In southern Africa, local communities are integral to the success of conservation, especially outside of protected areas. Trophy hunting tourism has been considered a strategy which can generate economic benefits and influence conservation at local scales in sub-Saharan African countries, like Botswana. In 2019, Botswana lifted a five-year hunting ban and reintroduced trophy hunting tourism, catalysing a range of responses at local and international scales. To gain a more in-depth understanding of how changes in trophy hunting policy have shaped local adaptive capacity, we conducted 54 semi-structured interviews with three communities where trophy hunting tourism occurred: Mababe, Sankuyo, and Chobe Enclave. Communities had diverse responses to the lifting of the ban, illuminating the dynamic relationship between communities, conservation, and trophy hunting tourism and the overall resilience of the trophy hunting system. The findings suggest that the lifting of the hunting ban can serve as a catalyst for transformation and increased resilience, if there is strong communication across levels of government which cultivates inclusive decision-making and economic diversification to reduce dependency on trophy hunting tourism. Based on the study's findings, we present potential paths for the future of trophy hunting, which can inform policy and decision-making to support the adaptive capacity and resiliency of northern Botswana's communities and other regions where trophy hunting tourism occurs.

Insectivorous bats are vital components of tropical and subtropical ecosystems in Africa. However, they are not only threatened by habitat fragmentation, agriculture and urbanization but are also difficult animals to study. During 2014, we used acoustic monitoring to assess the activity and relative abundance of three functional guilds of insectivorous bats at eight sites along the Chobe River floodplain, Botswana. The activity of clutter and clutter-edge foragers was significantly higher in the dry season than in the wet season. By contrast, open-air foragers, which typically forage above or away from vegetation, were more active in the wet season than in the dry season. We believe that the availability of natural vegetation and the variability in the detection of the three bat functional guilds by our acoustic detectors likely explain our results. Although bats are volant animals, our study points towards the importance of conserving important structural vegetation elements along the Chobe River floodplain landscape. Large river systems in Africa, such as the Chobe River, are vital for insectivorous bat persistence, and the provision of the ecosystem services they provide. As such, conservation of riparian corridors along rivers is crucial for maintaining intact and diverse bat communities.

Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum), an endangered species that occurs throughout eastern and south-central Africa, are generally well-protected within national parks but commonly occur outside protected areas where the landscape is largely used for agriculture, settlement, and grazing. Understanding a species' distribution and collecting information on its presence from people who have long-standing interactions in an area of interest (i.e. local ecological knowledge) can be cost-effective for conservation. Thus, during February–December 2015, we gathered local knowledge from villagers to help inform Grey Crowned Crane status, distribution, breeding, and seasonal habitat use outside protected areas in Tanzania. Via 560 in-person surveys in 41 villages, local people identified 46 locations where they reported seeing cranes. In two regions, the proportion of crane observations by local people was higher in the wet season than the dry season, but in two others the proportion of crane observations were high in both seasons. Little evidence of crane breeding was reported, but a high proportion of local people in the Kilimanjaro region reported seeing crane chicks relative to the other regions. We modelled the influence of land-cover types and demographic variables on the number of people who reported seeing Grey Crowned Cranes in their wards (subunits of regions). Residents were more likely to see cranes in areas that were less populated by people with few human activities. An increase in grassland habitats in a ward increased the chances of people sighting cranes. While seasonal wetlands are important crane habitats, the model indicated a negative relationship between number of people seeing cranes and the percentage of wetlands in their wards; this may be due to the occurrence of degraded (unsuitable) wetlands. Local knowledge can provide insights into species' distribution and ecology, but there is a need for more field monitoring of cranes.

Human population increase and anthropogenic land-use changes are impacting biodiversity globally. Despite an increasing trend in urban wildlife studies, a systematic assessment of mammalian small carnivores in urban areas is still lacking. We evaluated urban studies in international peer-reviewed journals using a systematic review process. We assessed urban wildlife publications from 1970–2021 to quantify trends over time regarding the taxonomic family and geographical focus of publications across the globe. Urban small carnivore studies have increased progressively through the decades, with 87.2% of all studies conducted in the last 20 years. Geographically, we found that small carnivore studies were disproportionately conducted, with 77.0% of all studies taking place in either North America (46.5%) or Europe (30.5%). Furthermore, the United States of America (39.8%) and the United Kingdom (11.4%) contributed to 51.2% of all studies focused on small carnivores. We found seven carnivore families represented in urban studies, consisting of 76 species. Two canid species, Vulpes vulpes (21.9%) and Canis latrans (16.9%), accounted for 38.8% of all studies conducted on urban small carnivores. The majority of studies took place in mixed or urban areas (79.8%), with suburban and exurban zones explored to a lesser extent (16.6%). Animal behaviour was the most studied scientific topic (24.6%), with the least being species conservation (0.3%). Critical gaps persist in the research of small mammalian carnivores, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas of Asia, Africa and South America. While the field of urban ecology will certainly continue to advance, we urge future research to adopt a multi-disciplinary stance that explores the landscape transitional zones, from the periphery of the urban core (sub-urban, peri-urban and exurban) into natural systems; or urban mosaic landscapes with natural and managed green spaces as refugia. The importance of urban fringe and margin areas for small carnivores remains largely unknown.

