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MacDonald, D.W.; Sillero-Zubiri, C.
Large carnivores and conflict: Lion conservation in context
2002 Conference Proceeding
From polar bear to least weasel, carnivores around the world evoke from people a paradoxical blend of enchantment and irritation. While, by their nature they can be problematic, costly or even dangerous, it is also obvious that they can be assets. The splendour of lions - the species that is the focus of our workshops - makes it obvious that they have high existence value. That is, they are worthwhile in themselves. More tangibly, however, any problems they may pose to people can be offset against their capacity to generate revenue. The balance of pros and cons attributable to carnivores varies from species to species, and with time and place. In the particular case of lions, the principal factors in the balance are, on the deficit side, risk to people and losses to livestock and game ranchers, and on the asset side, a stimulus to tourism. The African lion is regarded as the kingpin tourist attraction of Africa, whether for photo-tourism or trophy hunting - uses which are very different in both their biological and moral attributes.
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