Socio-economic correlates and management implications of livestock depredation by large carnivores in the Tarangire ecosystem, northern Tanzania

Felix J Mkonyi,Anna B Estes,Maurus J Msuha,Laly L Lichtenfeld,Sarah M Durant

doi:10.1080/21513732.2017.1339734

Abstract

ABSTRACTLivestock depredation by large carnivores is the key source of human–carnivore conflict worldwide and entails financial losses to livestock keepers. We examined the extent and patterns of livestock depredation, the financial impacts of livestock losses and determinants of livestock depredation by large carnivores in the Tarangire ecosystem of northern Tanzania. Of 300 households surveyed, 74.7% reported losses of 1906 livestock to wild predators over 1.5 years, which represents an annual loss rate of 1.4% of their total herd. Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) accounted for 70% of the total livestock loss, followed by leopard (Panthera pardus) (12%), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) (8%), lion (Panthera leo) (7%) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) (3%). This loss equated to a total financial loss of US$141,847 amounting to approximately US$633/household/year. Depredation frequency by all carnivore species increased significantly with increasing number of livestock owned, respondent’s residency time, distance from the park boundary and declined significantly with increasing education, number of herders and improved fortified boma for cattle. Livestock depredation peaked during the wet season linked to seasonal migration of wild prey. Our study suggests that improving formal and conservation awareness education, boma fortification as well as improving herding practices could help mitigate the human–carnivore conflict.EDITED BY Carsten Smith-Hall

Highlights

Livestock depredation by large carnivores is one of the most important sources of human–carnivore conflicts as well as a major challenge threatening the conservation of large carnivores around the world (Woodroffe 2000; Treves & Karanth 2003)
This figure is within the range of 0.02–2.6% worldwide losses to large carnivores reported by Graham et al (2004) and is far more than 0.26% of the total herd reported in Ruaha National Park (Dickman 2008), and much less compared to 12% of the total herd reported in Loliondo and Ngorongoro buffer zones (Maddox 2003)
Human–carnivore conflict is a complex issue for management, especially where humans live adjacent to or within PAs (Dickman 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Livestock depredation by large carnivores is one of the most important sources of human–carnivore conflicts as well as a major challenge threatening the conservation of large carnivores around the world (Woodroffe 2000; Treves & Karanth 2003). In such a way that existing protected areas (hereafter PAs) are not large enough to sustain their long-term viable populations (Woodroffe & Ginsberg 1998) Due to their large home ranges and high dietary protein requirements, large carnivores tend to move outside PAs and overlap with human-dominated landscapes (Treves & Karanth 2003; Patterson et al 2004; Woodroffe et al 2005). Reducing antagonism towards large carnivores following depredation will contribute towards their conservation and promoting coexistence between humans and large carnivores

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Discussion

Conclusion