IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Boast, L.; Houser, A.; Horgan, J.; Reeves, H.; Phale, P.; Klein, R. | |
| Prey preferences of free-ranging cheetahs on farmland: scat analysis versus farmers' perceptions | |
| 2016 African Journal of Ecology (54): 424-433 | |
Human-predator conflict is one of the biggest threats to large carnivore species worldwide. Its intensity is closely linked to farmer's attitudes and perceptions of predators. As a result, farmers' estimates of the number of livestock or game-stock animals killed by predators are often formed based on the perceived number of predators present and their perceivably favoured prey species. This study aims to examine the prey preferences of cheetahs _Acinonyx jubatus_ in relation to farmers' perceptions and the relative contribution of livestock and game-stock to the cheetahs' diet. Cheetahs' prey preferences were determined through the cross-sectional analysis of prey hair, found in cheetah scat. Cheetahs were found to predominantly prey on free-ranging abundant game species, primarily kudu _Tragelaphus strepsiceros_. Game ranchers overestimated the prominence of game-stock to the cheetahs' diet, especially springbok _Antidorcas marsupialis_. Potential reasons for these discrepancies and the importance of abundant natural prey as a potential human-predator coexistence strategy are discussed. |
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