Population demography and spatial ecology of a reintroduced lion population in the Greater Makalali Conservancy, South Africa
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Published source details
Druce D., Genis H., Braak J., Greatwood S., Delsink A., Kettles R., Hunter L. & Slotow R. (2004) Population demography and spatial ecology of a reintroduced lion population in the Greater Makalali Conservancy, South Africa. Koedoe, 47, 103-118.
Published source details Druce D., Genis H., Braak J., Greatwood S., Delsink A., Kettles R., Hunter L. & Slotow R. (2004) Population demography and spatial ecology of a reintroduced lion population in the Greater Makalali Conservancy, South Africa. Koedoe, 47, 103-118.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Increase size of protected area Action Link |
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Increase size of protected area
A before-and-after study in 2000–2001 at a primarily savanna site in South Africa (Druce et al. 2004) found that expanding a fenced reserve resulted in the home range of a reintroduced group of lions Panthera leo becoming larger but the core range becoming smaller. Following fence removal, the home range was larger (74 km2) than prior to fence removal (38 km2). The opposite was true for the core range (after fence removal: 2 km2; before fence removal: 11 km2). In December 1994, a pride of five lions was reintroduced to the fenced Greater Makalali Conservancy, where lions had previously become extinct. Two male lions were subsequently removed and replaced by two new males in 1999. In October 2000, the fenced area was enlarged from 11,089 ha to 13,600 ha, by removing a fence between the conservancy and a neighbouring game reserve. Lions were monitored through visual observations for six months before and six months after fence removal. The home range was defined as the smallest area containing 95% of the distribution used and the core range was the smallest area containing 50% of distribution used.
(Summarised by: Phil Martin)
