Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Desire L. Dalton, Chantelle Pretorius, Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist, Bjorn Reininghaus, Peter Buss, Emily P. Mitchell
Summary: No mutation causing muscle weakness was found in the samples from African lion cubs, but the cause of the condition still needs to be investigated. The importance of this for conservation needs to be further evaluated.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Louise van der Weyden, Peter Caldwell, Liesl van Rooyen, Emily P. Mitchell, Nicolize O'Dell
Summary: The report covers a case of metastatic malignant melanoma in a captive 13-year-old white African lioness, exhibiting locally destructive tumors with metastasis to the liver and omentum.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew J. Loveridge, Matthew Wijers, Roseline Mandisodza-Chikerema, David W. Macdonald, Guillaume Chapron
Summary: Many large predator populations are declining globally, with significant implications for ecosystem integrity. Trophy hunting, while potentially beneficial, can become unsustainable when combined with other anthropogenic mortality sources. The spatial distribution and protection of populations are important factors in their viability. Incorrect aging of hunted lions can hinder sustainable quota settings. Resource managers should focus on older demographics and exercise precaution when setting hunting quotas for carnivore populations affected by other sources of anthropogenic mortality.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Luca Lacitignola, Pietro Laricchiuta, Annarita Imperante, Claudia Acquafredda, Marzia Stabile, Annalaura Scardia, Marta Guadalupi, Caterina Vicenti, Alberto Crovace, Francesco Staffieri
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of performing laparoscopic ovariectomies in adult obese lionesses through three portals, with a mean surgery time of approximately 49 minutes. Controlled bleeding at the tip of the uterine horn was observed in two cases due to excessive tissue thickness, but no other complications were noted during the procedures.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Paula Serres-Corral, Hugo Fernandez-Bellon, Pilar Padilla-Sole, Annais Carbajal, Manel Lopez-Bejar
Summary: The study assessed the physiological response of a lion pride to a change in management and social conditions after the death of the dominant male. Lower cortisol metabolite concentrations in feces were detected after the death, indicating a positive impact of decreased daily management routines and a more stable social environment. Individualized hormone concentrations revealed variable physiological responses among lions, emphasizing the importance of monitoring hormonal profiles individually.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Taesik Yun, Jeongho Kim, Hyun-Gu Kang
Summary: An 8.5-year-old intact female lion diagnosed with pyometra underwent successful ovariohysterectomy via the lateral flank approach, recovering well post-surgery.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Ariel K. Carlson, Edward C. Ramsay, Xiaocun Sun, Deborah Chaffins, Mee-Ja M. Sula
Summary: This study compared the histological and clinical findings of endometrial hyperplasia (EH) and/or pyometra in lions and tigers. The results showed that lions had more severe EH compared to tigers based on several histological parameters. The severity of EH was significantly correlated with the severity of inflammation/pyometra. The proposed grading scheme may be clinically useful for evaluating EH in large captive felids.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Isabel Seyrling, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes, Anna Lena Burger
Summary: This study investigates the day-time and night-time behavior of lions and cheetahs in zoos and finds that light and feeding time play a significant role in their behavior rhythms. The results suggest that taking into account 24-hour rhythms can help improve management and husbandry practices. This study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the factors influencing lion and cheetah behavior in zoos.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Luca Lacitignola, Pietro Laricchiuta, Marta Guadalupi, Marzia Stabile, Annalaura Scardia, Mario Cinone, Francesco Staffieri
Summary: This study evaluated the use of two vessel-sealing devices in laparoscopic ovariectomy in obese African lionesses. The results showed that the Caiman 12 device had significant advantages over the LigaSure Atlas in terms of surgery time, although both instruments were considered safe. The study recommends using the Caiman 12 device for laparoscopic ovariectomies in obese adults.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Victoria L. O'Connor, Patrick Thomas, Martin Chodorow, Natalia Borrego
Summary: Cognitive ability is linked to adaptive ability in animals, and they use cognition to innovate and problem-solve. This study investigated the innovative problem-solving skills of African lions and snow leopards, finding that persistence is a significant predictor of success and individual variation exists in problem-solving approaches.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nancy Felix, Bernard M. Kissui, Linus Munishi, Anna C. Treydte
Summary: Conflicts between humans and lions are common in coexistence landscapes due to livestock predation and threats to human safety. Retaliatory lion killing by humans is a leading cause of declining lion populations in Africa. In the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem (TME), male lion coalitions are larger and have longer tenure periods in locations with lower risk of retaliatory killing and away from active hunting blocks. Younger people (18-35 years old) have a more positive attitude towards lion existence and conservation. Surprisingly, people with primary or secondary education are more likely to kill lions if they attack livestock compared to those with no formal education.
