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Factors affecting livestock guarding dogs’ proximity to their herd and association with perceived effectiveness. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Raphela TD, Pillay N. Quantifying the nutritional and income loss caused by crop raiding in a rural African subsistence farming community in South Africa. JAMBA (POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA) 2021; 13:1040. [PMID: 34917283 PMCID: PMC8661414 DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Globally, crop damage by wildlife contributes to food insecurity through the direct loss of food and income. We investigated the calories lost and the potential economic impact of crop raiding at subsistence homesteads abutting the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, and assessed mitigation measures to combat crop raiding. We quantified the seasonal loss of calories (kJ/g) of four common crops, namely, beetroot, common bean, maize, and spinach, and determined the seasonal potential income loss. We used a stratified sampling approach to sample the homesteads. We found that season, crop type and the interaction between season and crop type predicted relative calorie loss and potential income loss, with the highest income loss recorded for spinach in the dry season. Significant differences were found for the potential income loss for all crop types in the wet season, and for the interaction between the crop types (maize, spinach) and the wet season. Farm slope was also a significant predictor of the relative calorie loss. Crop raiding animals, crops raided and distance of farms from the reserve all had a significant effect on the choice of mitigation measures of farmers. The highest relative calorie loss was for maize during the dry season, which could affect the subsistence farmers by reducing their daily calorie intake. This has an impact on their food security, especially during the dry season. Moreover, the most preferred mitigation measure used by farmers can have opportunity costs. These results have important implications for food security policies and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tlou D Raphela
- Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Allan ATL, Bailey AL, Hill RA. Consistency in the flight and visual orientation distances of habituated chacma baboons after an observed leopard predation. Do flight initiation distance methods always measure perceived predation risk? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15404-15416. [PMID: 34765186 PMCID: PMC8571578 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Flight initiation distance (FID) procedures are used to assess the risk perception animals have for threats (e.g., natural predators, hunters), but it is unclear whether these assessments remain meaningful if animals have habituated to certain human stimuli (e.g., researchers, tourists). Our previous work showed that habituated baboons displayed individually distinct and consistent responses to human approaches, a tolerance trait, but it is unknown if the trait is resilient to life-threatening scenarios. If it were consistent, it would imply FIDs might measure specific human threat perception only and not generalize to other threats such as predators when animals have experienced habituation processes. We used FID procedures to compare baseline responses to the visual orientation distance, FID, and individual tolerance estimates assessed after a leopard predation on an adult male baboon (group member). All variables were consistent despite the predation event, suggesting tolerance to observers was largely unaffected by the predation and FID procedures are unlikely to be generalizable to other threats when habituation has occurred. FID approaches could be an important tool for assessing how humans influence animal behavior across a range of contexts, but careful planning is required to understand the type of stimuli presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. L. Allan
- Department of AnthropologyDurham UniversityDurhamUK
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
| | - Annie L. Bailey
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
| | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of AnthropologyDurham UniversityDurhamUK
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of VendaThohoyandouSouth Africa
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Non-invasive diagnostic PCRs for rapid detection of golden jackal, red fox, and gray wolf/domestic dog and application to validate golden jackal presence in Styria, Austria. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01488-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHuman-predator conflicts are frequently caused by livestock and/or game depredation. The golden jackal’s (Canis aureus) range expansion in Europe, as well as the recent re-expansion of several gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations, might increase risk of such conflicts. In Austria, golden jackal presence has been increasing since the 1990s including reports of wildlife and livestock kills, frequently occurring in the provinces Styria and Burgenland. We developed a rapid, two-step genetic screening protocol to (1) detect canid mtDNA from non-invasively collected samples like swabs from kills using diagnostic PCRs, and (2) assign this DNA to red fox (Vulpes vulpes), golden jackal, or gray wolf/dog. To monitor golden jackal presence in the region, a total of 167 signs of presence were collected over a period of 30 months throughout the Styrian province. Among these, 14 non-invasive genetic samples (13 swabs from kill sites and one scat) were screened with the developed protocol. Four of these samples revealed golden jackal mtDNA and six samples red fox mtDNA. The developed genetic screening protocol represents a quick and inexpensive method to assess canid presence, e.g., at kill sites, and therefore possesses high value for the conservation and wildlife management community.
