Assessing the Conservation Status of African lions, leopards and hyenas in Uganda

For the collection of faecal DNA, we will follow the spatially explicit capture re-capture DNA protocol of Gopalaswamy et al (2012). We will pre-select a series of 20-25 vehicle/game trails for faecal collection. Where trails do not exist, we will create a standardized linear transect (5 km in length). We will do this as species such as lions and hyenas regularly walk off trails and in open areas (Henry Brink pers.comm). Our field team, tracker and members of the WCS field team will collect faecal samples encountered in a 7ml test tube and these will be placed in a freezer (-20oC) within 4-6 hours of collection.