Do carnivore surveys match reports of carnivore presence by pastoralists? A case of the eastern Serengeti ecosystem

Franco P Mbise,Craig R Jackson,Richard Lyamuya,Robert Fyumagwa,Peter S Ranke,Eivin Røskaft

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01324

Abstract

Human-carnivore encounters are common where humans and wild carnivores share the same landscape. The frequency of such encounters gives insight regarding carnivore density and might correlate with human-carnivore conflict incidences. We interviewed livestock owners in the eastern Serengeti ecosystem and recorded reported carnivore presence and relative abundance. We simultaneously conducted a carnivore survey to assess the potential variability of reported carnivore presence that was recorded during the surveys. The playback surveys attracted 9 lions (Panthera leo), 88 spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and 47 black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas schmidti) to 12 call-in stations which were resurveyed three times (36 playbacks in total). Reported encounters with lions, leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyenas, African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and jackals were higher closer to the Serengeti National Park (SNP). Data from carnivore surveys were positively correlated with what people reported in questionnaires. These results indicate that local reports of encounters with wild carnivores may act as an important indicator of carnivore presence. Combining observational data through surveys with data reported by local people in areas where humans and wild carnivores coexist may improve existing data on carnivore abundance and distribution in such areas.

Highlights

Human-carnivore encounters in African savannas are a common phenomenon (Lagendijk and Gusset, 2008; Lindsey et al, 2013; Lyamuya et al, 2014b; Spira, 2014; Laverty et al, 2019)
Reported encounters with spotted hyenas and jackals by the persons interviewed along the distance gradient from the Serengeti National Park (SNP) border as a dependent variable were tested with three independent variables using a multinomial logistic regression analysis
Hyena and jackal observations at call-in stations matched what people reported on their encounters for the same areas

Summary

Introduction

Human-carnivore encounters in African savannas are a common phenomenon (Lagendijk and Gusset, 2008; Lindsey et al, 2013; Lyamuya et al, 2014b; Spira, 2014; Laverty et al, 2019). Local people living with wild carnivores can interact with these species on a daily basis (Frank et al, 2019), and the frequency of encounters is often a function of the distance to adjacent protected areas (Lagendijk and Gusset, 2008; Carter et al, 2012; Dolrenry et al, 2016; Lindsey et al, 2017). Informing local people where and when carnivore encounters might occur may help reduce encounter frequency, which will improve coexistence between humans and wild carnivores (Campbell et al, 2014). Assessment of the spatial separation between carnivores’ habitats and human activities may contribute to solid measures on how to reduce existing human-carnivore conflicts due to livestock depredation and attacks on humans (Shivik, 2006; Mbau, 2013; Packer et al, 2013)

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Results

Conclusion