Human and landscape factors influencing lion mortalities in the maasai steppe ecosystem, northern Tanzania
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
The demography of the African lion is
increasingly shaped by interactions with
humans. Habitat
fragmentation and
persecution by humans are both linked to the
decline in lions in most of their historical
ranges such that current populations are
largely restricted to isolated protected areas.
This study examined the spatial and temporal
patterns of lion killings in the Maasai steppe
ecosystem. We used eighty-two lion
mortality records for the last 13 years (2005
- 2017). Distances from the roads, river, lake,
settlements, and the Normalized difference
vegetation index value extracted for each
lion killing location were the key landscape
variables used to map the lion anthropogenic
mortalities. There was a significant
difference (p<0.05) between female and
male lions killed from 127 mortality records.
The anthropogenic retaliatory killing caused
77.9% of female and 22.1% of male
mortalities. About 58% of the lions killed
were adults, 39.1% were sub-adults and only
2.9% were cubs. The majority of lion killings
incidences took place during the wet season
around the Maasai homestead. The lion
killings incidences were rampant in the
eastern side but slightly clustered in the
northern part. Vegetation cover in the actual
lion killings areas influenced lion killings
incidences. Distances from the public roads,
rivers, and human settlements significantly
(p<0.05) contributed to lion anthropogenic
mortalities. It is anticipated that retaliatory
killings of lions could intensify due to
growing cattle herds in the ecosystem. To
promote coexistence between humans and
lions, conservation authorities should invest more in awareness and sensitization
programs on the conservation of lions.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
African lion, Maasai Steppe, Anthropogenic mortalit, Conservation, Retaliatory killing