Article
Biology
Jennifer Zahmel, Stefanie Jaensch, Katarina Jewgenow, Ditte-Mari Sandgreen, Kim Skalborg Simonsen, Martina Colombo
Summary: In this study, in-vitro maturation and fertilization techniques were applied to African lion oocytes, with some oocytes being vitrified before maturation. The maturation rate and fertilization success were lower in the vitrified group compared to the control group, with embryos in the vitrified group failing to develop beyond the 4-cell stage. This study represents the first successful production of in-vitro-derived embryos from African lions following oocyte vitrification.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordan O. Hampton, Mia L. Cobb, Simon D. Toop, Jason S. Flesch, Timothy H. Hyndman
Summary: There is a growing recognition of the threat posed by toxic lead-based ammunition, particularly in hunting dogs. A study conducted in Victoria, Australia, found that blood lead levels in hunting dogs increased significantly during the hunting season, indicating a risk of lead exposure in this context.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Virology
Hugo Fernandez-Bellon, Jordi Rodon, Leira Fernandez-Bastit, Vanessa Almagro, Pilar Padilla-Sole, Cristina Lorca-Oro, Rosa Valle, Nuria Roca, Santina Grazioli, Tiziana Trogu, Albert Bensaid, Jorge Carrillo, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros, Julia Blanco, Mariona Parera, Marc Noguera-Julian, Bonaventura Clotet, Ana Moreno, Joaquim Segales, Julia Vergara-Alert
Summary: While there is no evidence to suggest animals play a role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is known that certain animal species are susceptible to the infection. Recent studies from Barcelona Zoo indicate that human-to-lion transmission of the virus occurred, supported by the timeline of events, viral dynamics, and genetic data.
Article
Zoology
Gidey Yirga, Solomon Amare, Fikirte Gebresenbet, Hans H. De Iongh, Matthijs Vos, Claudio Sillero-Zubiri, Hans Bauer
Summary: Ethiopia is experiencing a decline in lion populations due to human-lion conflicts, habitat loss, and inadequate protection measures. Despite perceiving lions as dangerous carnivores, the majority of respondents express a desire for lions to be present in restricted areas regionally.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura C. Gigliotti, Goncalo Curveira-Santos, Rob Slotow, Craig Sholto-Douglas, Lourens H. Swanepoel, David S. Jachowski
Summary: This study focused on the impact of fires on carnivores in South Africa, revealing that fire did not promote all carnivores to increase the use of burned areas. While apex predators like lions responded positively to prey-rich burnt areas, other large carnivore species exhibited neutral responses, and medium- to small-sized carnivores had species-specific, both neutral and positive responses. Positive responses to fire by lions were short-lived, emphasizing the complexity of understanding carnivore responses to fire.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rashieda Davids, Mathieu Rouget, Margaret Burger, Kirsten Mahood, Ntswaki Ditlhale, Rob Slotow
Summary: This study uses an environmental impact assessment methodology to quantify the social-ecological outcomes of six civic interventions in Durban, South Africa. The interventions resulted in mainly positive outcomes, with the most significant impacts on socio-economic factors, followed by ecological and health outcomes. The research demonstrates the importance of investing in natural areas for both ecosystem improvements and local community benefits, and provides a tool for selecting optimal management interventions aligned with specific community challenges and policy requirements.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Graeme Shannon, Line S. Cordes, Rob Slotow, Cynthia Moss, Karen McComb
Summary: The sharing of social and ecological information is crucial for group-living animals, particularly cognitively advanced species. This study demonstrates that profound social disruption and the lack of older individuals impairs the ability of elephants to accurately assess predatory threat. Conservation practitioners should consider population structure and knowledge transfer when managing highly social and long-lived species.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nafiisa Sobratee, Rashieda Davids, Chuma B. Chinzila, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Pauline Scheelbeek, Albert T. Modi, Alan D. Dangour, Rob Slotow
Summary: This study interprets the issues and proposes solutions for sustainable diet transition using a systems thinking approach. By adopting a multi-level perspective, the main forces driving the current context and future interventions of the project are identified. The study also highlights some leverage points at the micro level, such as multi-faceted literacy, youth empowerment, policymaking, and promotion of sustainable diet aspirations.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wendy Geza, Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi, Rob Slotow, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
Summary: South Africa has made investments in the agricultural sector for rural economic development and job creation, but the high youth unemployment rate remains a concern. Challenges faced by youth in accessing sustainable employment in agriculture include labor market issues and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation and implementation. Existing policies and strategies focus on entrepreneurship, but their implementation has not been successful due to sociopolitical barriers. To enhance youth involvement in agriculture and rural development, more rural youth should be connected to support services, local employment programs, and policy formulation processes.
