Abstract
Communities living adjacent to protected areas tend to express more willingness to coexist with large carnivores in their areas when they receive tangible benefits. The aim of this study was to explore people’s willingness to coexist with large carnivores, including lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas schmidti). The authors used a pre-test and post-test approach by implementing a chemoprophylactic program as a conservation incentive among the Maasai and Sonjo tribes living in the eastern Serengeti, Tanzania. Chemoprophylaxis is the prevention of infectious disease by using chemical agents. The pre-test results showed that both tribes had low willingness to coexist with these large carnivores. Of the two tribes, the Sonjo tribe was less willing than the Maasai tribe. Our post-test results indicated an increase in willingness to coexist with large carnivores in their area because the livestock loss due to large carnivore depredation was significantly lower than that caused by diseases in both tribes. Therefore, this study calls for more conservation incentives to local people to promote their willingness to coexist with large carnivores in their areas. Key words: Coexistence, depredation, diseases, large carnivores, livestock, Maasai and Sonjo tribes.
Highlights
Coexistence between humans and carnivores is only possible (Carter and Linnell, 2016) if both biological and social strategies are used wisely to curb conflict (Redpath et al, 2013; Treves and Karanth, 2003) and thereby reduce carnivore mortality (Treves and Karanth, 2003)
Tribe was the only predictor variable explaining this variation in the people’s willingness to coexist with large carnivores. Both tribes had lower willingness to coexist with large carnivores, the Sonjo tribe was less willing than the Maasai tribe (Pearson χ2 = 14.338, df = 2, p < 0.0001; Table 3)
The results revealed that the number of livestock losses due to large carnivore depredation was significantly lower than the number caused by diseases in both tribes (Maasai: t = -5.373, df = 3 and 59, p < 0.0001; Sonjo: t = 7.820, df = 3 and 59, p < 0.0001) (Table 6)
Summary
Coexistence between humans and carnivores is only possible (Carter and Linnell, 2016) if both biological and social strategies are used wisely to curb conflict (Redpath et al, 2013; Treves and Karanth, 2003) and thereby reduce carnivore mortality (Treves and Karanth, 2003). According to Carter and Linnell (2016), coexistence is the “dynamic but sustainable state in which humans and large carnivores co-adapt to living in shared landscapes where human interactions with carnivores are governed by effective institutions that ensure long-term carnivore population persistence, social legitimacy, and tolerable levels of risk”. Aiming for coexistence is the way forward to reduce human-carnivore conflict, which in turn will save carnivores in the future (Dickman, 2010; Woodroffe et al, 2005).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
