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The study was conducted to investigate the levels of human attack and livestock
depredation by spotted hyenas in nine selected villages in Geita Region. The study
specifically, i) determined the level of human attacks by spotted hyenas, ii) the level
of livestock depredation by spotted hyenas, iii) compared the major causes of
livestock loss factors, and iv) mitigation strategies to reduce human attack and
livestock depredation. Snowball technique, was used to obtained the sample of
villages and respondents. Data were collected using structured interviews with
standardized questionnaires and observations in the selected households that were
affected by spotted hyenas. Data gathered were stored in an electronic data base and
analyzed by using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS), IBM version 20
for windows. Results suggested that, human attacks and livestock depredation by
spotted hyenas differed significantly among the surveyed villages. Large number of
human attacks and injuries as well as a large livestock depredation were observed at
Ihulike village that is relatively close to Kigosi Game Reserve. Diseases were found
to be a major cause of loss of cattle while in goats and sheep depredation and
diseases, were more or less similar. However, losses of domestic dogs due to
diseases were similar to depredation. Moreover, majority of the respondents had no
pits for household wastes disposal. Majority of respondents who keep livestock, used
domestic dogs and bomas, as mitigation strategies to reduce depredation. In addition,
no one had used poison as a mitigate strategy to reduce depredation. To minimize
the level of human attacks and livestock depredation farmers had to build strong
bomas, identify places to dispose wastes and living far away from the protected area.
An improvement of veterinary services which would have reduced the loss of
livestock due to diseases is highly recommended. |
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