NORTHERN TULI PREDATOR PROJECT

Click here for the introduction pages to the LION SOCIAL ORGANISATION IN A HUMAN AFFECTED LANDSCAPE thesis.

Click here for THE SNYMAN THESIS - LION SOCIAL ORGANISIATION IN A HUMAN AFFECTED LANDSCAPE.

Click here to read the LION RELOCATION document.

Click here to read A TRIBUTE TO A KING - an account of one of Mashatu's legendary male leopards.

Click here to view the Hyena census report for 2009

Principal Researcher: Mr Andrei Snyman

Overview:

The Northern Tuli Predator Project was started in 2007 and focuses mainly on the study of lions and leopards. Additional large carnivore species have also since been selected for further studies, as part of the greater carnivore assemblage in the reserve. These include spotted hyaenas and cheetah.

Background to lion study

Populations of large carnivores are becoming increasingly threatened throughout Africa, especially when not afforded protection by large conservation areas (Woodroffe and Ginsberg, 1998). Humans frequently limit carnivore numbers living outside protected areas and legal and illegal hunting, road accidents, and snaring cause most deaths that occur outside of reserve borders (Woodroffe and Ginsberg, 1998). Furthermore, humans also form the preponderance of mortality amongst large carnivores, especially wide ranging species such as wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jabatus) (Woodroffe and Ginsberg, 1999). Lions (Panthera leo) are also exposed to population disturbances inside protected areas due to harvesting (Whitman and Packer, 1997; Loveridge et al., 2007). Lions are highly social animals that live in fission–fusion groups (Van Orsdol, 1984; Packer et al., 1990; Whitman and Packer, 1997), and are thus susceptible to population disturbances from humans. Infanticide also plays an important role in the level of disturbances within a lion population (Packer, 2001).

Here we investigate the spatial-and temporal movements of lions from the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (Notugre), Botswana. Lions moved across international boundaries and through local farmland regardless of fences and land use type, but spent most of their time inside their home ranges located within protected areas (90% KDE ( = 86.3% ± 10.2) and 50% KDE ( = 42.8% ± 10.5)). When lions moved out of these protected areas the probability of them being killed was high. In at least two instances this included males responding to the placement of baits set to lure lions out. Edge effects had a severe impact on the Notugre lion population, with 82% of adult mortality found outside the borders of the reserve. There were various reasons why males left their normal home ranges and went on excursions that took them outside protected areas, one of the reasons being females. Each radio-collared lion had a unique set of characteristics that characterized the size and location of their home ranges, resulting in wide variability in size and shape. Average 90% KDE for males were 69.0 km² (range: 3.0 to 151.6, n = 4) for females it was 41 km² (range 2.2 – 78.9, n = 2). There was much less variability in the 50% KDE of both males (mean = 13.2 km², range 0.7 to 34.6) and females (mean = 8 km², range 0.3 – 15.7). The presence of human activities, in the form of cattle-posts, agricultural lands and villages also appeared to influence home range selection with lions tending to avoid these areas. With increasing human populations and the destruction of natural habitat, human-wildlife conflict will continue and requires urgent attention in order to mitigate the issue.

The aims of the project

Background to leopard study

The leopard component of the project has been running since 2005.

Leopards are notoriously difficult to study due to their secretive nature, the habitats they frequent, and their low densities. Although leopards have been studied across a wide range of habitats, there is still a need for further study particularly with respect to management and human conflict. In the Northern Tuli Game Reserve we have initiated a long-term leopard project. Aspects investigated include behavioral ecology, population dynamics, movement patterns, population density estimation, habitat preference, prey selection and human conflict. Thus far 29 leopards have been monitored by means of VHF and GPS radio collars. Over 40 successful captures have been made with leopards having been either cage trapped or free darted.

Abstract from presentation at the 8th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, held at Skukuza – Kruger National Park, 2010.

Here we examine aspects of the spatial-, behavioral- and feeding-ecology of Northern Tuli leopards. Male leopards had much larger home ranges than females. Average home range size (90% Kernel density estimate: 87.1 ± 48.2 km²) and core home ranges (50% Kernel: 14.3 ± 16.6 km²) were substantially larger for adult males than for adult females (90% Kernel: 31.4 ± 14.5 km²; 50% Kernel: 5.0 ± 3.6 km²). Five male and two female leopards have been recorded moving outside the reserve’s borders, mainly into the Tuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe. These movements resulted in death due to safari hunting of one male. Furthermore, dispersing young males showed increased shyness when returning from their excursions outside the reserve. Prey selection data was derived from 611 kills recorded over nine years by game drives. Impala made up 88% of all recorded kills.

Should you wish to find out more about this project, and to contribute in any way, please feel free to speak to Andrei via email: andrei.snyman@googlemail.com