Predation on Large Mammals in the Kafue National Park, Zambia

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Faunal areas in Zambia may be managed with a variety of aims in view. Whether the object is to produce a maximum yield in a game cropping area, to eliminate tsetse fly or to produce a wild life spectacle in a National Park it is necessary to understand the role of the predators which are present. It is not possible to decide whether or not they are beneficial to the imme-diate project or whether some control is necessary without adequate information concerning their food and feeding habits. This paper is a summary based on information collected on nearly 650 kills in the Kafue National Park. It concerns primarily predation on ungulates by the major carnivores but a few records of other groups are included. The picture, at this stage, is far from complete but sufficient information has been collected to allow an assessment of the present state of our knowledge and to guide future research. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS