Owning cattle has got to be hard work. Not only do you have to feed them and provide them an adequate environment, but you also must know how to keep them safe from predators.
Unguarded Cattle are Common Targets for Lions
Although coyotes account for almost half of predation deaths of cattle, lions are yet another common predator.
This Results in Annual Compensation Claims of About $40,400 a Year in the United States
Or approximately $320 for each livestock owner
Hiding from Lions is Difficult in Botswana
Even outside of the United States, cows’ safety from lions is a big problem.
The Issue is Getting Worse
“As protected conservation areas become smaller, lions are increasingly coming into contact with human populations, which are expanding to the boundaries of these protected areas,” said a conservation biologist from UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science named Dr. Neil Jordan.
Unfortunately, There Isn’t a Non-Lethal Way for Farmers to Deter the Aggressive Lions
Normally, the only way the farmers could intervene is if they injured or even killed the attacker through poisoning or striking them with a firearm.
Not to Mention, the African Lion Species is in Grave Danger
That being said, it’d make complete sense why farmers wouldn’t want to harm a lion targeting their herd.
But Painting Eyes on Cows’ Butts Seems to Do the Trick!
It sounds completely crazy, but painting a pair of fake eyes on the behinds of cows is believed to help stop lions from attacking cows.
It Makes Sense Why
“Lions are ambush hunters, so they creep up on their prey, get close and jump on them unseen. But in this case, the impala noticed the lion. And when the lion realized it had been spotted, it gave up on the hunt,” Dr. Jordan explained.
A Study is Currently Being Conducted
A third of a 62-cattle herd had eyes painted on their behinds to test how effective the solution really is. Jordan will return to Botswana in mid-July to study the results.
If this simple solution is effective, it could be a complete game-changer for cattle owners.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
