Carnivores in Malawi are in decline due to persecution, habitat loss and conflict. From our pioneering Conservation Research Centre in Malawi, Carnivore Research Malawi is working to study and conserve carnivores through applied research, conservation education and outreach, and conflict mitigation.

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Increased population and carnivore-related conflict

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Over half of global population growth by 2050 is expected to occur in Africa, and we believe the conservation frontline is in villages and communities. Our conservation ethos is therefore centred on promoting coexistence between carnivores and people, to enhance and conserve populations outside of protected areas.

Malawi is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, resulting in a landscape with limited natural resources. Many carnivores live outside protected areas and persist in urban and peri-urban landscapes. Yet, little is known about their ecology, distribution, and interactions with people in these settings. This knowledge gap poses challenges for both conservation planning and conflict mitigation, as carnivore populations are increasingly forced to adapt to human-dominated environments.

Each year, we receive hundreds of calls about carnivore conflicts, most of which result in the death of many animals, particularly spotted hyaena, and human injuries and sometimes fatalities.