Analysis of GPS radio collar data - March 2009
Movement patterns and activity of desert-adapted lions in Namibia - March 2009

Introduction

Understanding the movement and activity patterns of lions in the northern Namib is essential to the development and implementation of conservation efforts. The unique population of desert-adapted lions is valuable to tourism in Namibia, but not to the local communities and livestock farmers. The lions prey on domestic livestock and farmers kill lions to protect their livelihood. Through the Namibian Government’s innovated conservancy programme, local communities benefit from the wildlife resources on their land. If these local conservancies can receive direct financial benefits from lions, perhaps through organised and controlled eco-tourism, the losses from lion predation on livestock could arguably be tolerated.

Recent advances in radio-telemetry technology led to the availability of affordable GPS radio-collars. With these new GPS radio-collars, accurate data on movements, that has not previously been possible, could be collected. Through a generous donation Desert Lion Conservation acquired six GPS collars. During 2007-2009 these GPS radio-collars were fitted to eight different lions in order to collect accurate data on their movements and activities.

Results
> Sampling
> Activity Patterns
> Distances
> Home Ranges
> Movement Patterns
>>>Time Frequencies
>>>Spider Analysis
>>>Circular Statistics
>>>Quarter Degree Squares

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