People are at the heart of wildlife conservation. Those living literally on the edge of the most iconic wildlife habitats are the first line of defense in protecting these ecosystems, but they also bear the consequences when wild animals roam near human settlements.
From livestock losses to crop damage, human-wildlife conflict can be a reality for many of them, and they face the very real costs of living next to forests and national parks. At Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF), community engagement is not simply a project, it is core to our overall strategy.
We collaborate closely with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), not only to protect wildlife through law enforcement and veterinary support, but also to build relationships with people, listen to their concerns, and provide meaningful support. Our full-time, park-based teams allow us to respond quickly to incidents even deep in the non-tourism areas while also facilitating regular engagement with UWA, district leaders and the local communities to hear, respond and take action.
In a village in Rubirizi district near Queen Elizabeth National Park, UCF joined the UWA team to meet the residents and leaders. The mood was tense. Residents spoke with urgency and frustration: “Wild animals are eating our goats and pigs,” they had reported to the UWA team ahead of our visit. It was clear: this community wasn’t looking for sympathy, they wanted answers, and for someone to take them seriously. We were there to assess the situation, bring clarity and calm growing anxiety and speculation in the area.
While big cats and elephants often make headlines, they are not always the culprits. Sometimes the threat is closer to home and it’s more complex than simply blaming lions or leopards. More often than not, such attacks are the work of feral or domestic dogs. But even then, fear and misinformation, if unaddressed, can erode decades of conservation progress.
As we concluded the meeting, a fresh report arrived: 3 goats had just been attacked nearby. Together with local leaders and residents, we inspected the scene and ruled out a leopard as some had suggested. Evidence from carcass signs, behaviour, and known animal ranges pointed elsewhere.
Sometimes, it’s not what people expect and education becomes the first tool in reducing conflict. Engaging communities, investigating incidents, dispelling myths and educating about wildlife behaviour, safety, land use and even basic identification of species are essential to demystifying conservation and dismantling the “us vs them” mentality.
The results speak for themselves: improved park-community relations, fewer retaliatory killings, a decline in certain illegal wildlife trade activities, and more eyes and ears on the ground. The residents are now conservationists! Because when people feel heard, when they become part of the solution, and when they experience the benefits of conservation in their daily lives, they become active guardians rather than adversaries of wildlife.
At UCF, we are in this for the long haul, working with UWA in communities to reduce conflict, build trust, and empower people to coexist with wildlife, whether it has stripes, spots, or a bark.
