Okavango Carnivore Conservation

Category: Conservation issues | Date: May 31 2008 | By: okavangocarnivores

In the previous post I introduced our project, and gave a brief description of what we do. Now I would like to give you highlights of some carnivore conservation  issues we’ve had before……

Monitoring carnivore numbers is crucial for their conservation and management. In order to implement appropriate wildlife management strategies and policies, information about ecology and population dynamics is a requirement.  We rely on population trends to determine whether a species is threatened or endangered. Our mission is to assist in conservation of the remaining population of Botswana’s most persecuted large carnivore species and to maintain biodiversity in the Okavango region.

The five study species (Lions, Cheetah, Leopard, Wild dog and Spotted hyaena) are of great significance to Botswana for two main reasons: Firstly, they bring revenue to the country through Eco-tourism, and secondly, they suffer from persecution by farmers as they unintentionally prey on livestock. African wild dogs and the big cats are considered as the top tourist attraction animals in Botswana. Alongside that, livestock farming is one of the main ways people support themselves in the country. These are two contradicting issues that invite the attention of conservationists and need appropriate management strategy. What action must be taken in this scenario?

Last year one of our resident radio-collared pride male lion (named Rossi) was found dead near the veterinary fence. The fence divides wildlife and livestock grazing areas. We suspected poisoning as there was no sign of bodily damage. We have also lost a number of radio-collared wild dogs in the same manner in past few years. The question is how many of others have died without our knowledge? Our study area is bordered by cattle post on the southern side, and as a result, large carnivores occasionally extend their ranges to livestock grazing area. What is the appropriate action to be taken to in order to avoid the depreciation of large carnivores and reduce the loss of livestock at the same time? This is rather not a matter of action, but, a need for scientific and practical management approach.

Visit our blog for more updates and for more information about what our project is doing as a long term solution. For example, the significance of LCSC project.

A picture of a male lion “Dooan” who has taken over the pride after the death of Rossi.

Above is a picture of   young male leopard tracks I enountered on the road when I was doing a  transect for the spoor count survey.