HumanWildlife

Humanwildlife is the range of interactions between humans and wild animals at the human–wildlife interface. It encompasses coexistence, conflicts, and conservation in urban, agricultural, and wildland settings, and includes both direct encounters and indirect effects such as habitat modification and resource competition. The term is often alternately described as human–wildlife conflict or human–wildlife coexistence, depending on emphasis.

Drivers include habitat loss and fragmentation, urbanization, climate change, food provisioning and attractants, and inadequate wildlife corridors. Changes in land use can bring wildlife into towns and farms, increasing opportunities for encounters, whether benign or dangerous.

Management aims to reduce risks while promoting biodiversity and sustainable use. Approaches emphasize prevention (land-use planning, fencing, clean waste management), nonlethal deterrence (aversive conditioning, lights, noise), habitat modification, and, when necessary, relocation or regulated lethal options under policy guidelines. Community engagement, education, and rapid reporting systems are often central.

Impacts span human safety and livelihoods, property and crop losses, disease risk, and economic costs, as well as effects on wildlife behavior, population dynamics, and ecosystem services. Ethical and cultural considerations, including animal welfare and Indigenous knowledge, influence decision making.

Research in ecology, veterinary science, urban planning, and social science supports understanding and governance, evaluating trade-offs and developing coexistence strategies. The field remains multidisciplinary, reflecting that humanwildlife outcomes hinge on policy, habitat design, and community collaboration.