Navigating Community Engagement & Compensation

We’re back! The Beneath the Baobab Podcast and host, Gordon Buchanan, return to explore the issue of human wildlife conflict in this second season of the conservation and communities podcast, this time travelling around southern Africa to meet the communities living alongside wildlife.
For the past 30 years as a documentary maker, Gordon has told stories of the natural world, of wildlife, but also on occasions of people's relationships with wild animals. On our changing planet, our relationship with some wild species is complicated. With human population growth, habitat loss, climate change, even policy changes, people and wild animals are increasingly sharing space and resources, often resulting in devastating conflict. Ranging from simple fear, to destruction of crops, to loss of livestock, there's not just a threat to livelihoods, but there's a real threat to human lives.
But beyond this strife, there are solutions. And there are stories of remarkable, profound connections with wildlife that transcends the conflict. Join us to meet the communities, the families, the people, at the very heart of the matter. As we discuss the coexistence challenge Beneath the Baobab.
In our first episode, we journey to the western border of Kruger National Park, a region teeming with biodiversity and home to both iconic wildlife and resilient communities. We'll hear first hand accounts from these communities who are battling to safeguard their livelihoods.
Anna Manie Teto tells us how she has lost cattle to crocodiles, whilst Livit shows us how one of his goats was victim to a jackal - and explains how wildlife can damage essential crops.
Anna Njovu describes how calf attacks have affected her - and her family’s life - with her husband having to take a job in Durban to support his family.
Thulani Nghoyama was our guide and translator in South Africa and speaks of hope in the community. Whilst he acknowledges the coexistence problems faced on a daily basis he describes how the people living alongside Kruger National Park have a love of the wildlife that surrounds them, and how education is a key part of a positive future.
We finish the episode with a conversation with Bhili Rackson, who has grown up in the area. Starting as a tracker, he now runs a lodge and describes what he believes are the financial and cultural benefits; both at the lodge and for the wider community.
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The audio of this episode can be found by searching 'Jamma International' on Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.