Perceptions and practices: farmer responses to wildlife crop raiding near mont sangbe national park, western cote divoire

In tropical regions, human-wildlife conflicts are escalating, particularly in the vicinity of protected areas, where animal incursions cause considerable damage to crops. The Mont Sangbé National Park (MSNP) in Côte d'Ivoire exemplifies this issue. Farmers' protection strategies under these pressures remain inadequately documented, both in terms of their diversity and the influencing factors governing their adoption. A survey was conducted between February and April 2022 involving 120 households across three villages near the MSNP. The data collected comprised crop species, identified crop raiders, protection methods employed, and perceptions of damage. The analysis integrated descriptive statistics, χ² tests to evaluate associations between variables, and logistic regression to model the impact of damage perception on the adoption of control measures. Of the 1,085 devastation cases recorded, 61.8% of households had not implemented any protective measures. The prevalent active strategies were guarding (16.7%) and trapping (11.8%). The analysis revealed a strong correlation between protection methods and the types of crops or crop raiders, as well as a significant influence on damage perception. Specifically, only households that perceived losses as "catastrophic" significantly adopted control measures (OR = 5.3; p = 0.029). This study highlights a pronounced strategic inertia in response to wildlife crop raiders. However, it also reveals a refined adaptability among producers, based on the economic value of crops and the ecology of the crop raiders. It emphasizes the necessity of incorporating local knowledge and farmers' perceptions in devising integrated management strategies that are better aligned with the realities of tropical agriculture.