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Di Minin E, Slotow R, Fink C, Bauer H, Packer C. A pan-African spatial assessment of human conflicts with lions and elephants. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2978. [PMID: 34017002 PMCID: PMC8138028 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23283-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
African lions (Panthera leo) and African savanna (Loxodonta africana) and forest (L. cyclotis) elephants pose threats to people, crops, and livestock, and are themselves threatened with extinction. Here, we map these human-wildlife conflicts across Africa. Eighty-two percent of sites containing lions and elephants are adjacent to areas with considerable human pressure. Areas at severe risk of conflict (defined as high densities of humans, crops, and cattle) comprise 9% of the perimeter of these species' ranges and are found in 18 countries hosting, respectively, ~ 74% and 41% of African lion and elephant populations. Although a variety of alternative conflict-mitigation strategies could be deployed, we focus on assessing the potential of high-quality mitigation fences. Our spatial and economic assessments suggest that investments in the construction and maintenance of strategically located mitigation fences would be a cost-effective strategy to support local communities, protect people from dangerous wildlife, and prevent further declines in lion and elephant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Di Minin
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Rob Slotow
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christoph Fink
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hans Bauer
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, UK
| | - Craig Packer
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
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Balbuena‐Serrano Á, Zarco‐González MM, Monroy‐Vilchis O, Morato R, De Paula R. Hotspots of livestock depredation by pumas and jaguars in Brazil: a biome‐scale analysis. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Á. Balbuena‐Serrano
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas Universidad Autónoma del Estado de MéxicoInstituto Literario 100 Toluca Estado de México México
| | - M. M. Zarco‐González
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas Universidad Autónoma del Estado de MéxicoInstituto Literario 100 Toluca Estado de México México
| | - O. Monroy‐Vilchis
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas Universidad Autónoma del Estado de MéxicoInstituto Literario 100 Toluca Estado de México México
| | - R. Morato
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos CarnívorosInstituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade Atibaia SP Brazil
- Instituto Pro‐Carnívoros Atibaia SP Brazil
| | - R. De Paula
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos CarnívorosInstituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade Atibaia SP Brazil
- Instituto Pro‐Carnívoros Atibaia SP Brazil
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Kushnir H, Packer C. Perceptions of Risk From Man-Eating Lions in Southeastern Tanzania. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Kumar N, Jhala YV, Qureshi Q, Gosler AG, Sergio F. Human-attacks by an urban raptor are tied to human subsidies and religious practices. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2545. [PMID: 30796235 PMCID: PMC6385285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38662-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing urbanization is increasing human-wildlife interactions, including attacks towards humans by vertebrate predators, an aspect that has received extremely scarce investigation. Here, we examined the ecological, landscape and human factors that may promote human-aggression by raptorial Black kites Milvus migrans in the 16-millions inhabitants megacity of Delhi (India). Physical attacks depended on human activities such as unhygienic waste management, ritual-feeding of kites (mainly operated by Muslims), human density, and presence of a balcony near the nest, suggesting an association between aggression and frequent-close exposure to humans and derived food-rewards. Surprisingly, while more than 100,000 people could be at risk of attack in any given moment, attitudes by local inhabitants were strikingly sympathetic towards the birds, even by injured persons, likely as a result of religious empathy. These results highlight the importance of socio-cultural factors for urban biota and how these may radically differentiate the under-studied cities of developing countries from those of western nations, thus broadening our picture of human-wildlife interactions in urban environments. The rapid sprawling of urban and suburban areas with their associated food-subsidies is likely to increase proximity and exposure of large predators to humans, and vice versa, leading to heightened worldwide conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Kumar
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology; South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1, 3PS, United Kingdom. .,Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, PIN- 248001, Chandrabani, Dehradun, (Uttarakhand), India.
