Large carnivore movement patterns differ between demographics in response to human activity

Abstract Individuals of different demographics could exhibit varying behavioral responses to risks, including those posed by anthropogenic activities. However, few studies have explored how these demographic differences affect responses to human-induced changes. To address this, we hypothesized that dispersing male lions ( Panthera leo ) and territorial female lions would show distinct movement patterns in response to human activity, with dispersing males displaying more reactive behavior due to unfamiliarity with their environment. We tested this hypothesis by deploying GPS collars on nine dispersing males and five territorial females in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. We analyzed how human activity influenced the lions’ movement probability, speed, and turn angles, and whether these responses varied between demographics. Human activity was highest during the day, particularly outside protected wildlife areas. Our findings revealed that dispersing males moved faster and in straighter lines when outside wildlife areas, compared to territorial females, who were more likely to remain stationary. These differences may stem from familiarity: territorial females, moving within their established home ranges, may pre-emptively respond to risks, while dispersing males may respond reactively to as they navigating novel environments. These demographic-specific responses to anthropogenic factors can lead to uneven fitness costs within a species. Our study contributes to the growing evidence that demographic differences should be considered when studying species-specific behaviors, particularly in ecological and conservation contexts.