Research overview: retaliatory poisoning of big cats and the carbofuran problem

This overview examines retaliatory poisoning, a leading and indiscriminate cause of large-carnivore mortality, focusing on the misuse of agricultural pesticides such as carbofuran (sold as Furadan) laced into livestock carcasses to kill lions, leopards, and hyenas in East Africa. It reviews documented poisoning events, secondary mortality of vultures and other scavengers, and the cheapness and accessibility that make poison attractive to aggrieved herders. The literature connects poisoning to unaddressed depredation, weak compensation, and product availability, and discusses interventions including pesticide bans, retailer engagement, rapid carcass response teams, and husbandry support. The survey frames poisoning as a high-impact, ecosystem-wide conflict outcome.