title: Social structure of lions (Panthera leo) is affected by management in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, Benin.
abstract: Lion populations have undergone a severe decline in West Africa. As baseline for conservation management, we assessed the group structure of lions in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin. This reserve, composed of one National Park and two Hunting Zones, is part of the WAP transboundary complex of protected areas. Overall mean group size was 2.6±1.7 individuals (n = 296), it was significantly higher in the National Park (2.7±1.7, n = 168) than in the Hunting Zones (2.2±1.5, n = 128). Overall adult sex ratio was even, but significantly biased towards females (0.67) in the National Park and towards males (1.67) in the Hunting Zones. Our results suggest that the Pendjari lion population is affected by perturbations, such as trophy hunting.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Etotépé A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sogbohossou
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loveridge
authors.affiliation: Panthera, Kongola, Caprivi Region, Namibia.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Funston
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geert R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: De Snoo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sinsin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: De Iongh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001541:Benin; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D008045:Lions; D008297:Male; D012744:Sex Ratio