Assessing spatio-temporal patterns of human-wildlife conflicts in a human-dominated landscape: a case study from Iran

Human-wildlife conflict is considered one of the significant challenges that conservation authorities face in managing protected areas and the surrounding lands. This study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal trends and characteristics of conflicts between rural communities and wild animals in a protected area in northeastern Iran. We collected data on wild animals’ attacks on humans and livestock and damages to crops within the Ors-e-Sistan Protected Area (OSPA) and its 5 km buffer zone for 2010–2020 via official reports and questionnaire surveys (n = 373). We found that multiple species-specific and human-related factors determine conflict hotspots in space and time. Wild boars (Sus scrofa), wolves (Canis lupus) and leopards (Panthera pardus saxicolor) were perceived to be responsible for the highest number of attacks on humans and livestock. Wild boars were responsible for more than 90% of attacks on agricultural lands. Hotspots of attacks on livestock were located in the pastures around villages and pastures within the protected area. In contrast, hotspot areas of attacks on humans and damage to crops were located in the orchards and farms of villages on the protected area’s northern and southern fringes. Temporal patterns in the variability of conflict revealed that grazing seasons and species’ nocturnal behaviors caused more attacks and damages during warm seasons and nights. Conflict hotspots and their temporal clustering, identified in this study, can guide managers to focus mitigation activities in prioritized areas and allocate management resources that reduce conflicts between people and wild animals. The assessment of the type of species and their characteristics, land-use type, and distribution of human settlements is recommended when identifying locations and occasions of conflicts.