Social Structure of Lions (Panthera leo) Is Affected by Management in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve,Benin |
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| Authors: | Etotépé A Sogbohossou Hans Bauer Andrew Loveridge Paul J Funston Geert R De Snoo Brice Sinsin Hans H De Iongh |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.; 2. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, United Kingdom.; 3. Panthera, Kongola, Caprivi Region, Namibia.; 4. Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.; University of Tasmania, Australia, |
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| Abstract: | Lion populations have undergone a severe decline in West Africa. As baseline for conservation management, we assessed the group structure of lions in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin. This reserve, composed of one National Park and two Hunting Zones, is part of the WAP transboundary complex of protected areas. Overall mean group size was 2.6±1.7 individuals (n = 296), it was significantly higher in the National Park (2.7±1.7, n = 168) than in the Hunting Zones (2.2±1.5, n = 128). Overall adult sex ratio was even, but significantly biased towards females (0.67) in the National Park and towards males (1.67) in the Hunting Zones. Our results suggest that the Pendjari lion population is affected by perturbations, such as trophy hunting. |
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