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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.