Table 3 Thematic analysis of the results from focus group discussion
Theme | Key Responses | Quotation |
|---|---|---|
Driver of hyena attack | Shortage of food | “Due to the increase in the human population, herbivores are now scarce, leading hyenas to come into our homes targeting livestock and, at times, humans” |
Remains of carcasses | “Carcasses left near settlement attract hyenas, as they know where they can find food” | |
Livestock grazing area | Close to farm | “Grazing near the farms makes our livestock and child herders vulnerable” |
In the forest | “Hyenas hide in the Mienze Forest Reserve, where they wait for humans searching for firewood or children passing to school, and then attack them easily.” | |
In the hills | “Sometimes, people graze livestock in the hills where they encounter hyenas because there are large caves in the hills that can accommodate even 100 hyenas.” | |
Season of the attacks | Rainy season | “Attacks occurs during the rainy season where there are crops grown in the farms therefore, they have advantage of hiding themselves and walk near to human settlement” “We never used to see hyenas this close to our homes, but now they are coming almost every night, especially in the rainy season.” |
Dry season | “Even in the dry season they become desperate and attacks” | |
Changes over time | Increasing | “Ten years ago, we hardly ever had a problem with hyenas. Now, the attacks are so frequent that everyone is affected.” |