“Range management expert Allan Savory describes the vast herds of buffalo and prides of lions that stalked the land he managed in the 1950s in what is now Zambia and Zimbabwe, and he talks about how people coexisted with those creatures:
People had lived in those areas since time immemorial in clusters of huts away from the main rivers because of the mosquitoes and wet season flooding. Near their huts they kept gardens that they protected from elephants and other raiders by beating drums throughout much of the night… [T]he people hunted and trapped animals throughout the year as well.

Nevertheless, the herds remained strong and the river banks lush and well-covered with vegetation, until the government removed the people in order to make national parks.
We replaced drum beating, gun firing, gardening and farming people with ecologists, naturalists, and tourists, under strict control to ensure that they did not disturb the animals or the vegetation… Within a few decades miles of riverbank in both valleys were devoid of reeds, fig thickets and most other vegetation. With nothing but the change in behavior in one species these areas became terribly impoverished and are still deteriorating… [T]he[…]”

Excerpt From: Starhawk. “Earth Path.” Apple Books.