Professor Amy Dickman

Director

Kaplan Senior Research Fellow in Felid Conservation, Pembroke College

I first joined WildCRU in 1997 after completing a B.Sc. degree in Zoology from the University of Liverpool. Through WildCRU, I worked for 5 years with Laurie Marker at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, investigating cheetah and leopard ecology, as well as methods of mitigating human-cheetah conflict. I then completed an M.Sc. at the University of Oxford, investigating the determinants of human-carnivore conflict in Tanzania; work that I developed further for my Ph.D. from UCL. I rejoined WildCRU in 2009 and established its Ruaha Carnivore Project, which aims to research large carnivore ecology and reduce human-carnivore conflict around Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape. This vast wilderness of over 50,000km²is centred around Ruaha National Park, which is the largest Park in East Africa and one of the most significant remaining landscapes for lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs and other threatened carnivores. However, the area has been extremely understudied, and WildCRU’s Ruaha Carnivore Project is the only project focused on carnivore research and conservation in this critically important area.

I run a team of over 50 people (almost all Tanzanians), and we conduct ecological research into large carnivores across the Ruaha landscape, and develop and implement cutting-edge conflict mitigation strategies. We were the first project to trial the use of specialised Anatolian Shepherd livestock guarding dogs in East Africa, and we use a variety of approaches to reduce carnivore attacks and provide community benefits from the presence of carnivores and other wildlife. The Ruaha area used to have an extremely high rate of lion killing, but we have seen a significant decline in both carnivore attacks and retaliatory killings in the core study area, so are now focused on continuing and expanding our work.

I am a member of the African Lion Working Group, the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, a founding member of the Pride Lion Conservation Alliance, a National Geographic Explorer and have published over 45 articles and book chapters on large carnivore conservation. I helped create the Global Cheetah Action Plan, the Regional Conservation Strategies for cheetahs and African wild dogs in Eastern and Southern Africa, and National Action Plans for cheetahs and other carnivores in Kenya, Tanzania and Southern Sudan. I was fortunate enough to be awarded the 2011 Rabinowitz-Kaplan Award for the Next Generation in Wild Cat Conservation, and be a finalist for the 2014 Tusk Conservation Award – a brief overview of the project made for the Tusk Award can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAxx8dAIrCU

Links:

www.ruahacarnivoreproject.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruaha-Carnivore-Project/116298238442772

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fNMENFskuE

https://news.mongabay.com/2013/09/protecting-predators-in-the-wildest-landscape-youve-never-heard-of/

