Title:

Movement patterns and activity of desert-adapted lions in Namibia: GPS radio collars

Author(s):
Publication Year:
2009
Abstract:

Understanding the movement and activity patterns of lions in the northern Namib is essential to the development and implementation of conservation efforts. The unique population of desert-adapted lions is valuable to tourism in Namibia, but not to the local communities and livestock farmers. The lions prey on domestic livestock and farmers respond by shooting lions to protect their livelihood. Through the Namibian Government's innovated onservancy programme, local communities benefit from the wildlife resources on their land. If these local conservancies can receive direct financial benefits from lions, perhaps through organised and controlled eco-tourism, the losses from lion predation on livestock could arguably be tolerated. Recent advances in radio-telemetry technology led to the availability of affordable GPS radio-collars. With these new GPS radio-collars, accurate data on movements, that has not previously been possible, could be collected. Through a generous donation Desert Lion Conservation acquired six GPS collars. During 2007-2009 these GPS radio-collars were fitted to eight different lions in order to collect accurate data on their movements and activities.

Series Title:
Desert Lion Conservation Research Report
Item Type:
Report
Language:
en

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