IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Funston, P.J. | |
| Conservation of lions in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Boundary transgression and problem animal control Kalahari Transfrontier Lion Project | |
| 2001 Full Book | |
Throughout Africa large terrestrial carnivores have decreased substantially in numbers and distribution (Schaller 1972, Anderson 1981, Childes 1988, Hines 1990, Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990, Stander 1990). This marked reduction in both the number and distribution of species, like lions (Panthera leo), can largely be attributed to increased conflict with human development mainly in the form of settlers and pastoralists (Stander 1993, Nowell & Jackson 1996). Increasing human activities coupled with increasing population growth are ultimately causing habitat loss and persecution of large carnivores, and hence the decline of wild populations (Myers 1986, Orford et al. 1988, Quigley & Crawshaw 1992, Stander 1997). Furthermore, local inhabitants and pastoralists view large carnivores with antagonism and as a nuisance, and tend to see little financial or aesthetic value in them. In the process of protecting their livestock, pastoralists have in most areas virtually destroyed large carnivore populations through indiscriminate control methods. Such actions lead to conflict and poor relations between local communities and conservation authorities, which may jeopardize all conservation efforts in that region (Stander 1993). In many areas large carnivores live on communal lands outside conservation areas and, as mentioned above, conservation areas cannot contain carnivores within their boundaries and problems with carnivores on neighboring farmland are well documented (Van der Meulen 1977, Mills et al. 1978, Stander 1990, 1993). Along the borders of conservation areas, most carnivores thus cause live-stock depredation, especially as the intensity of peripheral pastoralism increases (Van der Meulen 1977, Anderson 1981, Hines 1990, Stander 1990). Most local people, especially domestic-stock farmers who sometimes suffer substantial livestock losses, generally destroy large carnivores without compunction (Myers 1986, Hines 1990, Stander 1990). Harmonious relations and co-operation between domestic stock farmers and conservation authorities has been suggested to be of crucial importance to prompting conservation areas (Martin 1984, Stander 1990, 1993, Mills 1991). Conservation strategies at the expense of local people do very little to promote conservation and are counter productive, and usually stimulate discontent, illegal hunting and indiscriminate poisoning (Bell 1984, Elttringham 1984, Thomson 1992). |
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