TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF TROPHY SIZE AND SPATIAL HUNTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIONS IN SELOUS GAME RESERVE, TANZANIA

Abstract

Progressive increase in hunting threats towards African lion (Panthera leo) could have affected its trophy morphometric traits. We explored the temporal dynamics in trophy size and spatial hunting distribution of a lion population/sub-population hunted from 1995 to 2018 in the Selous Game Reserve (SGR). A retrospective research design was employed to analyze lion skulls size based on 373 hunting return forms sampled. Linear regression was used to describe the trends of the number of lions hunted against the mean skull length, skull width, pad length, and pad width. The Linear Mixed Models were employed to determine the factors associated with change in trophy size of the hunted lions. We revealed a general decline in lion hunting off-take by 88.4%. We also found a decrease in trophy size of the African lion hunted in SGR from 1995 to 2018. Spatial distribution of lion hunting changed over the years such that for the two decades (1990s and 2000s) hunting was taking place at closer coordinates unlike in 2010s where hunting points were highly spaced. Administrative sectors of SGR, off-take level and safari length were the best predictors of trophy size. We recommend more emphasis on scientific quota setting, stopping hunting when off-take is likely to exceed 1 lion/km² for SGR and 0.5 lions/km² for other hunting areas, and enforcing deterrent penalties for hunting irregularities or when young individuals are hunted.

Keywords: Trophy hunting, - Trophy size, - Sustainability, and - Selous Game Reserve