The effects of pastoralism and protection on lion behaviour, demography and space use in the Mara Region of Kenya

Mogensen, Niels; Ogutu, Joseph O.; Dabelsteen, Torben

doi:10.1080/15627020.2011.11407481

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Literature and oral accounts suggest that lions persisted through certain behavioral adaptations (hunting domestic livestock, engaging in nocturnal activity, living in small groups or pairs) and shifts in range (leaving deforested localities, moving to outlying areas and higher altitudes, and following water points in arid regions). Many of these particular behavioral adaptations have since been observed in contemporary populations of lions in human-dominated landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa [42], [43] as well as in restricted available habitat in India [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Extinction of the Barbary Lion and Its Implications for Felid Conservation

Black

Fellous²,

Yamaguchi

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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Estimations of species extinction dates are rarely definitive, yet declarations of extinction or extirpation are important as they define when conservation efforts may cease. Erroneous declarations of extinctions not only destabilize conservation efforts but also corrode local community support. Mismatches in perceptions by the scientific and local communities risk undermining sensitive, but important partnerships. We examine observations relating to the decline and extinction of Barbary lions in North Africa. Whilst the extinction predates the era of the scientific conservation movement, the decline is relatively well documented in historical records. Recently unearthed accounts suggest Barbary lions survived later than previously assumed. We use probabilistic methods to estimate a more recent extinction date for the subspecies. The evidence presented for a much later persistence of lions in North Africa, including generations when sightings were nil, suggests caution when considering felid populations as extinct in the wild. The case raises the possibility that captive animals descended from the Moroccan royal collection are closer contemporaries to wild Barbary lions. Furthermore, our results highlight the vulnerability of very small lion populations and the significance of continued conservation of remnant lion populations in Central and West Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Extinction of the Barbary Lion and Its Implications for Felid Conservation

Black

Fellous²,

Yamaguchi

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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“…This is particularly true of heavily persecuted lions on the livestock‐producing rangelands of southern Kenya (Mogensen et al. ; Dolrenry ; Hazzah et al. ), where pastoralism has been practiced for millennia (Marshall ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carnivore research is typically difficult due to rough terrain and the nocturnal habits, wide-ranging movements, and wariness of the animals (Loveridge & Canney 2009;Pangle & Holekamp 2010;Crooks et al 2011). This is particularly true of heavily persecuted lions on the livestockproducing rangelands of southern Kenya (Mogensen et al 2011;Dolrenry 2013;Hazzah et al 2014), where pastoralism has been practiced for millennia (Marshall 1990). Local human communities have generations of experience with lions due to their tradition of hunting them to protect livestock, and they know the region intimately because they move their herds seasonally over a very large area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation and monitoring of a persecuted African lion population by Maasai warriors

Dolrenry

Hazzah

Frank

2016

Conservation Biology

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Although Africa has many threatened species and biological hot spots, there are few citizen science schemes, particularly in rural communities, and there has been limited evaluation of existing programs. We engaged traditional Maasai warriors (pastoralist men aged 15 to 35) in community-based conservation and demographic monitoring of a persecuted African lion (Panthera leo) population. Through direct engagement, we investigated whether a citizen science approach employing local warriors, who had no formal education, could produce reliable data on the demographics, predation, and movements of a species with which their communities have been in conflict for generations. Warriors were given benefits such as literacy training and skill enhancement and engaged in the monitoring of the lions. The trained warriors reported on lion sign across an area nearly 4000 km(2) . Scientists worked together with the warriors to verify their reports and gather observations on the lion population. Using the verified reports and collected observations, we examined our scientific knowledge relative to the lion population preceding and during the citizen science program. Our observations showed that data quality and quantity improved with the involvement and training of the participants. Furthermore, because they engaged in conservation and gained personal benefits, the participants came to appreciate a species that was traditionally their foe. We believe engaging other local communities in biodiversity conservation and monitoring may be an effective conservation approach in rural Africa.

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“…Thus, cattle depredation fuels human–lion conflict across much of East Africa and has led, in part, to some of the highest levels of human–carnivore conflict in the world (Ripple et al 2014, Montgomery et al 2018). This presents a serious challenge to the conservation of lions and the improvement of pastoralist well‐being (Inskip and Zimmermann 2009, Mogensen et al 2011, Barua et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do pastoralist cattle fear African lions?

Beck

Moll

Kissui

et al. 2020

Oikos

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Fear of predators fundamentally shapes the ecology of prey species and drives both inter‐ and intra‐specific interactions. Extensive research has examined the consequences of predation risk from large carnivores on the behavior of wild ungulate prey species. However, many large carnivores not only hunt wild prey but also depredate domestic livestock, especially in pastoralist systems where livestock share land and resources with large carnivores. Northern Tanzania is a hotspot for human–carnivore conflict driven by livestock depredation and interactions are particularly severe between African lions Panthera leo and pastoralist cattle Bos taurus. In this ecosystem, we explored the degree to which pastoralist cattle exhibited anti‐predator behaviors during their daily grazing routines. Using focal animal sampling, we compared two typical anti‐predator behaviors, vigilance and grouping, among cattle in village rangelands with high and low background depredation rates. We found that cattle in high risk village rangelands formed 21.2% larger groups than cattle in low risk village rangelands. Interestingly, cattle in low risk village rangelands spent 68.4% more time vigilant than cattle in high risk village rangelands. These patterns were influenced significantly by the time of day: as sunset approached, cattle in low risk village rangelands spent more time vigilant and cattle in high risk village rangelands formed larger groups. These results suggest that pastoralist cattle exhibit anti‐predator strategies that vary both spatially and temporally, and that such strategies might help livestock optimally tradeoff the costs and benefits of anti‐predator behavior across timescales (i.e. the risk allocation hypothesis). We discuss the implications of our results for husbandry techniques that might reduce behavioral costs associated with cattle anti‐predator behaviors and help increase tolerance for lions and other large carnivores. These improvements are critical to human–carnivore coexistence given the prevalence of pastoralism globally and the rising potential for conflict with large carnivores such as lions.

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The effects of pastoralism and protection on lion behaviour, demography and space use in the Mara Region of Kenya

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Examining the Extinction of the Barbary Lion and Its Implications for Felid Conservation

Examining the Extinction of the Barbary Lion and Its Implications for Felid Conservation

Conservation and monitoring of a persecuted African lion population by Maasai warriors

Do pastoralist cattle fear African lions?

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