Every morning, across Africa, hundreds of vehicles and walking safaris head into the bush led by an experienced guide skilled at tracking and finding large carnivores for their viewing.  While seeing and photographing these animals is an extremely memorable experience, it is also a perfect opportunity to collect valuable scientific data useful for their conservation. 

Carnivores can range over a large area and highly endangered species such as wild dogs can easily be individually identified by their markings, therefore sightings and photographs provide invaluable data on carnivore abundance, distribution, and population trends.  

In recognition of these opportunities and in response to the changing dynamics and recent concerns over population trends of several large carnivore species, safari guides in the Luangwa Valley have formed the Luangwa Valley Carnivore Monitoring Program (LVCMP) to cooperatively monitor these populations.    

Zambia’s first guide-run initiative, this long-term program will provide critical data to assist in research and conservation efforts of large carnivore species (lions, wild dogs, leopards, hyaenas, and jackals), and is a collective effort on the part of guides, operators, safari guests and researchers to facilitate increased collaborations and participation in wildlife data collection in the Luangwa Valley ecosystem. 

Facilitated by African Wild Dog Conservation (AWDC) in close cooperation with guides in the program, the data assists in evaluating population dynamics, trends, age and sex composition of populations, distribution and habitat use of these carnivore species.  In addition findings from the study are regularly disseminated from AWDC to guides in the program to assist in their interpretive work with clients.  

Read more about how this program works and about those safari operators and Guides who are participating, below.

How it works

The structure of this program is unique in that it is guide-run and built around active participation of their safari guests. 

Data sheets are provided by guides to interested clients prior to game drives or walks, with the guide explaining that he or she is part of a research and monitoring program on large carnivores and would appreciate their assistance in collecting information. 

Participating guests then document all large carnivore sightings during their drive or walk, with the accuracy of the data ensured by the guide. 

This information is then submitted to the camp’s Unit Leader (see below), who coordinates all data collection and communications with the AWDC Project Manager.   Should guests have photographs they are willing to share for research purposes they are then contacted by the Project Manager. 

Such a design allows for direct involvement in research by safari guests, capitalizes on the skills of guides while minimizing extra duties that could detract from their job, and improves communications and information exchange between the safari business and researchers for the good of wildlife.