| | - Yadvendradev V Jhala
- Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, PIN- 248001, Chandrabani, Dehradun, (Uttarakhand), India
| | - Qamar Qureshi
- Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, PIN- 248001, Chandrabani, Dehradun, (Uttarakhand), India
| | - Andrew G Gosler
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology; South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1, 3PS, United Kingdom.,Institute of Human Sciences, School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, 58a Banbury Rd., Oxford, OX2 6QS, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana-CSIC, C/ Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
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Packer C, Shivakumar S, Athreya V, Craft ME, Dhanwatey H, Dhanwatey P, Gurung B, Joshi A, Kushnir H, Linnell JDC, Fountain‐Jones NM. Species‐specific spatiotemporal patterns of leopard, lion and tiger attacks on humans. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Craig Packer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota
- School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa
| | | | | | - Meggan E. Craft
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota
| | | | | | | | - Anup Joshi
- Conservation Sciences Program University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota
| | - Hadas Kushnir
- United States Agency for International Development Washington DC
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Arraut EM, Loveridge AJ, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Valls-Fox H, Macdonald DW. The 2013–2014 vegetation structure map of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, produced using free satellite images and software. KOEDOE: AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.4102/koedoe.v60i1.1497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Krafte Holland K, Larson LR, Powell RB. Characterizing conflict between humans and big cats Panthera spp: A systematic review of research trends and management opportunities. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203877. [PMID: 30226894 PMCID: PMC6143230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation of big cats (Panthera spp.), a taxonomic group including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards, is a daunting challenge. As expanding human populations across Panthera range countries exacerbate competition for land and prey, conflicts between humans and big cats are inevitable. Through a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature published from 1991 to 2014 and indexed in Web of Science and Google Scholar (186 articles), our study explored the current state of knowledge regarding human-Panthera conflict and potential solutions, examining variables such as spatial and temporal distribution of research, methods used to study conflict, evaluation of interventions, and management recommendations. Our synthesis revealed several key data gaps and research needs. More studies could utilize diverse data collection approaches to focus on both the ecological and socio-cultural context for conflict. Additionally, only 21% of articles included in the review evaluated conflict mitigation interventions, and few of these yielded conclusive results. Success ratios suggest that compensation schemes and livestock management strategies were more effective tools for addressing conflict than either direct interventions (lethal removal or translocation of animals) or community interventions (e.g. education, ecotourism, local management). More studies should systematically evaluate the efficacy of conflict mitigation strategies, many of which are consistently recommended without empirical support. Results highlight trends and opportunities that can be used to inform future research and management efforts focused on human-Panthera conflict, ultimately enhancing the potential for coexistence between humans and carnivore species worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Krafte Holland
- Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, Clemson University Clemson, SC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lincoln R. Larson
- Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Robert B. Powell
- Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, Clemson University Clemson, SC, United States of America
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Blackwell BF, DeVault TL, Fernández-Juricic E, Gese EM, Gilbert-Norton L, Breck SW. No single solution: application of behavioural principles in mitigating human–wildlife conflict. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Millán J, López-Bao JV, García EJ, Oleaga Á, Llaneza L, Palacios V, de la Torre A, Rodríguez A, Dubovi EJ, Esperón F. Patterns of Exposure of Iberian Wolves (Canis lupus) to Canine Viruses in Human-Dominated Landscapes. ECOHEALTH 2016; 13:123-134. [PMID: 26589403 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1074-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife inhabiting human-dominated landscapes is at risk of pathogen spill-over from domestic species. With the aim of gaining knowledge in the dynamics of viral infections in Iberian wolves (Canis lupus) living in anthropized landscapes of northern Spain, we analysed between 2010 and 2013 the samples of 54 wolves by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for exposure to four pathogenic canine viruses: canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus-2 (CPV), canine adenovirus 1 and 2 (CAV-1 and CAV-2) and canine herpesvirus. Overall, 76% of the studied wolves presented evidence of exposure to CPV (96% by HI, 66% by PCR) and 75% to CAV (75% by virus neutralization (VN), 76% by PCR, of which 70% CAV-1 and 6% CAV-2). This represents the first detection of CAV-2 infection in a wild carnivore. CPV/CAV-1 co-infection occurred in 51% of the wolves. The probability of wolf exposure to CPV was positively and significantly correlated with farm density in a buffer zone around the place where the wolf was found, indicating that rural dogs might be the origin of CPV infecting wolves. CPV and CAV-1 appear to be enzootic in the Iberian wolf population, which is supported by the absence of seasonal and inter-annual variations in the proportion of positive samples detected. However, while CPV may depend on periodical introductions by dogs, CAV-1 may be maintained within the wolf population. All wolves were negative for exposure to CDV (by VN and PCR) and CHV (by PCR). The absence of acquired immunity against CDV in this population may predispose it to an elevated rate of mortality in the event of a distemper spill-over via dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Millán
- Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile.
| | - José Vicente López-Bao
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO/CSIC/PA), Oviedo University, Mieres, Spain
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Emilio J García
- A.RE.NA. Asesores en Recursos Naturales SL, Perpetuo Socorro 12-Entresuelo 2B, 27003, Lugo, Spain
| | - Álvaro Oleaga
- SERPA, Sociedad de Servicios del Principado de Asturias S.A, 33203, Gijón, Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Luis Llaneza
- A.RE.NA. Asesores en Recursos Naturales SL, Perpetuo Socorro 12-Entresuelo 2B, 27003, Lugo, Spain
- Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Ecoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Sur, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Vicente Palacios
- A.RE.NA. Asesores en Recursos Naturales SL, Perpetuo Socorro 12-Entresuelo 2B, 27003, Lugo, Spain
| | - Ana de la Torre
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Alejandro Rodríguez
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Edward J Dubovi
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Fernando Esperón
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain
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