Exploring Human–Wildlife Conflict and Implications for Food Self-Sufficiency in Bhutan

The conflict between humans and wildlife is a global issue in the increasingly shared landscape. Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) often viewed as threat to most of rural populace world, crop losses remove household’s food supply, are an economic drain on homestead. In this paper, we study extent damage by wild animals two districts Bhutan: Trashiyangtse Tsirang. We surveyed 431 respondents from interviewed 40 central local government officials residents. vast majority both (Trashiyangtse = 98.7%; Tsirang 92.2%) reported having experienced conflicts with 2017 2019. On average, respondents’ households lost over half month more than month’s worth household requirements, some claiming have six months’ annually animals. loss crops removes households’ supply discourages farming, resulting increased fallow lands. lands which close human settlements, then become habitats for animals, aggravating incidence HWC, such directly linked reduced production.