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

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.