Conflicts between large carnivores and local pastoralists around Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal

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  • Mallé Gueye
  • Dorien Van Cauteren
  • Lisa Mengual
  • Raoul Pellaton
  • Herwig Leirs
  • Bertola, Laura
  • Hans de Iongh

In Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP), in the South East of Senegal, we studied the current spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) population size, density and distribution and assessed human-large carnivores’ conflicts. We implemented 26 calling stations operations, installed 87 camera traps and obtained data from tourists, local guides and rangers. In addition, a questionnaire survey was carried out in 31 villages around the park. Our results showed an estimated density from 1.77 to 3.53 spotted hyenas/100 km2 depending on used response rates (50–100%) with a minimum population size between 144 and 288 individuals. According to the query survey, the spotted hyena is responsible for the majority of livestock predation around the park (87% of all attacks on livestock), followed by African wild dog (6%), lion (4%) and leopard (3%). A total of 63.1% of all attacks were on cattle, while sheep and goats represent the remaining 36.9%. Spotted hyena and lion mainly predated on livestock at night (93.5% and 71.4% of all attacks, respectively) in contrast to predation by African wild dog and leopard, for which the majority of the attacks occurred during the day (63.9% and 62.5%, respectively). Furthermore, there was more livestock killed during the wet season (58% of all attacks) than during the dry season (42% of all attacks). The distribution of conflicts across five sectors surrounding the park illustrate that the West sector is most impacted (49% of all attacks; districts of Linkering and Medina Gounass) followed by the North West (32%; districts of Dialocoto and Missira). Insights into the severity and dynamics of human-wildlife conflict will contribute towards finding effective mitigation measures, minimising loss of livestock and reducing conflicts.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9
JournalEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research
Volume68
Issue number1
Number of pages11
ISSN1612-4642
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

    Research areas

  • Human-wildlife conflicts, Large carnivores, Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), West Africa

ID: 290664297