The common hippopotamus belongs to the threatened species that urgently need conservation programs. In this perspective, a study on the relationships between the species and human was conducted in areas surrounding the Ouémé River in Benin. This study aims to assess the types of damages caused by hippopotamus and conflict mitigation solutions- in order to facilitate pacific cohabitation between hippopotamus and human. A total of 180 people were interviewed in 6 villages using structured and semi-structured interviews. Our results indicated that the main damage caused by common hippopotamus was crops raiding (81.67 % respondents). Most respondents (53.89 %) declared that hippopotamus caused damage to their crops in farmland during the whole year, but period for raids varied significantly between villages (χ2= 57.926, p < 0.0001). This study highlights the necessity to implement mitigation measures in order to promote pacific cohabitation between hippo and human.
The present study has as objective to contribute to better knowledge of these curative plants with a view to establishing a data bank. Data were collected based on questionnaire structured and semi structured to 235 individuals constituting the unpredictable sampling and belonging to three categories socio professional. In total, one drew up an inventory of 160 kinds of curative plants flat 65 families and 139 types. The family of Leguminosae is the most representing with 11 kinds of plants. Four curative plant kinds have a Relating Frequency of Quotation very significant (RFC), it is between other one of kinds Gardenia ternifolia (RFC = 0,98) and Pteleopsis suberosa (RFC = 0, 91). Besides, 42 other kinds have a degree of consensus on the very significant treatment (IAR) such as Senna occidentalis, Acanthospermum hispidum, Lannea barteri. Variables such as: age, sex, and religion constituted a factor determining in the knowledge of kinds for the treatment of diseases in the middle of study (P < 0,05). The majority of the investigating devote themselves more to the use of curative plants as practices adopted in case of diseases. It is therefore important that the conditions of working and of conservation of aforementioned plants are improved for the improved well-being of our populations which remain tied to traditional morals.