Selected Publications

Abade, L., Macdonald, D.W., Dickman, A.J., 2014a. Assessing the relative importance of landscape and husbandry factors in determining large carnivore depredation risk in Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape. Biological Conservation 180, 241-248.
Abade, L., Macdonald, D.W., Dickman, A.J., 2014b. Using Landscape and Bioclimatic Features to Predict the Distribution of Lions, Leopards and Spotted Hyaenas in Tanzania’s Ruaha Landscape. PLoS ONE 9, e96261.
Braczkowski, A.R., Balme, G.A., Dickman, A., Fattebert, J., Johnson, P., Dickerson, T., Macdonald, D.W., Hunter, L., 2016. Scent Lure Effect on Camera-Trap Based Leopard Density Estimates. PLoS ONE 11, e0151033.
Braczkowski, A.R., Balme, G.A., Dickman, A., Macdonald, D.W., Fattebert, J., Dickerson, T., Johnson, P., Hunter, L., 2015a. Who Bites the Bullet First? The Susceptibility of Leopards Panthera pardus to Trophy Hunting. PLoS ONE 10, e0123100.
Braczkowski, A.R., Balme, G.A., Dickman, A., Macdonald, D.W., Johnson, P.J., Lindsey, P.A., Hunter, L.T.B., 2015b. Rosettes, Remingtons and Reputation: Establishing potential determinants of leopard (Panthera pardus) trophy prices across Africa. African Journal of Wildlife Research 45, 158-168.
Crosier, A.E., Pukazhenthi, B.S., Henghali, J.N., Howard, J.G., Dickman, A.J., Marker, L., Wildt , D.E., 2006. Cryopreservation of spermatozoa from wild-born Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and influence of glycerol on cryosurvival. Cryobiology 52, 169-181.
Cusack, J., Dickman, A.J., Rowcliffe, J.M., Carbone, C., Macdonald, D.W., Coulson, T., 2015a. Random versus trail-based camera trap placement for monitoring terrestrial mammal communities: revealing two faces of the same coin? PLoS ONE 10, e0126373.
Cusack, J.J., Swanson, A., Coulson, T., Packer, C., Carbone, C., Dickman, A.J., Kosmala, M., Lintott, C., Rowcliffe, J.M., 2015b. Applying a random encounter model to estimate lion density from camera traps in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The Journal of Wildlife Management 79, 1014-1021.
Dickman, A., 2010. Complexities of conflict: the importance of considering social factors for effectively resolving human–wildlife conflict. Animal Conservation 13, 458-466.
Dickman, A., Hazzah, L., Carbone, C., Durant, S., 2014. Carnivores, culture and ‘contagious conflict’: Multiple factors influence perceived problems with carnivores in Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape. Biological Conservation 178, 19-27.
Dickman, A., Marchini, S., Manfredo, M., 2013. The importance of the human dimension in addressing conflict with large carnivores, In Key Topics in Conservation Biology (2). eds D.W. Macdonald, K. Willis, pp. 110-126. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.
Dickman, A.J., 2012. From Cheetahs to Chimpanzees: A Comparative Review of the Drivers of Human-Carnivore Conflict and Human-Primate Conflict. Folia Primatologica 83, 377-387.
Dickman, A.J., 2015. Large carnivores and conflict in Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape, In Conflicts in Conservation: Navigating Towards Solutions. eds S.M. Redpath, R.J. Gutierrez, K.A. Wood, J.C. Young, pp. 30-32. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. .
Dickman, A.J., Hazzah, L., in press. Money, Myths and Man-eaters: Complexities of human-wildlife conflict, In Problematic Wildlife. ed. F. Angelici.
Dickman, A.J., Hinks, A.E., Macdonald, E.A., Burnham, D., Macdonald, D.W., 2015a. Global Priorities for Felid Conservation. Conservation Biology 29, 854-864.
Dickman, A.J., Johnson, P.J., van Kesteren, F., Macdonald, D.W., 2015b. The Moral Basis for Conservation: How is it Affected by Culture? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 13, 325-331.
Dickman, A.J., Macdonald, E.A., Macdonald, D.W., 2011. A review of financial instruments to pay for predator conservation and encourage human-carnivore coexistence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 108, 13937-13944.
Durant, S., Becker, M., Creel, S., Bashir, S., Dickman, A., Beudels-Jamar, R., Lichtenfeld, L., Hilborn, R., Wall, J., Wittemyer, G., Badamjav, L., Blake, S., Boitani, L., Breitenmoser, C., Broekhuis, F., Christianson, D., Cozzi, G., Davenport, T.R.B., Deutsch, J., Devillers, P., Dollar, L., Dolrenry, S., Douglas-Hamilton, I., Droge, E., Fitzherbert, E., Foley, C., Hazzah, L., Hopcraft, J.G.C., Ikanda, D., Jacobson, A., Joubert, D., Kelly, M.J., Milanzi, J., Mitchell, N., M’Soka, J., Msuha, M., Mweetwa, T., Nyahongo, J., Rosenblatt, E., Schuette, P., Sillero-Zubiri, C., Sinclair, A.R.E., Stanley-Price, M.R., Zimmermann, A., Pettorelli, N., 2015. Developing fencing policies for dryland ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology.
Durant, S.M., Dickman, A.J., Maddox, T., Waweru, M., Pettorelli, N., 2010. Past, present and future of cheetah in Tanzania: from long term study to conservation strategy, In Biology and conservation of wild felids. eds D.W. Macdonald, A.J. Loveridge, pp. 373-382. Oxford University Press Oxford, U.K. .
