Researchers examined a compensation scheme in Uganda that pays cattle and goat farmers to stop them from killing spotted hyenas and leopards.
The predators are important and very profitable for tourism, but cause significant financial damage to farmers.
The study showed livestock losses claims grew significantly from 2009 to 2018 and compensation payments have quickly outstripped available funds, making it difficult to keep sustain the scheme. Also, a majority of livestock losses occurred while they were in protective pens.
Researchers have a few suggestions.
Strengthen livestock holding pens, for example. One could also adapt Sweden's Payment for Presence scheme, where reindeer herders are paid to tolerate wolverine reproduction regardless of livestock losses. The wolverine population has recovered. Or take Kenya's example where lion guardians warn farming communities when predators come near their livestock, mitigating conflict with wildlife.
These initiatives could help humans and wildlife to co-exist sustainably.
Original article:
Why paying people to tolerate wildlife is not the magic bullet for conservation
Original study: