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The Okavango
River Basin Transfrontier Carnivore Ecology Program:
This project is the
primary long-term study of the APCRO. It is an ongoing multidisciplinary investigation
of carnivores in an area of approximately 610,000 hectares (1.5M acres) of the Trans Frontier Conservation Area. This
region is the largest designated conservation region in the world. It includes the Kwando/Linyanti region of Botswana; we are currently working in as well as Namibia,
Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia. This study includes the examination
of the overall health and genetics status of the lion, leopard, African wild dog, cheetah, spotted hyena, and black back jackal. It is a comprehensive, broad based look at these species role in disease transmission
and impact on genetic viability and reproductive potential through inter and intra species competition.
Animal census will be
performed, as well as satellite tracking of certain individuals to determine home range and potential of genetic distribution
and radiation. A comprehensive nutritional analysis will be performed to
determine effects of available prey species have on the predators as dictated by their changing habitats.
Time
frame: current to May, 2009
Principal
Investigator: M. Briggs, APCRO
Collaborators: B. Ament, APCRO; J. Dubach, Brookfield Zoo; M. Kinsel, U of I; J. Evermann,
WSU; K. Slifka, Dallas Zoo; P. Gessler, University of Idaho; Kwando Safaris, Botswana, L. Mynhardt, J. Mynhardt, Chobe
Fish Eagle, Ltd, Botswana, R. Meyer-Rust, Lianshulu Lodge, Mudumu National Park, Namibia
Annual
budget: $158,250.00
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