Article
Agronomy
Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo, Temitope Oluwaseun Ojo, Albert Thembinkosi Modi, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Rob Slotow, Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi
Summary: Addressing food insecurity in South Africa requires targeted efforts to help smallholder farmers access markets. This study assessed the determinants and contributions of market participation to household food security. The results showed that factors such as gender, social grants, and wealth index positively influenced market participation, while having a family member with HIV had a negative impact. The study also found that household size, having a family member with HIV, and agricultural assistance contributed significantly to food insecurity, while factors like educational level, livestock ownership, and access to social grants had a negative impact.
Review
Ecology
Antoinette van de Water, Michelle Henley, Lucy Bates, Rob Slotow
Summary: Biodiversity conservation strategies need to take into account multiple values to avoid contention and promote fair conservation decisions. Elephants provide a case study highlighting the importance of a pluralist valuation system, which is applicable to other species and ecosystems.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Lwando Royimani, Onisimo Mutanga, John Odindi, Rob Slotow
Summary: Climate and topography influence the autumn senescence of grassland ecosystems. However, there is limited understanding of the remote-sensing-derived environmental variables that affect autumn grassland senescence, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to examine the spatial autocorrelations between remotely sensed autumn grass senescence and climatic and topographic variables in subtropical grasslands, and to determine the key environmental drivers of autumn grassland senescence.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omosalewa Odebiri, Onisimo Mutanga, John Odindi, Rowan Naicker, Rob Slotow, Mthembeni Mngadi
Summary: Environmental degradation and carbon emissions are major global concerns, leading policymakers to consider strategic measures to increase carbon sequestration capacity and mitigate climate change effects. Soil organic carbon (SOC) provides a reliable mechanism to ameliorate climate change, but climate change and land-use transformations threaten current mitigation approaches. This study models the effects of simulated climate and land-cover change on SOC inventories in South Africa until 2050, showing a decline in SOC stocks and forest coverage, which have important implications for policymakers, land use managers, and climate change experts in assessing the feasibility of existing SOC management protocols and land-use planning agenda.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lindiwe C. Mngadi, Diego F. Cuadros, Frank Tanser, Jonathan K. Burns, Rob Slotow, Andrew Tomita
Summary: Clean water and adequate sanitation are crucial for good hygiene and health. This study examines the association between access to these facilities and depression in rural South Africa. The results show that lack of access to clean water and sanitation is significantly associated with higher odds of depression. Furthermore, access to clean water partially mediates the relationship between lack of sanitation and depression.
PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anele Aurelia Khowa, Zivanai Tsvuura, Rob Slotow, Manqhai Kraai
Summary: Goats are common in rural areas of southern Africa but less so in peri-urban areas. This study investigated the contribution of small-scale goat farming to household livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Goats were found to contribute to household income through cash sales and meat consumption, and were more significant in rural areas compared to peri-urban areas. There is potential for increased value addition of goat products in both settings.
TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maria M. Makwela, Rob Slotow, Thinandavha C. Munyai
Summary: The sustainability of agroecosystems is at risk due to human disturbance. Carabid beetles have been proposed as indicators for monitoring agricultural management systems, but there is still disagreement about their effectiveness. A systematic review of studies showed that carabid beetles respond differently to different agricultural practices, and more research is needed, particularly in underdeveloped countries.
Article
Agronomy
Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo, Rob Slotow, Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi
Summary: The importance of smallholder farming in improving dietary diversity and nutrition quality in rural households is recognized, but severe food insecurity and malnutrition still persist. This study assesses the role of smallholder farming in crop productivity and market access on rural household dietary diversity. It found that cereals were the most consumed food group, while vegetables and fruits were the least consumed. Factors such as household size, ownership of livestock, wealth index, and involvement in crop production positively influenced dietary diversity, while output and market information access had a negative effect. The study recommends providing effective ways for smallholder farmers to use their funds and conducting workshops to raise awareness about balanced diets for food and nutrition security among smallholder farmers.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antoinette van de Water, Suzan Doornwaard, Liesbeth Sluiter, Michelle Henley, Catherine Sutherland, Rob Slotow
Summary: The development of inclusive and transformative conservation approaches in the Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa is essential for addressing the challenges of biodiversity loss and persistent poverty. A Theory of Change for Living in Harmony has been developed to find better solutions by assessing the perspectives of both direct and indirect beneficiaries. The theory aims to support common ground between stakeholders and promote socially relevant and widely supported conservation strategies.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zabentungwa T. Hlongwane, Rob Slotow, Thinandavha C. Munyai
Summary: Trading in edible insects in the Vhembe district of South Africa is a profitable business that provides employment opportunities and economic benefits for rural communities. Despite the numerous advantages of insect trading, challenges such as insect spoilage and a decline in availability of wild edible insects exist. Governmental organizations in Limpopo have shown limited inclusion of edible insects in economic development strategies, highlighting the need for more support and infrastructure to further empower rural communities and enhance the economic benefits of insect trading.
