitioners, and on literature from conservation, political ecology, and anthropology to explore the challenges, local realities, and place-based conditions under which expected outcomes succeed or fail. Three pathways to impact were identified: (a) putting in place good governance harmonized across geographic scales; (b) addressing coexistence at the landscape level; and (c) reducing costs and increasing benefits of sharing a landscape with large carnivores. Coordinated conservation across the extensive, and potentially transboundary, landscapes needed by large carnivores requires harmonization of top-down approaches with bottom-up community-based conservation. We propose adaptive co-management approaches combined with processes for active community engagement and informed consent as useful dynamic mechanisms for navigating through this contested space, while enabling adaptation to climate change. Success depends on strengthening underlying enabling conditions, including governance, capacity, local empowerment, effective monitoring, and sustainable financial support. Implementing the Theory of Change requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation to inform adaptation and build confidence in the model. Overall, the model provides a flexible and practical framework that can be adapted to dynamic local socio-ecological contexts.

Elephant crop raiding causes food losses to subsistence farmers in the eastern Okavango Panhandle in Botswana. This study evaluated the effectiveness of using alternative crops such as groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and chilli (Capsicum frutescens) as a strategy to reduce elephant crop raiding. The study further evaluated the effectiveness of safflower and chilli as potential buffer crops against elephant raiding. Maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were controls, being crops typically targeted by elephants in crop raiding incidents. A randomized complete block design experiment was conducted on a major elephant corridor in December 2018. The study compared the frequency of elephant visitations to plots, crop stand at harvest, crop losses, and actual and expected yield to determine crop resilience to elephant damage. The percentage of plants damaged differed significantly, with the lowest damage observed in chilli and the highest in maize. Non-buffered maize and sorghum suffered the worst damage. The lowest damage to legumes was in chilli-buffered crops with the highest damage in safflower-buffered crops. Chilli consistently deterred elephants from damaging crops when incorporated into the cropping systems. Therefore, we conclude, farmers should grow chilli in combination with both legumes (groundnut and cowpea), and cereals (maize and sorghum), which need to be buffered with chilli shrubs. Safflower has little effectiveness as an elephant deterrent compared to chilli. Diversifying crops could reduce the number of elephant raids and enable farmers to obtain increased incomes and improve food security. Résumé Le maraudage des récoltes par les éléphants causent des pertes de nourriture aux agriculteurs de subsistance dans l'est de l'Okavango au Botswana. Cette étude a évalué l'efficacité de l'utilisation de cultures alternatives telles que l'arachide (Arachis hypogaea L.), le niébé (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), le carthame (Carthamus tinctorius L.) et le piment (Capsicum frutescens) comme stratégie de réduction du maraudage des récoltes par les éléphants. L'étude a en outre évalué l'efficacité de cultures de carthame et de piment en tant que zones tampons potentielles contre le maraudage par les éléphants. Le maïs (Zea mays L.) et le sorgho (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) ont été choisies comme cultures témoins, étant des cultures typiques ciblées par les éléphants lors d'incidents de maraudages. Une expérience en blocs aléatoires complets a été réalisée sur un couloir majeur d'éléphants en décembre 2018. L'étude a comparé la fréquence des visites d'éléphants dans les parcelles, la récolte finale, les pertes de cultures, le rendement réel et attendu pour déterminer la résilience des cultures aux dommages causés par les éléphants. Le pourcentage de plantes endommagées différait considérablement, les dégâts les plus faibles étaient au piment et les plus élevés au maïs. Le maïs et le sorgho sans zones tampons ont subi les pires dégâts. Les dommages les plus faibles aux légumineuses ont été observés dans les cultures avec des zones tampons au piment, les dégâts les plus élevés ont été observé dans les cultures avec des zones tampons au carthame. Le piment dissuadait systématiquement les éléphants (Loxodonta africana) d'endommager les cultures lorsqu'ils étaient incorporés dans les systèmes de culture. Par conséquent, les agriculteurs devraient cultiver du piment en combinaison avec à la fois les légumineuses (arachide et niébé) et les céréales (maïs et sorgho), qui doivent être cultivées avec des arbustes à piment comme zones tampons. Le carthame a peu de valeur dans la dissuasion des éléphants par rapport au piment. La diversification des cultures pourrait permettre aux agriculteurs réduire le nombre de raids d'éléphants et permettre aux agriculteurs d'obtenir des revenus accrus et d'améliorer la sécurité alimentaire.