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

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A Correction to this article was published on 11 May 2022

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Abstract

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.

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Availability of data and material

The main data were collected in the field by Dorien Van Cauteren, Lisa Mengual, Raoul Pellaton and Mallé Gueye. They are available with the first author.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr Fatou Nene Diop, for statistical analysis, and Lt Maniang Mamadoune Diop and Lt Papa Mor FAYE for collecting some of the data. We also thank the National Park Department and all rangers who contributed to the study.

Funding

The research was supported by the Kaplan Panthera Grant and the Leo Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Niokolo Koba National Park, BP 37, Tambacounda, Senegal

    Mallé Gueye

  2. Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Mallé Gueye, Dorien Van Cauteren, Lisa Mengual, Raoul Pellaton, Herwig Leirs & Hans de Iongh

  3. Department of HydroSciences and Environment, University Iba Der Thiam of Thiès, site VCN, Thiès, Sénégal

    Mallé Gueye

  4. City College of New York, 160 Convent Ave, New York, NY, 10031, USA

    Laura D. Bertola

  5. Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, N 2200, Denmark

    Laura D. Bertola

  6. Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Hans de Iongh

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  1. Mallé Gueye
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  2. Dorien Van Cauteren
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Correspondence to Mallé Gueye.

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Gueye, M., Van Cauteren, D., Mengual, L. et al. Conflicts between large carnivores and local pastoralists around Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal. Eur J Wildl Res 68, 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-021-01556-5

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