Do foraging hotspots defined by key browse species facilitate interaction between livestock and wildlife?

Livestock based rural livelihoods in close proximity to conservation areas are often associated with human-wildlife conflict. A deeper comprehension of factors contributing to this can help develop strategies to resolve the impact of human-wildlife conflict on livestock production. We tested whether dry season livestock foraging hotspots were linked to key browse species (KBS), and whether they facilitated livestock-wildlife interactions. We detected livestock browsing hotspots, determined their patch characteristics, and established factors influencing their occurrence. We used kernel density estimation (KDE) and nearest neighbor hierarchical clustering (Nnh). The KDE is a non-parametric method that uses a density estimation technique, while the Nnh is a method used to group similar data points based on their distances. Both methods detected three hotspots comprising Colophospermum mopane and Dichrostachys cinerea mixed woodland, and D. cinerea vegetation. Spatial overlap between detected hotspots was relatively high (Szymkiewicz-Simpson coefficient (Overlap Coefficient) = 0.7; Minta Index = 0.6). Fine-scale habitat patch quantifications indicated that connectivity between D. cinerea patches was higher than D. cinerea and C. mopane patches (Connectivity Index = 60.0%; Patch Cohesion Index = 98.0%). Distance from water was the most significant factor (P < 0.05; AUC = 0.9; AICc = 59.1), explaining probability of occurrence of hotspots. Multiple-distance scale spatial cluster analysis showed significant spatial associations between elephants and livestock. Results suggest that KBS are concentrated around browsing hotspots, which could facilitate livestock-wildlife interactions. Improving livestock feed availability outside conservation areas, and spatial planning for grazing management and wildlife corridors could mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into foraging behaviours at the livestock-wildlife interface, and underscores the need for sustainable management strategies to balance conservation and rural livelihoods, thereby improving coexistence.