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LaBarge LR, Allan AT, Berman CM, Margulis SW, Hill RA. Reactive and pre-emptive spatial cohesion in a social primate. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Dai Y, Xue Y, Hacker CE, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Liu F, Li D. Human-carnivore conflicts and mitigation options in Qinghai province, China. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2019.125776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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7
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Metabarcoding-based dietary analysis of hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) in Great Britain using buccal swabs from chicks. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Faure JPB, Holmes NJ, Watson LH, Hill RA. Brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) diet composition from Zingela Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2019.1600430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Philip B Faure
- Department of Nature Conservation, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George South Africa
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, South Africa
| | - Nadine J Holmes
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, South Africa
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence H Watson
- Department of Nature Conservation, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George South Africa
| | - Russell A Hill
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, South Africa
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de Raad AL, Hill RA. Topological spatial representation in wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). Anim Cogn 2019; 22:397-412. [PMID: 30852737 PMCID: PMC6459790 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01253-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Many species orient towards specific locations to reach important resources using different cognitive mechanisms. Some of these, such as path integration, are now well understood, but the cognitive orientation mechanisms that underlie movements in non-human primates remain the subject of debate. To investigate whether movements of chacma baboons are more consistent with Euclidean or topological spatial awareness, we investigated whether baboons made repeated use of the same network of pathways and tested three predictions resulting from the hypothesized use of Euclidean and topological spatial awareness. We recorded ranging behaviour of a group of baboons during 234 full days and 137 partial days in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa. Results show that our baboons travelled through a dense network of repeated routes. In navigating this route network, the baboons did not approach travel goals from all directions, but instead approached them from a small number of the same directions, supporting topological spatial awareness. When leaving travel goals, baboons' initial travel direction was significantly different from the direction to the next travel goal, again supporting topological spatial awareness. Although we found that our baboons travelled with similar linearity in the core area as in the periphery of their home range, this did not provide conclusive evidence for the existence of Euclidean spatial awareness, since the baboons could have accumulated a similar knowledge of the periphery as of the core area. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that our baboons navigate using a topological map.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Louise de Raad
- UHI Inverness College, University of the Highlands and Islands, 1 Inverness Campus, Inverness, IV2 5NA, UK.
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
| | - Russell A Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, Louis Trichardt, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
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Williams KS, Williams ST, Fitzgerald LE, Sheppard EC, Hill RA. Brown hyaena and leopard diets on private land in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa. Afr J Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn S. Williams
- Department of Anthropology; Durham University; Durham UK
- Primate and Predator Project; Louis Trichardt South Africa
| | - Samual T. Williams
- Department of Anthropology; Durham University; Durham UK
- Primate and Predator Project; Louis Trichardt South Africa
- Department of Zoology; University of Venda; Thohoyandou South Africa
- Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (IGDORE)
| | - Leanne E. Fitzgerald
- Department of Anthropology; Durham University; Durham UK
- Primate and Predator Project; Louis Trichardt South Africa
| | | | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of Anthropology; Durham University; Durham UK
- Primate and Predator Project; Louis Trichardt South Africa
- Department of Zoology; University of Venda; Thohoyandou South Africa
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Williams ST, Williams KS, Lewis BP, Hill RA. Population dynamics and threats to an apex predator outside protected areas: implications for carnivore management. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:161090. [PMID: 28484625 PMCID: PMC5414262 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.161090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Data on the population dynamics and threats to large carnivores are vital to conservation efforts, but these are hampered by a paucity of studies. For some species, such as the leopard (Panthera pardus), there is such uncertainty in population trends that leopard trophy hunting has been banned in South Africa since 2016 while further data on leopard abundance are collected. We present one of the first assessments of leopard population dynamics, and identify the key threats to a population of leopards outside of protected areas in South Africa. We conducted a long-term trap survey between 2012 and 2016 in the Soutpansberg Mountains, and drew on a previous estimate of leopard population density for the region from 2008. In 24 sampling periods, we estimated the population density and assessed population structure. We fitted eight leopards with GPS collars to assess threats to the population. Leopard population density declined by 66%, from 10.73 to 3.65 leopards per 100 km2 in 2008 and 2016, respectively. Collared leopards had a high mortality rate, which appeared to be due to illegal human activity. While improving the management of trophy hunting is important, we suggest that mitigating human-wildlife conflict could have a bigger impact on carnivore conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samual T. Williams
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
- e-mail:
| | - Kathryn S. Williams
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa
| | - Bradley P. Lewis
- Primate and Predator Project, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa
- Bainbridge Island School District, 8489 Madison Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
| | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
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