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Results
Data from Snapshot Safari resulted in the following publications:
Citizen science, computing, and conservation: How can “Crowd AI” change the way we tackle large-scale ecological challenges?
Palmer et al. July 2021
Snapshot Safari: A large-scale collaborative to monitor Africa’s remarkable biodiversity
Pardo et al. January 2021
Brown Hyena
Brown hyena density estimates were calculated using spatially explicit capture-recapture analysis and estimated the brown hyena density to be 6-10 individuals/100 km2 (an absolute abundance of between 12 and 21 individuals), which is higher than densities calculated for brown hyenas in other arid, open systems. Scat analysis were used to gain information on the diet of brown hyenas in MZNP. In addition, cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and lion (Panthera leo) kill site data were used to investigate the impacts of these species on the diet of brown hyenas. Before the release of lions brown hyenas predominantly scavenged on medium-sized mammals, which was what the cheetahs mainly killed. However, after the release of the lions, brown hyenas predominantly scavenged on large mammals, which was what the lions primarily killed.
The results from this study indicated that brown hyenas are most likely reaching high densities in enclosed systems, due to increased scavenging opportunities provided by other large predators. The rapid increase of brown hyena densities from small founder populations in enclosed reserves could result in inbreeding. Therefore, in order to successfully conserve brown hyenas and other large carnivores in South Africa, continual post-release monitoring and possible implementation of meta-population management schemes is required.