Survey Finds Strong Zambian Public Support for Wildlife Conservation and Coexistence
A national survey commissioned by Wild Africa and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has found overwhelming public support for wildlife conservation in Zambia, with 92% of respondents recognising wildlife as important to the national economy and 79% viewing it as national heritage worth protecting. Conducted by Consumer Feedback Consultancy across urban and rural districts in Lusaka and the Eastern Province, the study comprised 800 face-to-face interviews and found that tourism, employment, and national revenue were the primary reasons respondents valued wildlife protection - alongside a strong sense of obligation to future generations.
The findings are particularly significant in the context of human-wildlife conflict, with 85% of rural respondents reporting personal experience of such conflict, yet 80% still indicating willingness to report poaching or wildlife smuggling. Some 83% of respondents - rising to 94% in rural areas - identified polywire fencing as their preferred long-term solution to human-elephant conflict, while 90% expressed interest in pursuing a career in conservation, suggesting a largely untapped pipeline for community-based conservation employment. Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa, noted that the results demonstrate Zambians are ready to play an active role in protecting wildlife, while IFAW President Azzedine Downes emphasised that communities living alongside wildlife want practical, long-term coexistence solutions and deserve to be part of the conservation response.
