Abstract:
The largest area of the South African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) distribution occurs outside
formally protected areas, making cheetahs vulnerable to conflict-related killings. This
conflict is assumed to be related to negative attitudes of landowners towards predators. Our
study assessed the socio-economic factors influencing landowner attitudes towards
cheetahs on private properties adjacent to the Kruger National Park (Kruger), South Africa.
We used structured questionnaires to interview 199 landowners. Attitudes of landowners
towards cheetahs were generally positive; 58% of landowners had attitude index scores
between eight and 11. However, 11% had fairly negative or low scores (scores between –2
and 4). First language, land use and respondent knowledge of cheetahs were key drivers of
attitude. English speaking landowners (49.8%) were more likely to display positive attitudes
towards cheetahs than Afrikaans first-language speakers (46.8%). In addition, the likelihood
of having a more positive attitude increased significantly as respondent knowledge of
cheetahs increased. Attitudes were also influenced by land use, with wildlife ranchers or
ecotourism ventures having a significantly higher probability of having more positive
attitudes than livestock farmers. With the Kruger being a stronghold for cheetah conservation
in Africa, and large carnivores being vulnerable to edge effects in protected areas, it is
important to understand the factors driving conflict so that mitigation efforts can be targeted
for maximum impact.
