Integrating research with management: the case of Katavi National Park, Tanzania

Caro, Timothy; Elisa, Manase; Gara, John Ignase; Kadomo, D.; Martin, Andimile; Mushi, Deograsias P.; Timbuka, C.

doi:10.1080/15627020.2013.11407564

Cited by 12 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Such insights can then be used to adjust management strategies and to advance our overall understanding on how wildlife populations are affected by changes in their environment (Caughley , Caro et al. ). Environmental or anthropogenic changes may cause gradual or even abrupt shifts in an ecosystem, which may manifest themselves in altered animal community structure (Vitousek et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In essence, this approach follows the declining population paradigm which attempts to identify causes and mechanisms that lead to declines in animal populations (Caughley 1994). Such insights can then be used to adjust management strategies and to advance our overall understanding on how wildlife populations are affected by changes in their environment (Caughley 1994, Caro et al 2013. Environmental or anthropogenic changes may cause gradual or even abrupt shifts in an ecosystem, which may manifest themselves in altered animal community structure (Vitousek et al 1997, Scheffer andCarpenter 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long‐term population dynamics in a multi‐species assemblage of large herbivores in East Africa

Kiffner¹,

Rheault

Miller

et al. 2017

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Wildlife population declines in Africa are widespread. However, species-specific population trends and dynamics in mammal community composition have rarely been described over long time periods. To describe population trends of 13 large herbivore species in Lake Manyara National Park (Tanzania) from 1959 to 2016 and to discover whether the herbivore community structure changed, we used general additive models and additional statistical methods to detect structural changes in the time series. Population dynamics were non-linear and population growth rates were not correlated with precipitation anomalies. Relatively steep population declines of three megaherbivores occurred during the 1980s and early 1990s, resulting in severe reductions in African elephant and buffalo populations and the local extinction of black rhinoceros. These declines coincided with reported peaks of illegal hunting of these species and expansion of agriculture at the periphery of the park. Population densities of elephant and buffalo seem to have stabilized in recent times, yet have not recovered to previous densities. In contrast, eight species (giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest, warthog, impala, bushbuck, and baboon) have apparently fared well (similar or higher densities in most recent compared to first decade), despite having undergone substantial fluctuations over the past 58 yr. Population fluctuations in these species were likely caused by disease outbreaks, heavy bush encroachment, and reduced competition with buffalo. Possibly, declines in megaherbivore densities (mainly elephants) facilitated bush encroachment. Albeit grazers are still dominating in the herbivore community, the proportion of browsers is currently increasing, likely encouraged by dense vegetation in the shrub layer in large parts of the park. Overall, herbivore biomass density has declined by~40% compared to the baseline estimate in the first decade of the time series. Our analyses and ancillary information provide evidence that this overall decline in the herbivore assemblage was triggered by human-induced reductions in megaherbivore population densities during the 1980s, either through excessive poaching, insularization of the park, or both. Likely, this had cascading and interacting effects on the vegetation structure and the herbivore assemblage. Thus, legacy effects of ineffective megaherbivore conservation efforts 30 yr ago are likely still affecting the ecology of this national park.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term population dynamics in a multi‐species assemblage of large herbivores in East Africa

Kiffner¹,

Rheault

Miller

et al. 2017

Ecosphere

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“…) or both (Caro et al. ), as well as many other factors, including habitat modification, wildlife diseases, illegal fishing, and competition with illegal cattle grazing. New problems such as road building are always arising (e.g., Hopcraft et al.…”

Section: Wildlife Inside Npsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following large-mammal population extirpations outside PAs, large mammal populations are declining now within PAs themselves (Stoner et al 2007a), including inside NPs (e.g., Caro 2008; see also Craigie et al 2010). Some of these declines are attributed to poaching within PAs (e.g., Metzger et al 2010) and altered hydrology from water demand outside PAs (e.g., Manase et al 2010) or both (Caro et al 2013), as well as many other factors, including habitat modification, wildlife diseases, illegal fishing, and competition with illegal cattle grazing. New problems such as road building are always arising (e.g., Hopcraft et al 2015).…”

Section: Wildlife Inside Npsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife and wildlife management in Tanzania

Caro

Davenport²

2015

Conservation Biology

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Tanzania, arguably mainland Africa's most important nation for conservation, is losing habitat and natural resources rapidly. Moving away from a charcoal energy base and developing sustainable finance mechanisms for natural forests are critical to slowing persistent deforestation. Addressing governance and capacity deficits, including law enforcement, technical skills, and funding, across parts of the wildlife sector are key to effective wildlife protection. These changes could occur in tandem with bringing new models of natural resource management into play that include capacity building, corporate payment for ecosystem services, empowering nongovernmental organizations in law enforcement, greater private-sector involvement, and novel community conservation strategies. The future of Tanzania's wildlife looks uncertain-as epitomized by the current elephant crisis-unless the country confronts issues of governance, embraces innovation, and fosters greater collaboration with the international community.

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“…Lion presence was far lower outside and within the periphery of the national park than in the park centre (Kiffner et al, 2009), despite no parallel edge effect in herbivore abundances (Kiffner et al, 2012). Yet even in the central part of KNP there has been a probable decline over the last 15 years (Caro, 2008(Caro, , 2011, likely driven by overly high tourist hunting quotas, Sukuma lion killing, and perhaps a lowered prey base resulting from bushmeat exploitation and water diversion (Caro, 2008;Caro et al, 2013;Packer et al, 2011;Martin and Caro, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From avengers to hunters: Leveraging collective action for the conservation of endangered lions

Fitzherbert

Caro

Johnson

et al. 2014

Biological Conservation

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a b s t r a c tFewer than 40,000 lions are left in Africa, perhaps 40% of which reside in Tanzania. Lions in East Africa are commonly killed in situations where they prey on livestock, either to retaliate for loss or avert future attacks. Among the Sukuma, Tanzania's largest cattle-raising ethnic group, tradition allows a lion killer to visit households, perform a special dance, and demand rewards for ridding the area of a potentially dangerous predator. Here we document how this tradition of gift-giving provides sufficient economic incentive that lion killing continues to persist in the face of a near absence of livestock loss from lions. Contemporary lion killers no longer act as avengers, retaliating for loss or averting future attacks, but as hunters, pursuing non-threatening lions far from residential and grazing areas and often inside protected areas. Our study reveals that Sukuma householders are less likely to reward a lion dancer if they have received frequent visits from dancers (indicative of donor fatigue) and if they perceive change in motivation from avenging to hunting. These findings suggest that it may be possible to reduce illegal killing of lions by working through Sukuma institutions responsible for collective action within the local community, and to remove the economic incentive for killing non-problem lions.

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Integrating research with management: the case of Katavi National Park, Tanzania

Cited by 12 publications

References 2 publications

Long‐term population dynamics in a multi‐species assemblage of large herbivores in East Africa

Long‐term population dynamics in a multi‐species assemblage of large herbivores in East Africa

Wildlife and wildlife management in Tanzania

From avengers to hunters: Leveraging collective action for the conservation of endangered lions

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