Long‐Distance, Transfrontier Carnivore Dispersals in Southern Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT Information on long‐range dispersal in tropical carnivores is limited compared to their temperate counterparts. Here we present data on long‐range, transboundary dispersals for three species of tropical carnivores: African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), African lion (Panthera leo), and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). The dispersals we document in our savannah system are among the longest that have been recorded for African wild dog and African lion, while for spotted hyena one of our recorded dispersal events is of similar magnitude to the longest documented movements occurring among any carnivore species from around the world.

Keywords

• carnivores
• dispersal
• hyperdispersal
• natal dispersal
• Southern Africa
• transfrontier