Assessing Cultural Context for Predator Conservation

Populations of big cats are in decline worldwide as human growth and development destroys and alters their habitats. At the same time, large predators are a tourist attraction in many regions of the world, bringing essential... [ view full abstract ]

Populations of big cats are in decline worldwide as human growth and development destroys and alters their habitats. At the same time, large predators are a tourist attraction in many regions of the world, bringing essential income to governments and local communities. These complex interactions often create conflict between humans and predators that greatly impact local communities. To gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of human-predator conflict and potential solutions, our study focuses on the development and implementation of a Social Suitability Index (SSI) for predator conservation that measures the cultural context for conservation in a region, accounting for factors such as people’s tolerance towards predators, perceived risk of predators, alternate livelihood options, policy environment, community resilience, and local residents’ reliance on the environment. Building upon a pilot test of the SSI conducted in Vietnam in June 2015, our study focuses on Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), Kenya, a region of the world with high potential for conflict and opportunities for conservation. We use the SSI to measure social suitability in four communities surrounding MMNR and identify factors that influence this cultural context for predator conservation, including the potential effects of ecotourism-based livelihood strategies in the region. Our analysis, one of the first to directly integrate social and cultural metrics into conservation planning, will provide critical information that should influence the protection of both human livelihoods and the lives of big cats.