Human-monkey conflict and community wildlife management: The case of Boabeng-fiema monkey sanctuary and Fringed communities in Ghana

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/06/2019
Views (525) Download (27)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Human-monkey conflict and community wildlife management: The case of Boabeng-fiema monkey sanctuary and Fringed communities in Ghana

Fred Yeboah Agyei, Alexander Baffour Afrifa, James Agyei-Ohemeng
Int. J. Biosci.14( 6), 302-310, June 2019.
Certificate: IJB 2019 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

This paper focuses on the nexus of monkey conservation and the livelihood of fringed communities at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana. Communities around wildlife sanctuary often complain of monkeys raiding their crops, destroying properties, livestock depredation as well as threat to life and personal safety. The aim of the study was to find out the causes of human-monkey conflict, livelihood effect of the conflict on the fringe communities as well as effective mitigation measures to curb this menace. A total of 270 local residents who were household heads from the six fringed communities at different distances from the edge of the sanctuary were randomly selected and 2 wildlife officers were purposively selected for the study. Structured questionnaire coupled with in-depth interview, focus group discussion and direct observation were used in the data collection. Crop raiding, destruction of properties, livestock depredation and threat to life and personal safety were the main causes of human-monkey conflict. Compensation, education and arresting offenders were rated as effective enhancement and mitigation measures of human-monkey conflict. Direct benefit from the proceeds from the sanctuary could be devised as a measure to mitigate the loss of farm produce, even though such benefits may not compensate the concerns of fringed communities.

VIEWS 20

Acquah E. 2013. Human-wildlife interactions, nature-based tourism, and protected areas management: the case of Mole National Park and the adjacent communities in Ghana (Doctoral dissertation).

Addo-Boadu AM, Anthony BP, Adomako JK. 2010. Human-wildlife conflict management around Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana. Master of Science Thesis: Central European University, Budapest.

Akenten Z. 2015. Human-Wildlife Conflict-The case of elephant at Mole National Park (Master’s thesis, NTNU).

Amoah M, Wiafe ED. 2012. Livelihoods of fringe communities and the impacts on the management of conservation area: the case of Kakum National Park in Ghana. International Forestry Review 14(2), 131-144.

Appiah-Opoku S. 2007. Indigenous beliefs and environmental stewardship: a rural Ghana experience. Journal of Cultural Geography 24(2), 79-98.

Ayivor JS, Gordon C, Ntiamoa-Baidu Y. 2013. Protected area management and livelihood conflicts in Ghana: a case study of Digya National Park. Parks 19(1), 37-50.

Butynski T. 1985. Primates and their conservation in Uganda. Primate Conservation 6, 68-72.

Eshun G, Tonto JNP. 2014. Community-based ecotourism: its socio-economic impacts at Boabeng-Fiema monkey Sanctuary, Ghana. Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series 26(26), 67-81.

Fargey PJ. 1991. Assessment of the Conservation Status of the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary. Report to the Flora and Fauna Preservation Society.

Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO. 1992. The role of ruminant livestock in food security in developing countries.

Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO. 2009. The State of Food and Agriculture 2009: Livestock in the balance. Rome: Food & Agriculture Organization of The United Nations

Ghana Statistical Service GSS. 2010. Population and housing census. Accra, Ghana.

Gomez B, Jones III, (Eds.). JP. 2010. Research methods in geography: A critical introduction Vol. 6, John Wiley & Sons.

Groves CP. 2005. Order primates, In: Mammal species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Third Edition. Wilson, E.D. & Reeder, D.M. (Eds). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. pp. 111-184.

Hill CM. 2000. Conflict of interest between people and baboons: crop raiding in Uganda. International Journal of Primatology 21(2), 299-315.

Kideghesho JR, Røskaft E, Kaltenborn BP. 2007. Factors influencing conservation attitudes of local people in Western Serengeti, Tanzania. Biodiversity and Conservation 16(7), 2213-2230.

Kleiven J, Bjerke T, Kaltenborn BP, 2004. Factors Influencing the Social Acceptability of Large Carnivore Behaviours. Biodiversity and Conservation 13, 1647-1658.

Lescureux N, Linnell  JDC, Mustafa S, Melovski D, Stojanov A, Ivanov G, Avakatov V, Arx M, Breitenmoser U. 2011. Fear of the Unknown: Local Knowledge and Perceptions of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in Western Macedonia. Oryx 45, 600-607.

Moinde-Fockler NN, Oguge NO, Karere GM, Otina D, Suleman, MA. 2006. Human and natural impacts on forests along lower Tana River, Kenya: mplications towards conservation and management of endemic primate species and their abitat. In Vertebrate Conservation and Biodiversity (pp. 335-347). Springer, Dordrecht.

Mulu KS. 2010. Are the endemic and endangered Tana River primates’ ulprits of crop raiding? Evaluating Human–Nonhuman primate conflict status around ana River Primate Reserve, in Kenya.

Røskaft E, Händel B, Bjerke T, Kaltenborn BP. 2007. Human Attitudes towards Large Carnivores in Norway. Wildlife Biology 13, 172-185.

Saj TL, Mather C, Sicotte P. 2006. Traditional taboos in biological conservation: the case of Colobus vellerosus at the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Central Ghana. Social Science Information 45(2), 285-310.

Schlegel J, Rupf R. 2010. Attitudes towards Potential Animal Flagship Species in Nature Conservation: A Survey among Students of Different Educational Institutions. Journal for Nature Conservation 18(4), 278-290.

Siex KS. Struhsaker TT. 1999. Colobus Monkeys and Coconuts: a Study of Perceived Human–wildlife Conflicts. Journal of Applied Ecology 36(6), 1009-1020.

Sillero-Zubiri C, Switzer D. 2001. Crop raiding primates: searching for alternative, humane ways to resolve conflict with farmers in Africa. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, Oxford.

Strum SC. 2010. The developing of primate raiding: implications of management and con­servation. International Journal of Primatology 31(1), 133-156.

Thomas Y. 2013. Ecotourism development in Ghana: A case of selected communities in the Brong-Ahafo Region. Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism 4(3), 69-79.

Weladji RB, Tchamba MN. 2003. Conflict between people and protected areas within the Bénoué Wildlife Conservation Area, North Cameroon. Oryx 37(1), 72-79.

Wiafe ED, Arku FS. 2012. Victims’ perspectives of Lowe’s Monkeys’ (Cercopithecus campbelli lowei) crop raiding events in Ghana: A case of Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 2(2), 1-8.

Wilson DE, Reeder (Eds.). DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference Vol. 1, JHU Press.