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As Jonathan Scott reported in his story on the Wildebeest migration, the human population growth in Africa is affecting the the natural wildlife of the region. Craig Packer of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour at the University of Minnesota reports that Lions in Tanzania are running out of space and are attacking around 100 people a year.
Lions have evolved to take advantage of the migration of a variety of animals. They stalk herds of Wildebeest and Antelopes and require large open spaces to do it in. The Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is one such location. It's as large as Switzerland and for many years it has been the perfect hunting ground for Lions. So perfect in fact, that the Selous Game Reserve probably contains Africa's largest population of Lions.
However, a healthy Lion population is becoming increasingly dangerous to the local human population. Tanzania's population has been growing at 3% a year and within 30 years it will have a similar population to Nigeria. As a result, the buffer zones between Lions and people are being slowly encroached on.
It's hardly surprising that this has led to conflict between Lions and Man. Younger cubs that have been pushed out of the main hunting areas of the Selous Game Reserve by more dominant Lions have to find alternative sources of food. One such target is the bush pig, which can be found in agricultural areas around villages. Unfortunately, when these Lions enter the villages, humans are often seen as an easier meal and attacked instead.
So what is being done? Unfortunately, fencing off an area the size of Switzerland is out of the question but measures are being taken to make sure people aren't left alone whilst homeowners are encouraged to build fences around their home and to cut the grass. Ultimately, in the long term, the outlook is bleak as the human population in Tanzania will continue to grow.
Further Reading:
Next report from the Masai Mara: Simon King on Swallows
Last report from the Masai Mara: Jonathan Scott on Wildebeest