A new scientific study has found that wild animals living in a community-managed conservation area in western Tanzania are increasingly avoiding villages and areas with human activity, raising fresh questions about how people and wildlife can safely coexist.
The research, published in the African Journal of Ecology, examined mammal populations in the Ipole Wildlife Management Area (WMA) using camera traps placed across the landscape during the dry season. The results show that while the area still hosts rich biodiversity, human presence is reshaping where animals live.
“Most mammal species were consistently less likely to occur near villages, indicating that human settlements strongly shape where wildlife can survive within community conservation areas,” the researchers report
The study recorded 49 wild mammal species, including elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and zebras—evidence that community conservation areas can still play a major role in protecting wildlife. According to the authors, “Community-managed conservation areas can support high levels of mammal diversity, comparable to other protected areas in the region”
However, the presence of people, livestock, and domestic dogs had a clear impact on where animals were found. “Signs of human presence such as livestock, domestic dogs and people were associated with lower wildlife occupancy, showing that animals tend to avoid areas of active human use,” the study notes
Interestingly, not all human features repelled wildlife. Animals were often found closer to roads, footpaths, and rivers. “Mammal occupancy across the community increased closer to roads and trails, suggesting that these features influence how animals move through the landscape,” the researchers found
Water sources were especially important. “The Koga–Ugalla River emerged as a key attractant for wildlife, with occupancy increasing for most species near permanent water sources during the dry season,” the study says
During dry months, rivers become lifelines for animals as other water sources disappear.
Despite these findings, researchers warn that growing human pressure could undermine conservation gains. “Human presence within community conservation areas clearly affects mammal distributions, highlighting the need to consider anthropogenic features when managing biodiversity,” they caution
Village expansion and increased human activity near protected areas could have long-term consequences. “Expansion of villages and increased human activity near conservation areas could reduce wildlife diversity, distribution and density over time,” the authors warn
The study underscores a central challenge facing conservation across much of Africa: balancing people’s livelihoods with wildlife protection. “The challenge for community conservation is to balance wildlife protection with local livelihoods, while limiting illegal and ecologically damaging activities,” the researchers conclude
As Tanzania continues to expand community-led conservation models, the findings show the need for careful planning—protecting water sources, managing grazing and settlement growth, and strengthening local conservation institutions—so that people and wildlife can share the landscape without pushing animals further into retreat.
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