Human–Wildlife Interactions and Environmental Dynamics in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Expanding floodwaters in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, are reshaping human–wildlife interactions and livelihoods, challenging the conventional narrative of conflict. A 2012 study in Mababe, a delta community, reveals that environmental disruptions can foster new relationships between people and wildlife, rather than solely negative outcomes. Through in-depth interviews, researchers found that spatial and temporal variability in these dynamics—often unpredictable and uneven—must be considered to move beyond simplistic conflict perspectives. The findings underscore the need for context-specific evaluations of human–wildlife encounters in rapidly changing landscapes.

Yurco, K., King, B., Young, K. R., & Crews, K. A. (2017). Human–Wildlife Interactions and Environmental Dynamics in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Society & Natural Resources, 30(9), 1112–1126. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2017.1315655