Officials express concern as they track new predators moving into urban areas: 'Will likely become more frequent'

Rising global temperatures are forcing wildlife out of their natural habitats and into urban areas, according to a recent New Vision article. And as the boundaries between humans and nature become pushed closer together, new conflicts arise.

What's happening?

The article explains how habitat destruction and extreme heat are pushing large predators from their natural settlements and closer to humans in Uganda. 

The article cites how species that have historically been separate from human settlements — such as snakes, monkeys, and elephants — have suddenly been forced into coming closer into contact with humans, and in turn, how that has drastically increased the number of human-wildlife conflicts in the country.

And this growing phenomenon is not isolated to Uganda. Reports of wild animal sightings and attacks have grown globally, which underscores the negative long-term effects of rising global temperatures and previews the ways these interactions will only continue to worsen.

Why is this change important?

This new development is not happening in isolation of environmental issues, but it is intrinsically tied to them.

"There are key factors driving animals out of their natural habitats and into human settlements," said Veronica Mirembe, the Uganda Wildlife Authority manager. "First is water scarcity which is playing a significant role. In their desperation, [the animals] are straying into villages, schools, and business areas, searching for relief that is no longer available in the wild."

Beyond the immediate danger of the incident, the broader ecological impact of these shifts is troubling. When forced into urban settings, predators' hunting patterns shift, potentially leading to an imbalance in predator-prey population numbers.

What's being done about the increased number of conflicts?

"Generally, as climate change continues to alter ecosystems, human-wildlife interactions will likely become more frequent," said Titus Kakembo, the author of the article. 

Efforts are currently being made by the UWA to restore habitats and prevent further conflicts, but there are a number of setbacks these encounters have on environmental efforts that are being made. 

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Local beekeeping has been challenged by the increased presence of elephants, which means that local pollinators are also being infringed upon by the wildlife. In the meantime, to protect current environmental endeavors while dealing with the problem at hand, a few things can be done. 

Minimizing food waste can help stop attracting wildlife to urban areas. By properly securing bins and reducing the amount of food thrown out, the amount of unwanted wildlife visitors can be minimized.

But the most important step to take to further environmental consciousness is community education and awareness. Taking these steps can help not only mitigate the damage done by animal communities but also better teach us how to coexist safely.

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