IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kushnir, H. | |
| Linking Human Activities and Unprovoked Lion Attacks in Southeastern Tanzania | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Human-wildlife conflict is one of the greatest threats to wildlife conservation worldwide. With the human population expanding, an increase in conflict with wildlife has led to an increase in retaliation against offending species. This is particularly true for African lions (_Panthera leo_), which not only threaten peoples' livelihoods through livestock depredation but also peoples' lives. In Tanzania, almost 600 people have been killed and over 300 injured in unprovoked lion attacks since 1990. Half the attacks occurred in the southeastern portion of the country, and within this region, particular areas experienced intense conflict while others were conflict free. Previous studies found that people were at highest risk while sleeping in makeshift huts in agricultural fields, walking at dawn and dusk, and using outdoor toilets at night. Results from a study in 12 villages across three districts indicate that people perform these activities in different ways across districts and even between villages in the same district. Thus, people in different areas may be at risk for different reasons, and local variations in human behavior may explain why some villages experience attacks while others do not. Such information may provide new approaches for preventing lion attacks in the future. |
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