A Universal Dilemma

In Denmark, many people call for more nature, more wild species, and greater biodiversity. Yet the debate surrounding wolves also demonstrates how quickly enthusiasm can fade when nature begins to affect everyday life. At the same time, Denmark maintains policies aimed at preventing wild boar from establishing populations, even though the species could naturally migrate into the country from the south. The paradox is that we often want more wilderness, but perhaps not necessarily the inconvenience that can come with more wild animals when they create challenges for people. This is a challenge that is far from unique to Denmark.

Across much of Africa, human-wildlife conflict is among the challenges facing wildlife and conservation management today. In many areas, particularly those of hunting and conservation interest, protection efforts have been so successful that wildlife populations are growing. In some regions, elephant numbers have increased to the point where elephants regularly move into agricultural areas and destroy crops. Likewise, populations of lions and leopards can create significant problems for rural communities when livestock are taken.

From a European perspective, increasing numbers of elephants and lions may appear to be an unquestionable conservation success. For a local farmer who loses a maize field or a herd of goats, however, the picture is far more complex. Conservation suddenly becomes a question of family income and, in some cases, family safety.

This is precisely why many African Professional Hunters argue that local communities must receive tangible benefits from living alongside wildlife. These benefits may come in the form of employment, income, schools, water infrastructure, or access to meat. If the costs are borne locally while the benefits are enjoyed elsewhere, support for conservation can quickly disappear. And without local support, there can be no lasting conservation.

Conservation is not simply about increasing wildlife numbers. It is also about creating acceptance among the people who live closest to wildlife, whether in Africa or Europe. The lesson is the same whether the issue involves elephants in Africa, wolves in Denmark, or wild boar along the Danish-German border: people must ultimately live with the consequences.

Wildlife policy is rarely as simple as it appears from a distance. Perhaps the most important realization is that people do not necessarily want more nature. Rather, they want more nature on the condition that it provides value to those who live with it. It is a dilemma that appears to be universal.

You can currently watch an interview with Professional Hunter Thor Kirchner on the subject of human-wildlife conflict on the Nordisk Safari Klub YouTube channel

You can also watch a longer, more in-depth interview in which the Professional Hunter explores conservation, wildlife management, and the role of hunting in conservation