Research

Fundamental to any species’ conservation is the collection of sound scientific data to estimate population sizes, trends, and distribution, and to identify limiting factors and key threats to a species’ persistence.  Consequently, applied research activities center on collection of accurate ecological data with which to inform, guide, and evaluate conservation and management efforts for large carnivores.

Similar to large carnivores world-wide, African species, particularly those such as wild dogs and cheetah, are low density and wide-ranging animals that require large expanses of area to persist.  Consequently human encroachment and the resultant loss of habitat is usually the biggest factor in carnivore declines, not only in its reduction in available area for wildlife, but in the accompanying suite of human influences negatively impacting wildlife populations.

With decreased habitat and increasing human presence often comes increased carnivore mortality from direct persecution, poaching in the form of snaring, livestock conflict, and disease transmission.  In addition other human factors such as trophy hunting have the potential to significantly affect populations if not managed in a data-based manner.  More information on ZCP’s Study Areas and goals can be found HERE.

Study Areas

ZCP focuses on ecosystems and large carnivore populations across Zambia.  Work on large carnivores was initiated in Zambia in 1999 by Dr. Kellie Leigh in the Lower Zambezi National Park and adjoining GMA’s.  A comprehensive study of the wild dog population was conducted to identify threats to their persistence, which included assessment of population numbers and dynamics, human-caused threats, genetic diversity and epidemiology. Research demonstrated limited dispersal success (reduced gene flow), small population dynamics and human-caused mortality (specifically snaring), had led to a population decline. Following these findings the project expanded to Eastern Zambia in 2008, based in the Luangwa Valley near South Luangwa National Park, in an effort to describe and maintain the significant populations of wild dogs residing in the vast wildlife corridor formed by national parks and GMA’s in the Eastern Province.

In 2009 the project expanded to intensive studies of multiple carnivore species across Zambia including Liuwa Plain National Park (in collaboration with African Parks), Bangweulu Wetlands, and Kafue National Park.  More information on ZCP’s Study Areas and goals can be found HERE.

Capacity-Building

Sustainability of conservation efforts rely heavily on the capacity of Zambian agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals to successfully research and manage their country’s  large carnivores and the habitats these species reside in.  However the viability of these programmes is frequently constrained by the lack of capacity-building in local wildlife agencies and educational institutions to ensure the long-term existence of large carnivore research and monitoring programmes.  In addition success also hinges on local community support for conservation of large carnivores in particular and wildlife in general, and on increasing local understanding of conservation issues through education and community awareness programs.

Thus, we have begun instituting programs at the secondary, university, and agency level aimed at providing the training, educational opportunities, and “hands-on” field experience for the existing and aspiring Zambian wildlife professionals ultimately responsible for managing and conserving wildlife in the region.

These objectives are accomplished through a variety of mentoring and employment initiatives such as hiring of local research staff and secondment of agency ecologists, the University of Zambia Internship Programme, and Conservation Club activities and scholarships.

Thus ultimately we see our most effective place in conservation efforts of Zambia’s wildlife heritage as that of a research organization dedicated to providing the most accurate and relevant data on wildlife species and areas of concern while concurrently creating the opportunities and training for local wildlife professionals to continue this work in perpetuity. This work is accomplished through our continual and increasing field presence leveraged by the resources and expertise of a variety of collaborators from top research and educational institutions.