Painting Eyes on The Butts of Cattle Can Protect Them From Lions, Research Shows
▻https://www.sciencealert.com/lions-are-less-likely-to-attack-cattle-with-eyes-painted-on-their-back
Possible limitations
First, it is important to realise that, in our experimental design, there were always unmarked cattle in the herd. Consequently, it is unclear whether painting would still be effective if these proverbial “sacrificial lambs” were not still on the menu. Further research could uncover this, but in the meantime applying artificial marks to the highest-value individuals within the herd may be most pragmatic.
Second, it is important to consider habituation, meaning that predators may get used to and eventually ignore the deterrent. This is a fundamental issue for nearly all non-lethal approaches. Whether the technique remains effective in the longer term is not yet known in this case.
