(Panthera leo)

Problem animals emerge in human-dominated landscapes or in nature-culture borderlands where humans and animals struggle to co-exist. African lions (Panthera leo) become problem lions when they prey upon livestock. Problem lions are frequently killed in retaliation for livestock depredation and are often collared and tracked by conservation biologists who monitor problem individuals in an attempt to mitigate their behaviour. Human-lion conflict prevail in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the borderlands of parks and protected areas.

Sandra McCubbin joined our research team as a doctoral student in 2015. Previously, she completed a Masters degree in Geography focused on how Pacific Island communities experience the impacts the climate change. Sandra’s PhD project explores the 'spectacular environmentalism' of Cecil the Lion, and her research was generously supported by a Vanier Scholarship.