In Kasanka NP, a number of 33 faecal samples could be attributed to a predator via guard hair analysis which was about 31% of all samples and 40% of the samples of terrestrial predators. A considerable amount of samples could be assigned to the serval (Leptailurus serval), to the caracal (Caracal caracal) and to the white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda). Found in latrines, so called civitries, a number of 5 samples were attributed to the African civet (Civettictis civetta). In the civitries and in these faecal samples, big seeds were found. Thus, the presence of this kind of seeds in the faeces was considered as a hint for their belonging to civets. In combination with shape and other characteristics of the faeces, a number of 21 scats were attributed to the civet. Collected mainly as scats of spotted hyenas, a considerable amount of scats found in Kafue Region turned out to belong to the lion. Although possibly white in colour, the faeces of lions were softer in consistence and contain bones or bone fragments. From most of the samples, the diameter could be measured (Table 4-1).The faeces of all terrestrial predators found in Kasanka NP were similar in their diameters; only the diameter of faeces of civets ranged to higher values. The faeces of lions and hyena were similar in diameter, but larger in diameter than the faeces from predators in Kasanka NP. In the following, the presentation of the observations made during the field trips refers to the final determination of the predator belonging to the scats.
Table 4-1: Diameters of the faecal samples. Not all samples could be measured.
predator species mean [mm] min [mm] max [mm] N
serval (Leptailurus serval) 23.7 17.4 29.6 18
caracal (Caracal caracal) 20.3 15.0 29.3 5
white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) 21.6 15.0 28.0 23
African civet (Civettictis civetta) 24.7 12.7 32.8 24
lion (Panthera leo) 37.7 22.4 45.0 22
spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 37.4 14.6 52.8 65
In Kasanka NP, a number of 18 faecal samples of predators was found during the grid survey. The 18 samples were distributed unevenly over the five grids (Table 4-2). While no samples were found in grid 2 and 3, only 2 samples each were found, both in grid 1 and 4, belonging to different predators in these grids. The highest number of 15 samples was found in grid 4, at Fibwe Plain. Especially faeces of white-tailed mongooses, servals and caracals
were found here. Some tracks of medium and small predators were found in grid 4 on the dirt road, but they could not be identified. Not only during the grid survey dead puku were found on the ground, dead for some time already. They could not be determined as kill of a specific predator.
Table 4-2: Number of faecal samples and their belonging to predator species in the grids surveyed in Kasanka NP.
predator species grid total number found
during the grid survey
1 2 3 4 5
Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) 0 0 0 0 0 0
serval (Leptailurus serval) 0 0 0 3 1 4
caracal (Caracal caracal) 0 0 0 3 1 4
white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) 0 0 0 5 0 5
African civet (Civettictis civetta) 2 0 0 2 0 4
undetermined predator 0 0 0 1 0 1
total number found during the grid survey 2 0 0 14 2 18
Faeces of predators were mainly found at random. Another 89 faecal samples of predators were gathered. Thus, a sum of 107 faecal samples of predators was available for the analyses. Detached from the grids, they were found to different extents in different areas of Kasanka NP (Figure 4-3). Faeces of crocodile were found mainly along Kasanka River.
Faeces of all terrestrial predators were found mainly in Fibwe Region. Scats of cats i.e.
servals and caracals were found mainly in the eastern part of Kasanka NP. This pattern was less exhibited for the localities of faeces of the white-tailed mongooses which were found also near Kasanka River. Faeces of civets were found in many parts of Kasanka NP. Only one scat of spotted hyena was found along Kasanka River. A few faeces could not be clearly allocated to any predator.
In Kafue Region, faecal samples of predator species were found at random. They were found along and on roads (Figure 4-4, Figure 4-5). Most of the faeces could be related to the lion and the spotted hyena. Some few faecal samples could not be related beyond all doubt to a specific predator species. While scats of lions were mostly found individually, the scats of spotted hyenas were found in different numbers ranging from 1 to 22 at one locality. A total of 22 faecal samples of lions and 70 faecal samples of spotted hyenas were found. From these, a number of 14 scats of lions and 3 scats of spotted hyenas were found Kafue NP.
The camera-traps detected three carnivore species in Kasanka NP, the serval (RAI of 0.01), the African civet (RAI of 0.04) and the marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus) (RAI of 0.01). They reached low RAI values compared to the RAI of antelopes (see Chapter 2.3.4).
These carnivores were detected at the focal region Fibwe-Area only. In this specific area, the African civet had the highest RAI, 0.61. Both servals and marsh mongooses reached lower
RAI of 0.23. In PPKR, the only larger carnivore detected by the camera-traps was the spotted hyena reaching a RAI of 0.19. Otherwise mongooses were captured: Meller’s mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri) and the white-tailed mongoose reaching each a RAI of 0.19, too.
Figure 4-3: Localities of the faecal samples found by the grid survey and by random collection in Kasanka NP during all field trips. As some samples were found at the same locality the number of dots does not represent the number of samples.
Figure 4-4: Localities of the faecal samples found in PPKR and the respective predator species. As some samples were found at the same locality the number of dots does not represent the number of samples.
Figure 4-5: Localities of the faecal samples found in Kafue NP and the respective predator species. As some samples were found at the same locality the number of dots does not represent the number of samples.