The black-backed jackal (also called the silver-backed jackal) is easily recognized by the mantle of black hair on the back that contrasts with the rust-colored body. Destruction of habitat is the main threat to jackal populations.

Gosiame Neo-Mahupeleng
Large Carnivore Research Scientist
Kazungula Heartland, Botswana

 

Bio Photo

Throughout Africa, cows and goats make tempting meals for large carnivores like lions and hyenas. Unfortunately, the people whose livelihoods depend on that livestock often retaliate, which has led to a decline of the large predators.

That’s where Gosiame Neo-Mahupeleng comes in.

Neo-Mahupeleng leads AWF’s Large Carnivore Research Project, which works with communities to find ways to reduce the frequency of such occurrences. In order to do this, Neo-Mahupeleng and his team have documented the population sizes of lions, hyenas and wild dogs, and documented the levels of human-wildlife conflict in the northern portion of Chobe National Park (Botswana) and the Eastern Caprivi Strip (Namibia) in AWF’s Kazungula Heartland. Neo-Mahupeleng has been able to show that areas of high carnivore activity are positively correlated with the existence of protected areas and availability of water and negatively with areas of human population.

Furthermore, Neo-Mahupeleng's research has shown that hyenas were the species most prevalent in human-wildlife conflicts. He has also shown that conflicts occur in different areas under varying circumstances, meaning that mitigating measures will also have to vary from place to place.

Neo-Mahupeleng was awarded the 2006-2007 Charlotte Conservation Fellowship and stays committed to working with communities to reduce livestock predation as a key means to ensure the survival of large carnivores in the region.

> Read more about Neo-Mahupeleng's carnivore conservation.