Gosiame Neo-Mahupeleng

Large Carnivore Research Scientist
Kazungula Heartland, Botswana

 

Throughout Africa, cows and goats make tempting meals for large carnivores like lions and hyenas. Unfortunately, the people whose livelihoods depend on that livestock often retaliate, which has led to a decline of the large predators.

That’s where Gosiame comes in.

Gosiame leads AWF’s Large Carnivore Research Project, which works with communities to find ways to reduce the frequency of such occurrences. In order to do this, Gosiame and his team have documented the population sizes of lions, hyenas and wild dog and levels of human-wildlife conflict in the northern portion of Chobe National Park (Botswana) and the Eastern Caprivi Strip (Namibia) here in AWF’s Kazungula Heartland. Gosiame has been able to show that areas of high carnivore activity are positively correlated with the existence of protected areas and availability of water, and negatively with areas of human population.

Furthermore, Gosiame’s research has shown that hyenas were the species most prevalent in human-wildlife conflicts. He has also shown that conflicts occur in different areas under varying circumstances, meaning that mitigating measures will also have to vary from place to place.

Having just been awarded the 2006-2007 Charlotte Conservation Fellowship, Gosiame stays committed to working with communities to reduce livestock predation as a key means to ensure the survival of large carnivores in the region.

Read more about Gosiame’s carnivore conservation.