Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Perceived Efficacy of Livestock-Guarding Dogs in South Africa: Implications for Cheetah Conservation

MacMillan, Douglas C. (2013) Perceived Efficacy of Livestock-Guarding Dogs in South Africa: Implications for Cheetah Conservation. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 37 (4). pp. 690-697. ISSN 1938-5463. (doi:10.1002/wsb.352) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:38288)

PDF (Restricted due to the publisher copyright policy.) Publisher pdf
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only
[thumbnail of Restricted due to the publisher copyright policy.]
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wsb.352

Abstract

Large wild carnivore predation on domestic livestock and the associated financial losses may

increase efforts toward lethal control of carnivore populations. Livestock-guarding dogs could provide an

effective alternative to such lethal control by mitigating depredation losses. Although this information is

available in North America, the cost-effectiveness of guarding dogs has not been studied in other areas

experiencing large carnivore depredation such as South Africa, where the socio-economic context is very

different from that of North America. We assessed the costs and benefits of 97 livestock-guarding dogs

working on 94 farms in South Africa between 2005 and 2011 by reviewing data collected from questionnaires

on perceived depredation losses prior to and during guarding dog placement, rates of guarding dog behavioral

problems, removals, and pre-senile mortality. Perceived livestock depredation ceased in 91% of guarding dog placements, with gross mean annual financial savings US$ 3,189/farm. Estimated annual program costs per

year of the livestock-guarding dog program were US$ 2,780. However, 16% of guarding dogs had reported

behavioral problems, with inattentiveness cited as the most common problem. Twelve percent of guarding

dogs were removed from the program because of behavioral problems. Premature death was observed in 22%

of guarding dogs, most often due to snake bites. Participating farmer tolerance toward cheetahs (Acinonyx

jubatus), as well as cheetah-sighting frequency, appeared to increase during participation in the livestockguarding dog program. If further corrective behavioral and snake-aversion training were implemented,

guarding dogs may offer a cost-effective method of non-lethal predator control and could potentially

contribute to the long-term mitigation of human–carnivore conflict in South Africa.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/wsb.352
Uncontrolled keywords: Acinonyx jubatus, cheetah, depredation, human–wildlife conflict, large carnivore conservation, livestock-guarding dog, South Africa.
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Douglas MacMillan
Date Deposited: 14 Feb 2014 12:05 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:14 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/38288 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

MacMillan, Douglas C..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2573-5049
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.