The hippopotamus population along the Runde River in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe, attained a density in the late 1970s which threatened vegetation resources of this semi-arid park. A sample of 105 hippopotami taken in 1978 was used to determine the population's age and sex structure, and reproductive characteristics. An average school consisted of 11.4 individuals, comprising 2.2 adult bulls, 4.6 adult cows, 2.2 and 1.4 immature males and females, respectively, and 0.8 calves. Females constituted 54% of the population, and 58% of foetuses; neither differed from parity. Testes mass and seminiferous tubule diameter increased with age according to a logistic function. Puberty commenced at about 4 years, and sexual maturity at 8–8.3 years, respectively at 47% (655 kg) and 65% (1070 kg) of mean adult male mass. Males were physically mature by 17.5 years. Based on the development of ovary mass, uterus mass, and uterine horn length of non-pregnant or pregnant females, the pubertal interval was 24 months commencing at 7 years when body mass reached 71% of mean adult female mass (964 kg), and sexual maturity commenced when body mass reached 78% of mean adult female mass (1050 kg). Females attained physical maturity at 13 years. Conceptions occurred in seven of eight sampled months, with most occurring in June and peak parturition estimated to occur in February. The pregnancy rate of sexually mature females was 36.8%, the incidence of pregnancy was 0.56 calves/female/year, anoestrus was 13.7 months, post-partum oestrus was 5.7 months, and the calving interval was 21.7 months. Calf mortality (<2 years) was 42%. Female births per female of reproductive age was 0.092. Reproductive characteristics of hippopotamus across Africa illustrate their plasticity in relation to climatic variation and population density, suggesting populations may be regulated without any need for management intervention.

Understanding animals' habitat selection and movement behaviours relative to human activities is important for evaluating resource requirements and ensuring effective conservation management. The world's largest remaining population of Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) reside in Zakouma National Park, Chad. However, it is unclear whether the park boundaries sufficiently encompass the full range of this population's preferred habitats. We used GPS telemetry data from 17 female giraffe over multiple years to better understand landscape and seasonal factors that influence their home range patterns and habitat preferences at multiple spatial scales. Kordofan giraffe seasonal ranges and core seasonal ranges were larger during the wet season and core utilization distributions had greater overlap with the national park in the dry season. The importance of shifts in seasonal habitat use, attributed to the flooding and drying that occurs within the park, necessitates Kordofan giraffe to move beyond the park's boundaries. Kordofan giraffe selected for open grasslands (mean coefficient = 0.48, 95% CI [0.22,0.74]), and increased their tortuosity of movement in these areas (mean coefficient = –0.18, 95% CI [–0.23,–0.14]). Conversely, with Vachellia savannas as the reference level for land-cover variables, the giraffe avoided anthropogenic areas, barren lands, Combretaceae savannas and forests. We advise increased community-based co-learning projects and awareness of giraffe outside the park. In addition, by identifying key habitat types that giraffe selected, we advise enhanced monitoring in preferred giraffe habitats during the wet season to protect these areas from being encroached by human settlement or agricultural expansion, with the support of the legal framework of the Bahr Salamat Wildlife Reserve and other agreements that protect wet season wildlife corridors.

A major threat to the survival of many reptile species is the consequence of rapid growth of the human population. The acceleration of associated anthropogenic activities causes fragmented and transformed habitats, placing the survival of biodiversity in transformed areas at risk. The sungazer (Smaug giganteus) is a threatened (Vulnerable) grassland specialist lizard species. Its geographic distribution is significantly impacted by agriculture and mining activities, resulting in major threats to the species. We assessed sungazer population demographics and dynamics at four sites, each with different habitat conditions by resurveying sungazer subpopulations first surveyed in 2004. Individuals were marked with passive integrated transponders. Abundance declined by more than 50% at two sites associated with mines and an overgrazed site over the 12 to 16-year period between surveys, and the proportion of recaptures were also the lowest in these sites (<15%). Most recaptured lizards were not found in their original burrows, and most lizards in transformed habitats were found more than 100 m away from their original burrows. Our results highlight the potentially detrimental effects of habitat transformation on sungazer demographics that have not previously been detected. Previous assessments focused on the local extinction of aggregations but not declines in abundance in aggregations that had not yet gone extinct. Our results suggest that the species may be more susceptible to habitat transformation than previously estimated. We recommend careful, continuous monitoring of sungazer subpopulations at fine spatial resolutions such that swift conservation action can be taken.

