摘要：Wild carnivores are often involved in conflicts with humans due to their predation on livestock. We investigated the herding efficiency of pastoralists in association with depredationon livestock in the Loliondo game-controlled area (LGCA), northern Tanzania, to identifyspecific herding practices that may reduce predation occurrence. Randomised face-to-faceinterviews were employed using semi-structured questionnaires. Our results indicate that allstudied livestock herds were tended to by at least one herder. Despite the presence ofherders, carnivores were found to attack livestock in half of the observed herds. Femaleherders experienced more attacks than male herders. African wild dogs and spotted hyenasmost frequently attacked the livestock of the Sonjo tribe, whereas leopards and lions mostfrequently attacked livestock of the Maasai tribe. Herders carrying defensive equipment(knives and spears) reduced the number of successful carnivore attacks in the area. Werecommend maintaining and improving the traditional livestock husbandry practices ofusing herders to reduce carnivore attacks. Moreover, increasing the number of adult maleherders per herd and carrying gear might also help reduce such attacks. Using herders canpotentially improve economic gains and livelihoods of local people and change their negative attitudes towards wild carnivores.
