How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
-
Klipspringer
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:34 pm
- Country: Germany
- Contact:
-
Klipspringer
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:34 pm
- Country: Germany
- Contact:
Re: How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/unc ... -cheetahs/
Uncontrolled Tourism is Harming Cheetahs
ByChris FootePosted on July 10, 2018
Cheetahs are one of Africa’s most endangered large carnivores, with just 7000 adults estimated to survive in the wild. One of the biggest problems facing cheetah conservationists is the low survival rate of cheetah cubs: past studies have shown that, at most, a third, and in some places fewer than 5%, of cubs will survive to independence. New research, recently published in Ecology and Evolution, suggests that one factor hurting the ability of cheetah mothers to raise their young is the presence of too many safari-going tourists.
The research was conducted in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve by Femke Broekhuis of the Mara Cheetah project. The reserve attracts huge numbers of visitors, with around 2700 people visiting every day during peak tourist season. Unlike some surrounding areas, the Maasai Mara Reserve places no restrictions on tourist numbers, which can result in substantial crowds gathering around the most charismatic animals, such as cheetahs. Dr. Broekhuis notes that it is not uncommon to see 30 tourist vehicles gathered at a cheetah sighting, and even reports one instance where 64 vehicles gathered around a cheetah kill.
Dr. Broekhuis and her team track cheetahs in the reserve using a combination of direct observations and data from GPS collars, allowing them to determine where different females spend their time. Twenty females were tracked over a 4-year period, with data gathered on how many of their cubs were successfully raised to maturity.
The results strongly suggest that tourism is having an impact on female cheetahs’ ability to raise cubs. Females living in areas of the reserve with high levels of tourism successfully raised on average just 0.2 cubs per litter, compared to the average of 2.3 cubs raised by females living in low-tourism areas. It is known that the presence of humans can reduce the success of cheetah hunts and/or cause cheetahs to abandon their kills: Dr. Broekhuis suspects that the resulting lack of food for their cubs is the primary reason for the poor success of cheetah mothers in high-tourism areas.
Dr. Broekhuis stresses that her results do not mean tourism per se is bad for cheetahs; it can have indirect benefits by encouraging the creation of conservation areas and improving the attitudes of local people toward predators. Clearly though, if tourism is to be sustainable it needs to be controlled. Dr. Broekhuis suggests several sensible management approaches, such as limiting the number of vehicles allowed at a cheetah sighting, ensuring vehicles stay at an appropriate distance, and keeping noise to a minimum. The implementation of such measures would help ensure that future generations of tourists are still able to view these magnificent animals.
Uncontrolled Tourism is Harming Cheetahs
ByChris FootePosted on July 10, 2018
Cheetahs are one of Africa’s most endangered large carnivores, with just 7000 adults estimated to survive in the wild. One of the biggest problems facing cheetah conservationists is the low survival rate of cheetah cubs: past studies have shown that, at most, a third, and in some places fewer than 5%, of cubs will survive to independence. New research, recently published in Ecology and Evolution, suggests that one factor hurting the ability of cheetah mothers to raise their young is the presence of too many safari-going tourists.
The research was conducted in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve by Femke Broekhuis of the Mara Cheetah project. The reserve attracts huge numbers of visitors, with around 2700 people visiting every day during peak tourist season. Unlike some surrounding areas, the Maasai Mara Reserve places no restrictions on tourist numbers, which can result in substantial crowds gathering around the most charismatic animals, such as cheetahs. Dr. Broekhuis notes that it is not uncommon to see 30 tourist vehicles gathered at a cheetah sighting, and even reports one instance where 64 vehicles gathered around a cheetah kill.
Dr. Broekhuis and her team track cheetahs in the reserve using a combination of direct observations and data from GPS collars, allowing them to determine where different females spend their time. Twenty females were tracked over a 4-year period, with data gathered on how many of their cubs were successfully raised to maturity.
The results strongly suggest that tourism is having an impact on female cheetahs’ ability to raise cubs. Females living in areas of the reserve with high levels of tourism successfully raised on average just 0.2 cubs per litter, compared to the average of 2.3 cubs raised by females living in low-tourism areas. It is known that the presence of humans can reduce the success of cheetah hunts and/or cause cheetahs to abandon their kills: Dr. Broekhuis suspects that the resulting lack of food for their cubs is the primary reason for the poor success of cheetah mothers in high-tourism areas.
Dr. Broekhuis stresses that her results do not mean tourism per se is bad for cheetahs; it can have indirect benefits by encouraging the creation of conservation areas and improving the attitudes of local people toward predators. Clearly though, if tourism is to be sustainable it needs to be controlled. Dr. Broekhuis suggests several sensible management approaches, such as limiting the number of vehicles allowed at a cheetah sighting, ensuring vehicles stay at an appropriate distance, and keeping noise to a minimum. The implementation of such measures would help ensure that future generations of tourists are still able to view these magnificent animals.
-
Mel
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 27438
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
- Country: Germany
- Location: Föhr
- Contact:
Re: How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
I agree with the last paragraph. Only - how do you make sure those requirements are fulfilled by tourist,
i.e. keeping the noise level down, but also other aspects like the appropriate distance etc.
i.e. keeping the noise level down, but also other aspects like the appropriate distance etc.
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
-
Richprins
- Committee Member
- Posts: 75552
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
- Location: NELSPRUIT
- Contact:
Re: How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
It seems to make sense. This is not like Kruger where the animals can just move away from roads. I don't like this idea of bush-bashing, myself. 
In SA the guides and their governing body agree on a limit to the number of vehicles at a sighting, both inside and outside Kruger, and others have to wait their turn, theoretically.
In SA the guides and their governing body agree on a limit to the number of vehicles at a sighting, both inside and outside Kruger, and others have to wait their turn, theoretically.
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
-
Lisbeth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 66704
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
- Country: Switzerland
- Location: Lugano
- Contact:
Re: How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
Before reading, I thought "nonsense", but the number of cars at a sighting in Maasai Mara Reserve are frightening 
The cheetah is a very delicate cat and very easy to scare away from a kill e.g. and the way they drive in certain reserves, right up to the animals and if they move the OSVs follow. This should not be allowed.
The cheetah is a very delicate cat and very easy to scare away from a kill e.g. and the way they drive in certain reserves, right up to the animals and if they move the OSVs follow. This should not be allowed.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
-
RogerFraser
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5359
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:36 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Durban
- Contact:
Re: How Tourism Impacts Biodiversity
I would agree with the need for measures and rules to be put in place especially as they allow the vehicles to drive off road to the sightings in these reserves . I have even noticed the behavior on the Safari live daily show especially when there are cats sighted and I would imagine one with cubs is even more pressurized by the vehicles .