Coexistence through Sustainable Conservation Strategies for Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii) in African Ecosystem

Sitatunga (<i>Tragelaphus spekii</i>) is an antelope species adapted to the dense swamps and marshes of sub-Saharan Africa, where traditional population survey techniques have been ineffective and difficult to estimate. It occurred formerly alongside waterways throughout the lowland forest zone of West and Central Africa, extending into swamp systems in the savanna zones of Central, East, and Southern Africa. In most parts of Africa, the Sitatunga population is declining, raising the attention of conservationists. Furthermore, its geographical range has been recorded to shrunk. The present study reviewed major threats to Sitatunga, assessed previous and current management approaches, and propose new approaches to effectively manage Sitatunga declining populations in Africa. To achieve the study objectives, published literature, reports, online information, expert knowledge, and personal experience were reviewed to acquire relevant information. Results indicated that Sitatunga are threatened due to increased habitat loss, population isolation, political instability, water level changes, habitat fragmentation, illegal hunting and diseases. Current wildlife management approaches raise many doubts as to their effectiveness. National-level management may unsustainably segment management actions while the protected area approach manages only part of wildlife’s range. The current tenure system in most parts of Africa discourages human wildlife co-existence, whereas human -wildlife conflict management approaches only treat the symptoms and not the root cause of the problems. If wildlife, including sitatunga, are to persist in Africa, management approaches should be changed and include re-focusing of management context to ecosystems and landscape level, assessing genetic diversity of sitatunga, promoting better wetland management, including the aspect of human dimension in management, using non-invasive techniques to genetically estimate the minimum population size, assessing inbreeding, and enhancing the implementation strategy of wildlife policy in African countries. Changing the attitude of the local community may take time, but it is a pivotal point if human-wildlife are to coexist.