Abhatoo - Centre Nationale de Documentation

The M’Goun Geopark is the first geopark of Morocco, Africa and the Arab world. It constitutes the major part of the central High Atlas and it has a rich and varied geological and biological diversity. The objective of this study was to determine the current status of the mammalian carnivore species in this area and to propose recommendations for the protection of the threatened species. Results showed that at the end of the 20th century, the carnivores were represented by 11 species in the study area and one species, the Barbary Lion, was extirpated during 1930s and 1940s. Although 72% of the carnivore species of the central High Atlas are not threatened by extinction in their global range, 54% of them are threatened in Morocco. Results of interviews showed that 100% of the interviewees confirmed the panther and the serval were extirpated from this area and the majority of the interviewees confirmed that the Egyptian mongoose and the striped hyena were extirpated too. Results also showed that the common genet becomes rare, the Eurasian otter and the wild cat become less abundant, and only the golden jackal, the African wolf, the red fox and the least weasel are still relatively abundant. Results showed that there is an increasing in the local people-carnivore conflict. The extinction and decline of the carnivore species have negative impacts on ecosystems and on economical activities of local people. To conserve native carnivores of the central High Atlas, urgent measures may need to be taken.