Livestock Depredation by Large Carnivores in Northern Botswana

Human-carnivore conflict is a leading cause of large carnivore population declines and minimizing the negative effects of these conflicts is vital to maintaining viable populations of many species. In numerous circumstances,... [ view full abstract ]

Human-carnivore conflict is a leading cause of large carnivore population declines and minimizing the negative effects of these conflicts is vital to maintaining viable populations of many species. In numerous circumstances, however, conservation agencies and governments do not have a full understanding of conflicts prior to establishing conflict mitigation programs or are unable to collect the appropriate data to verify claims of livestock loss when they occur. We investigated livestock depredation events reported to us in the Eastern Panhandle of the Okavango Delta, Botswana between October 2014 and December 2016. We identified wildlife sign at the depredation event location, and collected information from the livestock owner to determine the species responsible for the attack, time of the attack, the livestock lost, and the husbandry methods employed. In 102 wild carnivore attacks, 116 livestock were killed and 13 more injured. The vast majority of attacks occurred while livestock were unattended and freely grazing in multiuse, communal areas. Cows, oxen and calves (Bos taurus and Bos taurus indicus) were taken most often and African lions (Panthera leo) were responsible for 74%, and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) for 8%, of reported attacks. Government valuation of these losses totaled approximately $33,000 over the study period. In addition, there were ~40% more Problem Animal Control reports (unverified) submitted to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for reimbursement through the government funded compensation program. Conflict mitigation strategies should target improving livestock husbandry methods in the area. Furthermore, any type of compensation program designed to provide monetary resources for losses caused by predators should require timely reporting and in-depth investigation of depredation events.