The management of free-ranging lions on enclosed protected areas.
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Date
2007
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Abstract
This Research investigates the potential impacts that free-ranging lions have
within a small (<100 000 hectare), enclosed protected area, and it also
investigates the subsequent challenges to the managers of areas such as
these. A comprehensive literature review reveals that the smaller the
protected area, the more intensively it needs to be managed via active
adaptive management, because perimeter fences do not allow for immigration
and emigration. The consequences of this are over-population; inbreeding
depression; the decline of prey and other predator species; conflict with
neighbouring communities as a result of break-outs; and, in some cases, the
spreading of intra- and interspecies disease. Lions are very proficient breeders
and, in all cases investigated, reserves exceeded their local carrying capacity
within a relatively short period of time.
A range of management interventions can potentially achieve short- and/or
long-term reserve objectives. These interventions include relocation,
contraception, hunting and artificial takeovers. These interventions are
described in terms of the preparation required, the biological consequences
and the sociological influences.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.
Keywords
Lions., Captive wild animals--Breeding., Wildlife reintroduction--South Africa., Wildlife management--South Africa., Wildlife relocation--South Africa., Lions--South Africa., Lions--Behaviour., Lions--Ecology., Game reserves--Management., Theses--Environmental Science.