Roomies from the wild

The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

Zimbabwe

ROOMIES FROM THE WILD

The harmonious coexistence between humans and large carnivores is extremely important considering that large carnivores have key roles in maintaining the health of forests and forest species. However, if we continue with current harmful activities, large carnivores may have no choice but to move into our homes. What would that look like?

Can you imagine a lynx sharing a bed and litter box with your cat, or a hungry bear that you have to fill the refrigerator for every day? And what about a pack of wolves playing with your dogs and chewing on your couch? They don't sound like great roommates. However, our activities are taking them farther away from their habitats and bringing them closer to us and our homes. It's important to ensure a home for both ourselves and them, as that's the only way we can live in harmony.

Our region is home to three large carnivores - wolf, bear and lynx.

Since they are at the top of their food chains, their role is to maintain the health and balance of the forest and its species. Additionally, they serve as "cleaners" of dead animals, preventing the spread of diseases that could be dangerous for humans as well. It is crucial to note that they also disperse seeds of various plants from one place to another, thereby maintaining the richness of forest flora. Without large carnivores forests would not be the same.

However, large carnivores are under constant threat of extinction and habitat fragmentation due to the construction of highways and other infrastructure, extensive agriculture, and the destruction of their habitats. Moreover, the normalization of their populations, which were extremely small not too long ago (lynx even disappeared from our region at one point), has led to an increase in conflicts between humans and large carnivores. All of this is further exacerbated by wildlife crimes, such as poaching, poisoning, and illegal trade of large carnivores.

Without urgent action, human negligence and environmental impact could lead us to a point where large carnivores have no other choice but to move closer to towns or even into cities. We have already witnessed such situations - bears walking on city streets or wolves coming dangerously close to settlements. If we fail to learn how to preserve the forest and coexist with large carnivores, we might find ourselves having to live with them. We have imagined that scenario and prepared a visualization:

WHAT IF LARGE CARNIVORES SOUGHT A NEW HOME? OUR HOUSES AND APARTMENTS WOULD BE THEIR EASIEST OPTION. HOW WOULD SUCH A LIFE LOOK LIKE?

BROWN BEAR

It's crucial to ensure that food is securely stored in containers outside the house or when spending time in the woods. Failing to do so may teach bears to associate our food with easy access, leading them to venture into urban areas in search of more. Properly cleaning up and disposing of food waste is an effective way to save bears.

WOLF

The construction of highways disrupts the natural wolf pathways in their quest for food and partners. The lack of forest habitat forces them into settlements, where conflicts with livestock and farmers arise. It is easier to ensure an adequate forest space for their survival.

LYNX

The lynx is a solitary animal, requiring a vast forested area for survival. Fragmentation of its habitat poses a threat. Lynx has disappeared from our region once before, and we don't want history to repeat itself. It is easier to leave the forest untouched by human activities.

TOGETHER WE CAN PRESERVE THE SYMBOLS OF OUR REGION!

Help us continue our efforts to preserve large carnivores and eliminate their biggest threats.

Did you know?

A bear's sense of smell is approximately 100 times better than human's, allowing it to find food over great distances.