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Doctoral thesis2024Open access

Connectivity of lions (Panthera leo) across a pastoralist landscape : coexistence, conflict, and collective action for lion conservation in Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Jansson, Ingela

Abstract

This thesis investigates human-lion coexistence and connectivity in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). By combining ecological, genetic, and socio-ecological perspectives, it identifies key challenges and opportunities in managing shared landscapes between people and wildlife. The findings show that lions avoid humans on the landscape, but when natural prey is scarce, they may prey on livestock, causing economic losses and prompting retaliatory killings. While lions disperse across the landscape, genetic analysis reveals limited exchange between populations, with the Crater lions showing low genetic diversity, inbreeding, and restricted gene flow, threatening long-term resilience. This isolation is exacerbated by the dominance of Crater-born males. The NCA is at a critical crossroads where sustainable coexistence between humans and lions is still achievable. With pressures from climate change, population growth, and resource demands, this requires a balanced approach that fosters community-driven initiatives, effective conflict management, and recognizes that the futures of both lions and people are inherently connected.

Keywords

conservation incentive payments; dispersal; fragmentation; gene flow; genetic diversity; governance; habitat selection; human-wildlife conflict; pastoralism; socio-ecological perspective

Published in

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2024, number: 2024:78ISBN: 978-91-8046-369-0, eISBN: 978-91-8046-405-5Publisher: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences