Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India.
PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e49457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049457. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
Rarely human communities coexist in harmony with large predators. Most often communities suffer due to predation on their stock while large carnivores suffer losses and at times extirpation due to retaliation. We examine the mechanisms permitting the coexistence of Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) and pastoral communities (Maldharis) in the Gir forests, India. We monitored six Maldhari settlements between 2005 and 2007 to quantify seasonal livestock holding, density and losses due to predation and other causes. Lion density, estimated by mark recapture, was 15±0.1 SE/100 km(2). Livestock density, estimated by total counts, ranged between 25/km(2)-31/km(2) with buffaloes being most abundant. Average livestock holding of Maldhari families was 33±3 SE. Lions predated mostly on unproductive cattle (30%). Scat analysis (n = 165), predation events (n = 180) and seven continuous monitoring sessions of 1,798 hours on four radio-collared lions estimated livestock to contribute between 25 to 42% of lions' biomass consumptions, of which only 16% was predated; rest scavenged. With free grazing rights within Gir forests, Maldharis offset 58±0.2 SE% of annual livestock rearing cost in comparison to non-forest dwelling pastoralists. With government compensation scheme for livestock predation, this profit margin augmented to 76±0.05 SE%. Lion density was higher in areas with Maldhari livestock in comparison to areas without livestock. Thus, the current lifestyles and livestock holdings of Maldharis seem to be beneficial to both lions and local pastoralists. We conclude that a combination of strict protection regime for lions, Maldharis' traditional reverence towards lions and the livelihood economics permit the delicate balance of lion-Maldhari coexistence. Indefinite increase in human and livestock population within Gir might upset this equilibrium undermining the conservation objectives. We see no end to compensation programs worldwide as they constitute a crucial element needed for human-carnivore coexistence.
人类社区很少与大型捕食者和谐共存。大多数情况下，社区因牲畜被捕食而遭受损失，而大型食肉动物则因报复而遭受损失，有时甚至灭绝。我们研究了印度吉尔森林中亚洲狮（ Panthera leo persica ）和牧民社区（马尔哈里人）共存的机制。我们在 2005 年至 2007 年间监测了六个马尔哈里人定居点，以量化季节性牲畜存栏量、密度以及因捕食和其他原因造成的损失。通过标记重捕法估计的狮子密度为 15±0.1 SE/100 km(2)。通过总数估计的牲畜密度在 25/km(2)-31/km(2)之间，其中水牛最为丰富。马尔哈里家庭的平均牲畜存栏量为 33±3 SE。狮子主要捕食非生产性牛（30%）。粪便分析（n=165）、捕食事件（n=180）和对四只佩戴无线电项圈的狮子进行的七次连续 1798 小时监测，估计牲畜占狮子生物量消耗的 25%至 42%，其中只有 16%被捕食；其余的则被清理了。由于在吉尔森林内享有自由放牧权，与非森林牧民相比，马尔哈里人每年的牲畜养殖成本降低了 58±0.2 SE%。由于政府对牲畜被捕食的补偿计划，这一利润率增加到 76±0.05 SE%。与没有牲畜的地区相比，有马尔哈里人牲畜的地区狮子密度更高。因此，马尔哈里人的当前生活方式和牲畜存栏量似乎对狮子和当地牧民都有利。我们的结论是，严格的狮子保护制度、马尔哈里人对狮子的传统敬畏以及生计经济学的结合，使狮子-马尔哈里人共存的微妙平衡得以维持。吉尔内人口和牲畜数量的无限增长可能会打破这种平衡，破坏保护目标。我们认为，由于补偿计划是人类与食肉动物共存所必需的关键因素，因此在全球范围内，补偿计划不会结束。
