A group of 13 highly-qualified professionals work tirelessly to resolve human-wildlife conflict in the Western Cape. The company, Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) and its dedicated team is led by behavioural ecologist Dr Philip Richardson.
‘Our mission is to preserve biodiversity by providing innovative, non-invasive and sustainable solutions to resolve conflict situations between humans and wildlife,’ says HWS’s website.
HWS experts have found ways of preventing shark attacks, preventing baboons from damaging properties, and the theft of livestock.
If a situation requires the assistance of HWS, an accurate assessment is first conducted. From this, non-invasive and non-lethal measures are taken to resolve the conflict. ‘We pride ourselves on creating or implementing the latest technology in order to achieve our goal,’ reads the website.
HWS also uses GPS tracking collars to allow wildlife managers and farmers to access information on the whereabouts of certain animals. The data collected stores the positions of the animals and uploads the information to a series of ‘strategically-placed stations’ that are transmitted wirelessly.
Raiding baboons can be a particular problem in parts in the Southern Peninsula of the Western Cape. In the past, these baboons have caused damage to family homes and instilled a fear of them in many.
With the work conducted by HWS over the last five years, this fear is slowly dissipating.
The peaceful, strategic and innovative technologies ensure a mutually-beneficial result for humans and baboons and avoid dangerous human-wildlife conflict.
If you require help in resolving issues with wildlife, call the head office on 021 712 9544 and if you need assistance with baboon-related issues call the Baboon Hotline on: 071 588 6540
Image: Unsplash
