Lion, wildebeest and zebra: A predator–prey model

In this paper, we describe our attempts to fit historical data from the Kruger National Park with a plausible one predator and two mutualistic prey model. Explicit examples of how a model is being developed, improved and tested are rare in literature. This is probably because of the many uncertainties, shortcomings in data, assumptions, speculations and intuitive decisions that form part of the process, which provokes a deep and well-founded fear of the resulting model being criticized. We investigate the effects of including or excluding various phenomena present in population interactions in order to mimic a real world situation. This allows for gaining insight into the behaviour of the system and possible projections of future trends that can be expected. We hope to set a simple yet practical example that may be useful to young researchers and in the educational situation, where computer models are progressively becoming an integral part.