Large carnivores

Namibia is one of the few African countries which supports six species of large carnivores. While lions, spotted hyenas and wild dogs are mainly restricted to protected areas, due to active removal, cheetahs, leopards and brown hyenas still occur on areas with intensive livestock and/or game farming. It is estimated that Namibia hosts the largest population of cheetahs in the world.

Factors like bush encroachment, which is a well known problem on Namibian farmlands, have been considered to be detrimental to cheetahs, because hunting efficiency is reduced. In addition to this conflict between farmers and predators has resulted in large numbers of cheetahs and leopards being captured and/or shot. On the other hand farming activities of European settlers led to permanent availability of food (natural prey as well as livestock) and water. Furthermore competitive pressure decreased due to elimination of lions, spotted hyenas and wild dogs. This lack of competition might be one of the main factors in the success of the cheetah on commercial farmland.

Large carnivores do kill livestock but the extent of losses and financial damage to farmers has to date not been quantified. In fact, there is strong suspicion that the problems experienced by farmers are often perceived rather than actual. Predators are often blamed for stock losses without taking other possible reasons (e.g. poaching, snake bites, diseases, poisonous plant species) into consideration. Often, before a carcass is found it is destroyed by scavengers and consequently one cannot determine the cause of death anymore.

Many farmers feel that persecution of predators is the one and only way to solve the conflict between men and largecarnivores, and it appears that they do not see the short-term effect of their thinking: indiscriminate killing of certain animals often causes a vacuum, which will be occupied by several new individuals to take over the territory. To enhance the protection of both livestock and exotic game species improved management plans would create above all more striking and long-term solutions (electrified fenses, breeding pens, herdsmen etc.)