IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Bernard, R.; Bissett, C.; O'Brien, J.; Vorster, P.; Cristescu, B. | |
| The Influence of Prey Size and Abundance, and Predator Size and Group Size on the Diet of Cheetahs (_Acinonyx jubatus_) and Lions (_Panthera leo_) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
We have studied the feeding biology and diet of lions and cheetahs re-introduced to three reserves (20000 - 30000 ha each), with different herbivore stocking rates and different relative abundances of prey. Data (species, age and sex of kills) were collected using opportunistic sightings and 14-day long continuous observations over four years. We have used descriptive statistics and correlation analyses to explore the relationships between predator body size and group size, prey size and abundance, and diet. Prey selection by lions is a balance between prey abundance and body size, and on all reserves abundant large prey are killed while similarly abundant but smaller (<50 kg) prey are killed less often. For cheetahs, abundance may be more important than prey species size, and there is a strong correlation between species abundance and number of kills. Where the most abundant species is large (i.e. kudu; adult body mass ~ 200 kg), the corrected mass, which accounts for age and sex of kills, is kept low (60 - 130 kg) through selection of young animals ~ 90% of kudu kills by female cheetah) and adult females (~35% of kills by male cheetahs). While lions kill more adult prey than juveniles (<10% juveniles), cheetahs kill more juveniles (>40%). |
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