IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Power, R.J. | |
| Prey selection of lions _Panthera leo_ in a small, enclosed reserve | |
| 2002 Koedoe (45): 67-75 | |
Annual trends in numbers of ungulate species on a 15 km2 reserve from 1993 to 1998, were evaluated in the context of lion _Panthera leo_ reintroduction during 1996, and subsequent predation by them. The ungulate prey base was enumerated annually by aerial counts and a road count that took place during 1998. The lion prey record was obtained from direct observations of a radio-located pride of eight lions and daily reserve management records. All ungulate species that underwent precipituous declines were alsothe most important prey to lions, comprising over 80% of their prey, and they were preyed upon according to their availability. Lion predation was casual for the declines in wildebeest _Connochaetes taurinus_, blesbok _Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi_ and warthog _Phacochoerus africana_, while the decline in kudu _Tragelaphus strepsiceros_ was only partly ascribed to lions, as other non-lion related mortality sources were identified. The only ungulate species to increase subsequent to lion reintroduction was the impala _Aepyceros melampus_, which was furthermore under-selected by lions. The uncontrolled population growth of impala could have elicited ecological degradation, and it was advised to either not stock impala, or otherwise control their numbers if lions are unable to do so. Lion hunting success and kill rate, were 21% (n=63) and 1 kill/4.4 days, respectively. Three bushpigs _Potamochoerus larvatus_ were killed but not utilised, and this finding is corroborated by an intensive study in Kwazulu-Natal, and this aversion is discussed. Predators can cause unprecedented declines of their prey where the prey are confined to small reserves that have no refuge from predation. On an annual basis, prey may need to be augmented to sustain predators on small reserves. |
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