Drivers of Human-Wildlife Conflict in Communities Adjacent to Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria

Human-wildlife conflict represents one of the foremost challenges to wildlife conservation in Nigeria, affecting community attitudes towards protected areas and undermining conservation outcomes. This study empirically examined the spatial, social, and ecological drivers of human-wildlife conflict in eight communities bordering Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. Conflict incident data were compiled from reserve management records, community interviews, and a twelve-month structured reporting system engaging village liaisons. Spatial analysis using geographic information systems identified conflict hotspots and proximity gradients from the reserve boundary. Negative binomial regression models were used to identify predictors of conflict frequency and severity from a set of ecological and social covariates. A total of 342 conflict incidents were recorded over the study period, predominantly involving African elephant, hippo, and vervet monkeys causing crop raiding and property damage. Conflict frequency was highest within two kilometres of the reserve boundary and declined sharply with distance. Farming households with fields closer to unguarded boundary zones and those growing high-value crops showed significantly elevated conflict exposure. Community-level conflict perceptions correlated more strongly with economic loss severity than with total incident frequency. The study identifies priority conflict hotspot zones and recommends targeted interventions including beehive fence barriers in high-risk field clusters, community conflict reporting compensation schemes, and ranger-community liaison programmes to reduce retaliatory wildlife killing. Keywords: human-wildlife conflict, Yankari, crop raiding, Bauchi State, conservation.