Lindsey, P., Balme, G., Becker, M., Begg, C., Bento, C., Bocchino, C., Dickman, A., Diggle, R., Eves, H., Henschel, P., Lewis, D., Marnewick, K., Mattheus, J., McNutt, J.W., McRobb, R., Midlane, N., Milanzi, J., Morley, R., Murphree, M., Opyene, V., Phadima, J., Purchase, N., Rentsch, D., Roche, C., Shaw, J., van der Westhuizen, H., van Vliet, N., Zisadza, P., 2013. The bushmeat trade in African savannas: Impacts, drivers and possible solutions. Biological Conservation 160, 80-96.
Macdonald, D.W., Johnson, P.J., Loveridge, A.J., Burnham, D., Dickman, A.J., 2016. Conservation or the moral high ground: Siding with Bentham or Kant. Conservation Letters, n/a-n/a.
Macdonald, E.A., Burnham, D., Hinks, A., Dickman, A.J., Yadvinder, M., Macdonald, D.W., 2015. Conservation inequality and the charismatic cat: Felis felicis. Global Ecology and Conservation 3, 851-866.
Marker, L., Dickman, A., 2003a. Conserving Cheetahs Outside Protected Areas: An Example from Namibian Farmlands. Cat News 38, 24-25.
Marker, L., Dickman, A., 2004a. Human Aspects of Cheetah Conservation: Lessons Learned from Namibian Farmlands. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 9, 1-9.
Marker, L., Dickman, A., Schumann, M., 2005a. Using Livestock Guarding Dogs as a Conflict Resolution Strategy on Namibian Farms. Carnivore Damage Prevention News 8, 28-32.
Marker, L., Dickman, A.J., Mills, M.G.L., Macdonald, D.W., 2010a. Cheetahs and ranchers in Namibia: a case study, In Biology and conservation of wild felids. eds D.W. Macdonald, A.J. Loveridge, pp. 353-372. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., 2003b. Morphology, physical condition and growth of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus). Journal of Mammalogy 84, 840-850.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., 2004b. Dental anomalies and incidence of palatal erosion in Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus). Journal of Mammalogy 85, 13-18.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., 2005a. Factors affecting leopard (Panthera pardus) spatial ecology, with particular reference to Namibian farmlands. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 35, 105-115.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., 2005b. Notes on the spatial ecology of caracals (Felis caracal), with particular reference to Namibian farmlands. African Journal of Ecology 43, 73-76.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Jeo, R.M., Mills, M.G.L., Macdonald, D.W., 2003a. Demography of the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus). Biological Conservation 114, 413-425.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Macdonald, D.W., 2005b. Perceived effectiveness of livestock guarding dogs placed on Namibian farms. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58, 329-336.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Macdonald, D.W., 2005c. Survivorship and Causes of Mortality for Livestock Guarding Dogs on Namibian Rangeland. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58, 337-343.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Mills, M.G.L., Jeo, R.M., Macdonald, D.W., 2008. Spatial ecology of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) on north-central Namibian farmlands. Journal of Zoology, London 274, 226-238
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Mills, M.G.L., Macdonald, D.W., 2003b. Aspects of the management of cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, trapped on Namibian farmlands. Biological Conservation 114, 401-412.
Marker, L.L., Dickman, A.J., Mills, M.G.L., Macdonald, D.W., 2010b. Cheetahs and ranchers in Namibia: A case study, In Biology and conservation of wild felids. eds D.W. Macdonald, A.J. Loveridge, pp. 353-372. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. .
Marker, L.L., Muntifering, J.R., Dickman, A.J., Mills, M.G.L., Macdonald, D.W., 2003c. Quantifying prey preferences of free-ranging Namibian cheetahs. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 33, 43-53.
McManus, J., Dickman, A., Gaynor, D., Smuts, B., Macdonald, D., 2014a. Dead or alive? Comparing costs and benefits of lethal and non-lethal human–wildlife conflict mitigation on livestock farms. Oryx, doi 10, S0030605313001610.
McManus, J.S., Dalton, D., Kotze, A., Smuts, B., Dickman, A., Marshal, J., Keith, M., 2014b. Gene flow and population structure of a solitary top carnivore in a human-dominated landscape. Ecology and Evolution.
Muntifering, J.R., Dickman, A.J., Perlow, L.M., Hruska, T., Marker, L.L., Ryan, P.G., Jeo, R.M., 2006. Managing the matrix for large carnivores: a novel approach and perspective from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) habitat suitability modelling. Animal Conservation 9, 103-112.
Riggio, J., Jacobson, A., Dollar, L., Bauer, H., Becker, M., Dickman, A., Funston, P., Groom, R., Henschel, P., de Iongh, H., Lichtenfeld, L., Pimm, S., 2013. The size of savannah Africa: a lion’s (Panthera leo) view. Biodiversity and Conservation 22, 17-35.

Projects

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<> at Claridge's Hotel on November 25, 2014 in London, England.