Determinants of Persistence and Tolerance of Carnivores on Namibian Ranches: Implications for Conservation on Southern African Private Lands

Changing land use patterns in southern Africa have potential to dramatically alter the prospects for carnivore conservation. Understanding these influences is essential for conservation planning. We interviewed 250 ranchers in Namibia to assess human tolerance towards and the distribution of large c...

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Veröffentlicht in:	PloS one Jg. 8; H. 1; S. e52458
Hauptverfasser:	Lindsey, Peter Andrew, Havemann, Carl Peter, Lines, Robin, Palazy, Lucille, Price, Aaron Ernest, Retief, Tarryn Anne, Rhebergen, Tiemen, Van der Waal, Cornelis
Format:	Journal Article
Sprache:	Englisch
Veröffentlicht:	United States Public Library of Science 09.01.2013 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Schlagworte:	Acinonyx - growth & development Acinonyx jubatus Africa, Southern Agricultural economics Agricultural land Agriculture Agriculture - economics Agriculture - methods Agriculture - trends Animal husbandry Animals Animals, Wild - classification Animals, Wild - growth & development Animals, Wild - physiology attitudes Biology Biomass Canidae - growth & development Carnivora - classification Carnivora - growth & development Carnivora - physiology Carnivores Coexistence Conservation Conservation of Natural Resources - economics Conservation of Natural Resources - methods Crocuta crocuta dog lycaon-pictus Dogs Ecosystem Farms human densities human-wildlife conflict Humans Hyaena brunnea Hyaenidae - growth & development Income Land use Landowners Lion Lions - growth & development lions panthera-leo Livestock Livestock - growth & development Livestock - physiology livestock predation Lycaon pictus management Namibia National parks north-central namibia Panthera - growth & development Panthera leo Panthera pardus population Population Dynamics Predatory Behavior - physiology Private lands protected areas Protection and preservation Ranches Species Specificity Veterinary Science Wildcats Wildlife Wildlife conservation Zoology Africa, Southern Namibia East Africa
ISSN:	1932-6203, 1932-6203
Online-Zugang:	Volltext
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Zusammenfassung:	Changing land use patterns in southern Africa have potential to dramatically alter the prospects for carnivore conservation. Understanding these influences is essential for conservation planning. We interviewed 250 ranchers in Namibia to assess human tolerance towards and the distribution of large carnivores. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), leopards (Panthera pardus) and brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) were widely distributed on Namibian farmlands, spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) had a narrower distribution, and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and lions (Panthera leo) are largely limited to areas near source populations. Farmers were most tolerant of leopards and least tolerant of lions, wild dogs and spotted hyaenas. Several factors relating to land use correlated consistently with carnivore-presence and landowner tolerance. Carnivores were more commonly present and/or tolerated where; wildlife diversity and biomass were higher; income from wildlife was higher; income from livestock was lower; livestock biomass was lower; in conservancies; game fencing was absent; and financial losses from livestock depredation were lower. Efforts to create conditions whereby the costs associated with carnivores are lowest, and which confer financial value to them are likely to be the most effective means of promoting carnivore conservation. Such conditions are achieved where land owners pool land to create conservancies where livestock are replaced with wildlife (or where livestock husbandry is improved) and where wildlife generates a significant proportion of ranch income. Additional measures, such as promoting improved livestock husbandry and educational outreach efforts may also help achieve coexistence with carnivores. Our findings provide insights into conditions more conducive to the persistence of and tolerance towards large carnivores might be increased on private (and even communal) lands in Namibia, elsewhere in southern and East Africa and other parts of the world where carnivore conservation is being attempted on private lands.
Bibliographie:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23 Competing Interests: The authors declare that C. Van der Waal is employed by Vanderwaal & Associates Agriecological Services. However, this does not alter the authors’ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. Conceived and designed the experiments: PL. Performed the experiments: PL CH RL AP TAR TR CV. Analyzed the data: PL LP. Wrote the paper: PL CH RL LP AP TAR TR CV.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0052458