Chapter 13 - The Costs and Causes of Human-Cheetah Conflict on Livestock and Game Farms

Abstract

Cheetahs rely heavily upon unprotected land for their habitat requirements, so frequently come into conflict with humans because of their potential to predate upon livestock and farmed game. However, the costs imposed by cheetahs vary, and these costs do not always have a clear-cut relationship with the intensity of conflict caused. Here, we describe the direct and indirect costs of human-cheetah conflict on farmers and cheetahs. We conclude that conflict with cheetahs is influenced by many factors, including environmental (such as climate and seasonality) and social/cultural (such as power, vulnerability, and group norms). Ultimately, whether cheetahs are tolerated by humans largely depends on the perceived costs and benefits of their presence. We therefore provide an overview of popular approaches used to mitigate the costs of cheetah presence and suggest future strategies that could help improve benefits and encourage long-term human–cheetah coexistence.