Contribution to the correct perception of depredations due to animals

The destruction of forests has reached a peak in Côte d’Ivoire, resulting in a restriction of the living area of wild animals. This restriction has induced, among other consequences, an increase in human-wildlife conflicts (HWC), which are still prevalent. This type of conflict takes different forms, the most common of which in Africa, and particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, is the depredation of crops by wild animals. This study was conducted to characterize the LHCs around three protected areas in Côte d’Ivoire, the Dassioko Classified Forest (FCD), the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forest (FMTE) and the Azagny National Park (ANP), in order to determine the typology of the LHCs, to evaluate the extent of crop losses caused by animals and to determine the perception of humans regarding their cohabitation with wild animals. To do this, questionnaires were first administered in a few households in four villages surrounding the sites of the present study (n=384), followed by direct observations on crop plots in the surveyed villages (n=44 for the WFC, n=18 for the CDF, n=74 for the NLP).