IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Bauer, H.; Vanherle, N.; Di Silvestre, I.; de Iongh, H.H. | |
| Lion - prey relations in West and Central Africa | |
| 2008 Mammal Biology (73): 70-73 | |
Most studies on the lion (_Panthera leo_) have been conducted in East and southern Africa. Information from West and Central Africa is scarce, probably because densities are generally lower: lion densities are typically between 1 and 3 lions/100km2. This corresponds with low standing biomass or prey densities in West and Central Africa. Here, we examine the sparsely available information on lion-prey relations, in particular prey preferences and predator-prey biomass ratio, in relation to ecological conditions in West and Central Africa. Our discussion is mainly based on data from six study areas in the Soudano-sahelian savannah belt: Niokolo Koba National Park (NP) in Senegal, 'W' NP in Niger, Pendjari NP in Benin, Zakouma NP in Chad and Waza NP and Bouba Njida NP in Cameroon. For comparison, we used available data from the Serengeti, Manyara and Kruger ecosystems in East and southern Africa. Many publications describe lion-prey relations and hunting behaviour in East and southern Africa. In the absence of data from West and Central Africa, many textbooks, fieldguides and reviews have generalised these findings into the species' characteristics. We have previously described how social behaviour in West and Central Africa differs from textbook characteristics. Here we examine region-specific lion-prey relations. |
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