The human propensity to kill carnivores is associated with the distribution of spotted hyaenas
Torrents-Ticó, Miquel (University of Helsinki)
Fernández-Llamazares, Álvaro (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Cabeza, Mar (University of Helsinki)
Miliko, Emmanuel (Member of the Maasai Community, Il Motiok (Laikipia County, Kenya))
Komoi, Thomas Titiay (Member of the Daasanach Community, Ileret Ward (Marsabit County, Kenya))
Burgas, Daniel (University of Helsinki)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia

Data:	2026
Resum:	Large carnivores are declining globally, making it crucial to understand the factors associated with their distribution for effective conservation. Much conservation research considers resource availability and human presence as key influences on carnivore distribution. However, the human propensity to kill carnivores, rather than mere human presence, may be associated with carnivore distribution. Here, we use the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) as a model species because it occurs in areas with varying levels of human persecution. We evaluate how resource availability (i. e. , wild ungulate prey) and livestock herding are associated with spotted hyaena distribution in two Kenyan sites with different propensities to kill carnivores. We conducted 59 calling stations to estimate spotted hyaena density and distribution, and surveyed 396 km of transects to assess the abundance of wild ungulate prey and livestock. We found that in an area with high propensity to kill carnivores, distribution was restricted and associated with wild prey and livestock herding patterns, whereas in an area with low propensity to kill carnivores, spotted hyaenas were widely distributed despite extensive wild prey and livestock herding. This study highlights the importance of considering the human propensity to kill carnivores when examining the impact of wild prey and livestock herding on carnivore distribution. Such understanding is critical to evidence-based wildlife management and to advancing coexistence across diverse social and ecological contexts.
Nota:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Coexistence ; Human-carnivore conflict ; Landscape of fear ; Predator ; Spotted hyena
Publicat a:	Journal for nature conservation, Vol. 92 (August 2026) , art. 127279, ISSN 1618-1093

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2026.127279

11 p, 4.6 MB

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