By studying the host-selection patterns of oxpecker species, researchers can gain valuable insights into their ecological roles and interactions with different host species. This information is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies that prioritise the protection of oxpeckers and their host populations. The study conducted field observations and recorded data on the number of oxpeckers and their respective host species. Additionally, this study investigated the relationship between host species and host parameters (body mass and hair length) in the Salambala conservancy in northeastern Namibia. Selection and density indices were used to calculate the number of host animals supporting one oxpecker as well as the oxpecker density on a host's body surface. Pentad-based counts of oxpeckers and ungulates were conducted. Of the observed oxpeckers, 75% were Red-billed and 25% Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. These findings suggest that Red-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) are more commonly found on host species than Yellow-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus). The selection index indicates that Red-billed Oxpeckers have a higher preference for impala (Aepyceros melampus) compared to cattle (Bos taurus), while Yellow-billed Oxpeckers show a lower preference for goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) compared to cattle. The selection indices for impala and cattle for both oxpecker species were highest during the wet season. In terms of correlation analysis, there were no significant correlations between selection and density indices and host hair length or species-typical body mass.

We examined hypotheses of spatial association arising from exclusion or indirect competitive interactions, using 13 years of gridded mammal census data from Kruger National Park, South Africa. As interactions occur at different scales, we explored the data at 1, 5, 10, and 15 km². We proposed four hypotheses structuring the mammal community: H1, predator exclusion of herbivores by carnivores (apparent direct competition); H2–H4: indirect competition produced by each of three types of herbivore diet specialization: H2, ruminants and non-ruminants; H3, grazers and browsers, and H4, a four-way division of small and large grazers and browsers. We used the software CoOccur to implement a robust test for evidence of our hypotheses against null models of community assemblage. At 5, 10, and 15 km² scales, the results supported a competition/exclusion mechanism in the majority of years for hypotheses H1, H3, and H4, and facilitation in H2. At the finest spatial scale (1 km²), we saw patterns resembling a mixture of competitive, neutral and facilitative process. These results suggest strong, large-scale effects of interspecific interactions on distributions of African megafauna, which may not operate at a more local (1 km²) scale, underscoring the importance of scale and mechanism in the guild structure of communities.

European wild boar (Sus scrofa) are invasive in many parts of the world. We assessed the potential for invasive spread by the wild boar in South Africa by determining potentially suitable habitats using bioclimatic variables and the maximum entropy model, which we then related to the present distribution records of the species in the country. We found that the wild boar has great potential to extend its invasive distribution range in South Africa. The most suitable habitats were in provinces with coastal boundaries, namely the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Additionally, through an online questionnaire, we found out that of the participants, only 26.9% knew of the prevalence of wild boar, 29.5% about human–wild boar conflict, and 29.6% knew of hunting sites for the species; however, the majority (62.9%) knew of the species on the National Alien and Invasive Species List. Moreover, we also recorded localities of prevalence and hunting sites within KwaZulu-Natal province. Wild boar's prevalence in South Africa must be strictly monitored and controlled as stipulated by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act regulations to prevent its spread and negative impacts on biodiversity and the agriculture sector, as evident elsewhere.

Droughts have become more prevalent in recent years, causing problems for large herbivores such as the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros, whose populations are influenced by variation in climatic conditions. This variation acts primarily through the effects of rainfall on forage availability but acts differently on browse or grass. Consequently, browsing black rhinos and grazing white rhinos might show differing responses to changes in rainfall. Moreover, young large herbivores have a more limited capacity to survive environmental stressors than do adult animals that are more resilient to environmental variation. Thus, our aim was to investigate the relationship between rainfall and the survival of young (<3 years old) black and white rhinos at Lapalala Wilderness Nature Reserve, South Africa. Using stratified Cox models, we found that both species had higher survival with more rain, but the effect was more similar than expected given the differences in diets. Moreover, there was evidence of an effect of age class for white rhinos but not for black rhinos. Additionally, most rhinos that died did so during the dry season when scarce forage and limited fat reserves likely constrained their ability to tolerate periodically low-quality diets. Despite the effect of rainfall operating through substantially different plant growth forms, young animals of both rhino species showed sensitivity to variation in rainfall that could ultimately affect population abundance and conservation status.