Livestock depredation and mitigation methods practised by resident and nomadic pastoralists around Waza National Park, Cameroon

Abstract

Conflict between humans and lions Panthera leo is a key factor driving population declines of lions in Africa, especially in communal lands and on the edges of small protected areas. We assessed this conflict in Waza National Park, Cameroon, in 2008 through an interview survey. A total of 207 resident and 174 nomadic pastoralists were interviewed. Results indicated high levels of livestock depredation around the Park, with attacks occurring most often at night. Lions were economically a substantial threat accounting for total losses of EUR 100,000 per annum. Per household, resident pastoralists lost one cow and nomadic pastoralists two cows per annum, equating to c. EUR 260 and 520, respectively. To mitigate these losses resident pastoralists used enclosures for nocturnal protection of their livestock more than nomadic pastoralists, who tended to herd livestock more during pasture. Improved mitigation methods pertaining to herding practice, the use of enclosures and the presence of dogs resulted in a reduction of 25% livestock depredation and 50% cattle depredation. These methods could be further improved, however, education and awareness about the ranging behaviour of lions during different seasons and periods of the day is important for all pastoralists. Additionally, park management needs to be improved through effective law enforcement.

Effectiveness of contemporary techniques for reducing livestock depredations by large carnivores

“… 1 Allen and Sparkes (); 2 Anderson et al (); 3 Azevedo and Murray (); 4 Bagchi and Mishra (); 5 Van Bommel et al (); 6 Bradley and Pletscher (); 7 Breck et al (); 8 Espuno et al (); 9 Gula (); 10 Gusset et al (); 11 Harper et al (); 12 Herfindal et al (); 13 Huygens et al (); 14 Iliopoulos et al (); 15 Karanth et al (); 16 Kolowski and Holekamp (); 17 Van Liere et al (); 18 Mech et al (); 19 Michalski et al (); 20 Odden et al (); 21 Odden et al (); 22 Ogada et al (); 23 Sagor et al (); 24 Stahl et al (); 25 Stahl et al (); 26 Stander (); 27 Suryawanshi et al (); 28 Treves et al (); 29 Tumenta et al (); 30 Valeix et al (); 31 Wilson et al (); 32 Woodroffe et al (); 33 Woodroffe et al (); 34 Zarco‐González et al ().…”

Size, shape and maintenance matter: A critical appraisal of a global carnivore conflict mitigation strategy – Livestock protection kraals in northern Botswana

“…Whilst loss from depredation is usually low in relation to livestock numbers (Graham et al, 2005;Baker et al, 2008), it varies locally and can become economically significant in subsistence communities (Li et al, 2013;Aryal et al, 2014). The attitudes of commercial and communal land users are particularly negative towards carnivores when compared with other damage-causing wildlife like elephants, primates and ungulates (Kansky et al, 2014), even though higher losses may be incurred from disease, drought or theft (Holmern et al, 2006;Tumenta et al, 2013). Intolerance of perceived and actual threats frequently triggers retaliatory or prophylactic persecution of carnivores, contributing to their local, regional and global demise (Woodroffe, 2000;Woodroffe and Frank, 2006;Ripple et al, 2014).…”

Changes in lion (Panthera leo) home range size in Waza National Park, Cameroon

“…Large and relatively intact areas are becoming rare for the protection of carnivores. Particularly in West and Central Africa, increased anthropogenic activity as a consequence of rapid human population growth has resulted in a reduction and fragmentation of natural habitats for lions (Nowell and Jackson 1996;Bauer and Nowell 2004) and increasing persecution (Tumenta et al 2010(Tumenta et al , 2013b.…”