The conservation status and dynamics of a protected African lion Panthera leo population in Kafue National Park, Zambia Neil Midlane Thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town December 2013 Town Cape of University Neil Midlane Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
[email protected] Supervisors Prof. M. Justin O’Riain Dr Luke T. B. Hunter Dr Guy A. Balme Department of Biological Panthera Panthera Sciences University of Cape Town Private Bag, Rondebosch 8 West 40th St, 18th Floor, New 8 West 40th St, 18th Floor, New 7701, South Africa York, NY, 10018, USA York, NY, 10018, USA
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgementTown of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Cape Published by the University ofof Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University ii ABSTRACT The abundance of African lions Panthera leo has declined rapidly in recent decades, largely due to competition for space with growing human populations. The future persistence of the species in the wild therefore depends heavily on viable populations in large protected areas, where lions play key ecological and economic roles. Zambia is one of nine countries estimated to have over 1000 wild lions, and Kafue, its largest national park, is a key refuge for the species.