A fundamental problem in conservation biology is the risk of inbreeding in fragmented and declining populations. In the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), a small, enclosed reserve in South Africa, a large lion Panthera leo population arose from a founder group of five individuals in the 1960s. The HiP lion population went through a persistent decline and showed indications of inbreeding depression. To restore the genetic variation of the inbred HiP lion population, new lions were translocated into the existing population. Translocated females formed stable associations and established enduring pride areas with other translocated lionesses, but did not bond into native female prides. The translocated male coalition was more successful in gaining and maintaining residence in a pride than the translocated lone male that split off on his own from the male coalition. Litter size and cub survival was about twice as high for pairings involving at least one translocated parent than for pairings of two native lions. It is therefore possible to infuse new genes rapidly and successfully into a small, isolated lion population. Such translocations may become an important adaptive management tool as lion populations become increasingly fragmented.

Spotted hyenas are successful hunters, but they also scavenge. Their main food competitors are lions. In the Etosha National Park, Namibia hyenas are unable to prevent kleptoparasitism by lions and fail to acquire kills from lions. The reasons are the small ratio of hyenas to female and subadult lions at kills and the presence of adult male lions. Because of the hyenas' small clan sizes and large territories they seem to be unable to recruit sufficient clan members to take over lion kills or deter lions from their own kills. In Etosha, 71% of hyena mortality was due to lions; four cubs and one adult female hyena were killed by male lions during a 1-year study. Hyenas have evolved adaptations against lions and initiate aggressive interactions with lions without the immediate availability of food, which is termed mobbing behaviour. Etosha hyenas initiated mobbing attempts when lions were near the hyena's communal den. Possibly, Etosha hyenas mobbed lions to distract lions from the hyenas' den and their cubs and to warn their dependent offspring to hide from lions. RésuméLes hyènes tâchetées sont des chasseurs accomplis, mais elles sont aussi des charognards. Leurs plus grands compétiteurs à cet égard sont les lions. Dans le parc national d'Etosha en Namibie, les hyènes ne peuvent pas empêcher le kleptoparasitisme par les lions et ne réussissent pas à gagner les proies des lions, à cause du petit nombre d'hyènes par rapport aux lionnes et sous-adultes à l'exécution, et la présence de lions mâles adultes. Due à la petite taille de tribus d'hyènes et les territoires étendus ils semblent dans l'incapacité de recruter assez de membres pour pouvoir gagner les proies des lions, ou de détourner les lions de leurs propres proies. Dans l'Etosha, 71% de la mortalité d'hyènes fut provoquée par des lions; quatre petits et une femelle furent tués par des lions mâles pendant notre enquête d'un an. Les hyènes se sont adaptées en face des lions et entament des interactions agressives sans la disponibilité immédiate de proie -un comportement dit «assaillant». Dans l'Etosha, les hyènes initiaient des assauts quand les lions s'approchaient de leur meute communale. Il se peut que les hyènes d'Etosha assaillaient les lions pour les divertir de la meute et de leurs jeunes, et pour prévenir leur progéniture dépendante d'aller se cacher.

ABSTRACT:Disease can dramatically influence the dynamics of endangered wildlife populations, especially when they are small and isolated, with increased risk of inbreeding. In HluhluweiMfolozi Park (HiP), a small, enclosed reserve in South Africa, a large lion (Panthera leo) population arose from a small founder group in the 1960s and started showing conspicuous signs of inbreeding. To restore the health status of the HiP lion population, outbred lions were translocated into the existing population. In this study, we determined the susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis (bTB), and the prevalence of antibody to feline viruses of native lions, and compared the findings with those from translocated outbred lions and their offspring. Antibodies to feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, feline parvovirus, and feline coronavirus were present in the lion population, but there was no significant difference in antibody prevalence between native and translocated lions and their offspring, and these feline viruses did not appear to have an effect on the clinical health of HiP lions. However, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which was previously absent from HiP, appears to have been introduced into the lion population through translocation. Within 7 yr, the prevalence of antibody to FIV increased up to 42%. Bovine tuberculosis posed a major threat to the inbred native lion population, but not to translocated lions and their offspring. More than 30% of the native lion population died from bTB or malnutrition compared with ,2% of the translocated lions and their offspring. We have demonstrated that management of population genetics through supplementation can successfully combat a disease that threatens population persistence. However, great care must be taken not to introduce new diseases into populations through translocation.

No abstract