Glucocorticoid stress responses of lions in relationship to group composition, human land use, and proximity to people

摘要: Large carnivore populations are in global decline, and conflicts between large carnivores humans or their livestock con tribute to low tolerance of outside protected areas. African lions (Panthera leo) a conflict-prone species, continental range has declined by 75% the face human pressures. Nonetheless, persist (or even grow) some areas that occupied humans. Lions attain locally high density Olkiramatian Shompole Group Ranches Kenya’s South Rift region, despite residence pastoralist Maasai people sheep, goats, cattle. We have previously found these respond seasonal movements moving away from settlements, shifting into denser habitats when nearby, conservation area move adjacent buffer zone. Here, we examined lion stress responses anthropogenic activities, using enzyme-linked immunoassay measure concentration faecal glucocorticoid metabolites 136 samples collected five groups over 2 y ears. Faecal metabolite concentrations were significantly lower for than human-settled zone, decreased with increasing distance nearest settlement. not detectably related finescaled variation prey density, surprisingly, higher wet season, regional abundance was high. coexist on this landscape adjusting movements, but they nonetheless mount an appreciable response conditions do allow them maintain adequate separation. Thus, physiological data confirm inferences prior habitat use, showing access undisturbed facilitates human–lion coexistence broader is used livestock.