ABSTRACT Wildlife poisoning is an emerging conservation concern in agricultural landscapes adjacent to protected areas in Africa, yet its extent and underlying drivers remain poorly quantified. This study examined its prevalence, patterns, and underlying drivers among smallholder farmers living adjacent to Toro‐Semliki Wildlife Reserve in western Uganda. Using a combination of household surveys ( n = 215), field observations, and the Randomised Response Technique to account for the sensitivity of the behaviour, we provide one of the few empirical estimates of poison use against wildlife in Uganda. On direct questioning, 26% ( n = 56; 95% CI: 20.1%–31.9%) of respondents reported poison use to eliminate wildlife, exclusively in retaliation for crop damage and livestock losses. Carbamate pesticides, particularly carbofuran‐based products, were the most commonly used substances, obtained mainly from local agro‐veterinary outlets and applied through poisoned food baits. The frequently targeted species included olive baboons ( Papio anubis ) and vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus pygerythrus ) among others. Poisoning occurred throughout the year, with a tendency to increase during periods of crop maturity. Beyond its intended targets, this practice presents clear risks to non‐target species, domestic animals, and human health, particularly given the reported unsafe handling and disposal practices. Variation in poisoning behaviour was associated with education level, farm size, crop type, and farming experience, pointing to the socio‐economic and livelihood context in shaping farmer responses to wildlife damage. Addressing wildlife poisoning requires strengthened regulation of hazardous agrochemicals, targeted farmer awareness and the implementation of effective human‐conflict mitigation strategies to promote coexistence.
Kihembo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.