IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Mponzi, B.P.; Lepczyk, C.A.; Kissui, B.M. | |
| Characteristics and distribution of livestock losses caused by wild carnivores in Maasai Steppe of northern Tanzania | |
| 2014 Human-Wildlife Interactions (8): 218-227 | |
Agricultural development accelerates the loss of habitat for many wildlife species and brings humans and animals in close proximity, resulting in increased human-wildlife conflict. In Africa, such conflicts contribute to carnivore population declines in the form of human retaliation for livestock depredation. However, little knowledge exists about when and where carnivores attack livestock. Given this need, our objectives were to (1) understand the spatial and temporal variation of human-carnivore conflict and (2) identify conflict-prone areas. We addressed these objectives in 18 Tanzanian villages of the Maasai Steppe using livestock depredation data on lions (_Panthera leo_), spotted hyenas (_Crocuta crocuta_) and leopards (_Panthera pardus_) from 2004 to 2007. Over the 4-year period, 1,042 carnivore attacks occurred on livestock, with >50% due to hyenas; shoats (goats and sheep) were the most commonly depredated livestock. Livestock depredation was unevenly distributed across villages. About 39% of all recorded attacks occurred in Selela, followed by Emboreet (16%), and Loiborsoit (11%), while Esilalei, Oltukai, and Engaruka all had >5% of all attacks. Villages with <1% of all attacks on livestock included Losirwa, Terat, Naiti, and Minjingu. Spotted hyenas attacked livestock more during the night and when livestock were in bomas (enclosures where livestock is kept, especially at night), while lions and leopards depredated at similar rates by time of day and location. Livestock depredation was highest during the wet season. Carnivore attacks on livestock could be reduced both by avoiding wildlife migration and dispersal areas during the wet season and by building stronger bomas. Because large carnivore populations are declining, our findings identify possible alternatives to reduce human-carnivore conflicts, thus, facilitating large carnivore conservation efforts in landscapes where large carnivores and livestock co-exist. |
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