Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

African lions (Panthera Leo) are classified as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation. The presence of predators as lion, is crucial for a functioning ecosystem worldwide, which makes the decline a serious problem. Wildlife conflicts between people and lions are a major threat for the lion population. The conflicts occur when lions prey on livestock and people respond by killing them. Exploitation of natural resources has caused habitat losses and reductions in wild prey, which tend to increase the risk of lions predating on livestock. Knowledge of how different factors can affect the conflict between human and the lion, can be an important tool for developing effective conservation strategies for lions. The main objective in this study was to examine general activity and movement patterns of the African lion and livestock predation caused by lion, in relation to different amounts and periods of precipitation in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. Data was collected in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Activity and movement patterns were analyzed using camera traps at three wildlife corridors in the reserve and depredation was mapped using available data on site. Meteorological data and weather conditions was collected from 10 weather stations near Ol Pejeta. The results revealed that lion movement patterns differ according to the amount and period of precipitation. The results also indicates that the depredation on livestock is affected by a higher amount of precipitation. Overall, the results imply that the risk of wildlife conflicts are higher during more wet periods when wild prey is inaccessible for lion to overcome.