Livestock predation in South Africa : the need for and value of a scientific assessment

dc.contributor.authorKerley, Graham I.H.
dc.contributor.authorBehrens, Kevin G.
dc.contributor.authorCarruthers, Jane
dc.contributor.authorDiemont, Marius
dc.contributor.authorDu Plessis, Jurie
dc.contributor.authorMinnie, Liaan
dc.contributor.authorRichardson, Philip R.K.
dc.contributor.authorSomers, Michael J.
dc.contributor.authorTambling, Craig J.
dc.contributor.authorTurpie, Jane
dc.contributor.authorVan Niekerk, Hermias N.
dc.contributor.authorBalfour, Dave
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-06T10:24:34Z
dc.date.available2017-04-06T10:24:34Z
dc.date.issued2017-03
dc.description.abstractPredation of livestock in South Africa has been estimated to cost in excess of ZAR1 billion in losses per year1 and has complex social, economic and ecological drivers and consequences. In this context, livestock can be broadly defined as domesticated animals and wildlife (the former excluding poultry and the latter including ostrich, Struthio camelus) managed for commercial purposes or human benefit in free-ranging (or semi-free ranging) circumstances that render them vulnerable to predation. This conflict between livestock producers and predators, and the attempts to manage it, has persisted for over 350 years, with the most notable outcome being the eradication of the majority of the apex predators across much of South Africa.2 In contrast, the mesopredators, black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and caracal (Caracal caracal) are by all accounts thriving, at least as measured by their impact on livestock production. Increasingly, attempts to manage livestock predation give rise to deep polarisations, particularly between animal rightists and livestock producers, which further confounds an already complex situation. This complexity hampers the development of policy and regulations with regard to managing livestock predation. A recent global review of the scientific merit of studies on the efficacy of various predator control interventions highlighted the paucity of adherence to acceptable scientific methods in these studies, and recommends ‘suspending lethal control methods’ while appropriately designed studies are undertaken.3 Treves et al.3 did not identify any valid (by their criteria) studies undertaken in South Africa. This example highlights the need for a scientifically robust basis for policy and management of livestock predation issues.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentCentre for Wildlife Managementen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2017en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.sajs.co.za/en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKerley GIH, Behrens KG, Carruthers J, Diemont M, Du Plessis J, Minnie L, et al. Livestock predation in South Africa: The need for and value of a scientific assessment. S Afr J Sci. 2017;113(3/4), Art. #a0198, 3 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.17159/sajs.2017/a0198.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2353 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1996-7489 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.17159/sajs.2017/a0198
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/59682
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherAcademy of Science of South Africaen_ZA
dc.rights© 2017. The Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.en_ZA
dc.subjectEvidence-based policyen_ZA
dc.subjectLegislationen_ZA
dc.subjectTransdisciplinaryen_ZA
dc.subjectWildlifeen_ZA
dc.titleLivestock predation in South Africa : the need for and value of a scientific assessmenten_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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