Author(s)

T. D. Sagamiko^1*, N. Shaban², C. L. Nahonyo², O. D. Makinde³

¹Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
²Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
³Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

We develop a two-species prey-predator model in which prey is wildebeest and predator is lion. The threats to wildebeest are poaching and drought while to lion are retaliatory killing and drought. The system is found in the Serengeti ecosystem. Optimal control theory is applied to investigate optimal strategies for controlling the threats in the system where anti-poaching patrols are used for poaching, construction of strong bomas for retaliatory killing and construction of dams for drought control. The possible impact of using a combination of the three controls either one at a time or two at a time on the threats facing the system is also examined. We observe that the best result is achieved by using all controls at the same time, where a combined approach in tackling threats to yield optimal results is a good approach in the management of wildlife populations.

Optimal Control, Prey-Predator System, Threat, Poaching, Serengeti

Sagamiko, T. , Shaban, N. , Nahonyo, C. and Makinde, O. (2015) Optimal Control of a Threatened Wildebeest-Lion Prey-Predator System in the Serengeti Ecosystem. Open Journal of Ecology, 5, 110-119. doi: 10.4236/oje.2015.54010.