Human conflict over wildlife: exploring social constructions of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Botswana

ABSTRACT

Researchers argue that human–wildlife conflict (HWC) can be understood better in terms of conflict between humans over wildlife. We explore human conflict over wildlife by using a social constructionist approach to examine meanings of African wild dogs in Botswana. In 2013 and 2015, we conducted a qualitative study in four study sites by completing: (a) 113 semi-structured interviews with individuals in the agricultural, conservation, and tourism sectors; (b) participant observation; and (c) document analysis. Our results reveal that wild dogs are socially constructed as problem animals, as an endangered species, and as an economic resource, reflecting stakeholders’ diverging agendas, priorities, and values. The social constructions are driven by and emblematic of politico-economic and sociocultural trends, and competing development trends in Botswana. We propose: (a) seeing HWC as human conflict over wildlife can increase communication between conservationists and affected communities, and (b) integrative management plans that increase collaboration among stakeholder groups.

KEYWORDS:

• African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)
• Botswana
• human dimensions of wildlife
• human–wildlife conflict
• social constructions of nature

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Government of Botswana, especially the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, as well as the Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, and Dr. Glyn Maude from the Kalahari Research and Conservation (KRC) group for their in-kind support and assistance. We are grateful for the information provided by those who participated in the study as respondents and key informants. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their careful reading of the manuscript and their helpful comments. The research was generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.