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Human dimensions of human–lion conflict: a pre- and post-assessment of a lion conservation programme in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2020

Eric G LeFlore Open the ORCID record for Eric G LeFlore [Opens in a new window] ,
Todd K Fuller ,
Mathata Tomeletso ,
Tiro C Dimbindo  and
Andrew B Stein
Eric G LeFlore*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA01003, USA Environmental Science & Studies Program, Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, Easton, MA02357, USA CLAWS Conservancy, 32 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester, MA01609, USA
Todd K Fuller
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA01003, USA CLAWS Conservancy, 32 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester, MA01609, USA
Mathata Tomeletso
Affiliation:
CLAWS Conservancy, 32 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester, MA01609, USA
Tiro C Dimbindo
Affiliation:
CLAWS Conservancy, 32 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester, MA01609, USA
Andrew B Stein
Affiliation:
CLAWS Conservancy, 32 Pine Tree Drive, Worcester, MA01609, USA Landmark College, 19 River Road South, Putney, VT05346, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Eric G LeFlore, Email: eleflore.eco@gmail.com
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Summary

Humans are contributing to large carnivore declines around the globe, and conservation interventions should focus on increasing local stakeholder tolerance of carnivores and be informed by both biological and social considerations. In the Okavango Delta (Botswana), we tested new conservation strategies alongside a pre-existing government compensation programme. The new strategies included the construction of predator-proof livestock enclosures, the establishment of an early warning system linked to GPS satellite lion collars, depredation event investigations and educational programmes. We conducted pre- and post-assessments of villagers’ livestock management practices, attitudes towards carnivores and conservation, perceptions of human–carnivore coexistence and attitudes towards established conservation programmes. Livestock management levels were low and 50% of farmers lost livestock to carnivores, while 5–10% of owned stock was lost. Respondents had strong negative attitudes towards lions, which kill most depredated livestock. Following new management interventions, tolerance of carnivores significantly increased, although tolerance of lions near villages did not. The number of respondents who believed that coexistence with carnivores was possible significantly increased. Respondents had negative attitudes towards the government-run compensation programme, citing low and late payments, but were supportive of the new management interventions. These efforts show that targeted, intensive management can increase stakeholder tolerance of carnivores.

Keywords

attitudesconflict mitigationhuman–carnivore conflicthuman–wildlife impactshuman dimensionsmanagementPanthera leoquestionnairetolerance

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Type
Research Paper
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , September 2020 , pp. 182 - 189
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© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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