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EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS IN MITIGATING HUMAN-CHEETAH CONFLICT IN NAMIBIA: SUCCESSES AND LIMITATIONS

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Bibliographic Details
Title: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS IN MITIGATING HUMAN-CHEETAH CONFLICT IN NAMIBIA: SUCCESSES AND LIMITATIONS
Authors: Kazuki Sadamoto
Publisher Information: INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH JOURNAL - IERJ, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Genetic Diversity, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), Livestock Losses, Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) Program, Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Description: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), a critical apex predator in African savannah ecosystems, has experienced a severe population decline due to the advancement of urbanization and human-wildlife conflict. In Namibia, which is home to the world’s largest cheetah population, over 70% of cheetahs live outside of protected areas, often preying on livestock and provoking retaliatory killings. To combat this, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) introduced the Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) program to deter cheetahs from killing livestock. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the LGD program on long-term farmer surveys and statistical analyses. Results showed a significant reduction in livestock losses: the proportion of farmers reporting zero annual livestock losses increased from 19.7% before LGD placement to 66.7% afterward. A chi-squared test confirmed these improvements as statistically significant (X²(4, N = 1,519) = 57.97, p < 0.00001). Although it is highly effective in reducing conflict and fostering coexistence, the program faces challenges, including high costs, short dog lifespans, and the ongoing genetic vulnerabilities of cheetah populations. This study concludes that although LGDs are a valuable conflict mitigation tool, they should be integrated with broader conservation strategies, such as genetic management and habitat protection, to ensure the long-term survival of cheetahs in Namibia.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17033957
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17033958
Rights: CC BY
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....652cfb9af3f867483e3d9ef69b223e48
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), a critical apex predator in African savannah ecosystems, has experienced a severe population decline due to the advancement of urbanization and human-wildlife conflict. In Namibia, which is home to the world’s largest cheetah population, over 70% of cheetahs live outside of protected areas, often preying on livestock and provoking retaliatory killings. To combat this, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) introduced the Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) program to deter cheetahs from killing livestock. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the LGD program on long-term farmer surveys and statistical analyses. Results showed a significant reduction in livestock losses: the proportion of farmers reporting zero annual livestock losses increased from 19.7% before LGD placement to 66.7% afterward. A chi-squared test confirmed these improvements as statistically significant (X²(4, N = 1,519) = 57.97, p < 0.00001). Although it is highly effective in reducing conflict and fostering coexistence, the program faces challenges, including high costs, short dog lifespans, and the ongoing genetic vulnerabilities of cheetah populations. This study concludes that although LGDs are a valuable conflict mitigation tool, they should be integrated with broader conservation strategies, such as genetic management and habitat protection, to ensure the long-term survival of cheetahs in Namibia.
DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17033957