É possível integrar pecuária à conservação da biodiversidade? Estudo de casos de depredação de ovinos por onça-parda (Puma concolor)

In several parts of Latin America, the expansion of agriculture over the years has caused loss and reduction of wild fauna natural habitat. Recently, deaths of sheep and cattle have increased due to predation by large carnivores and the resulting retaliation by farmers on predators. Consequently, populations of these top predators have been reduced or have got even locally extinct, leading to imbalances on ecosystems, altered because of the carnivore effects on prey dinamics. The objective of this study is to analyse sheep depredation by puma (Puma concolor), in Central Brazil and in the Colombian Andes and point out preventive and mitigating measures that can be implemented in rural areas. From 2005 to 2014, we visited a ranch in Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso, Brazil for diagnostic purposes and we compared the death of sheep from diseases and depredation attacks. In 2014, we visited a rural area in the central region of Departamento del Valle del Cauca, at 2814m of altitude in the Colombian Andes, to diagnose sheep predation, implement preventive measures, and evaluate their effectiveness. The results reveal that economic losses due to predation are critical on both studied regions and similar to losses by diseases in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Thus, we recommend the integration of health management, preventive measures as well as mitigation of depredatory attacks at the local scale and we discuss potential sustainable measures that can be locally implemented by farmers. Furthermore, we recommend that public policies should incorporate scientific results on human-wildlife conflicts to be effective, considering both livestock management and biodiversity conservation. © 2018 Colegio Brasileiro de Patologia Animal. All rights reserved

Reconciling biome-wide conservation of an apex carnivore with land-use economics in the increasingly threatened Pantanal wetlands

Conservation of carnivores involves finding solutions to minimize habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. Understanding the nature of land-use economics can allow us to mitigate both threats. In the Pantanal, the two main economic activities are cattle ranching and ecotourism, each of which directly and indirectly affect the persistence of jaguars (Panthera onca). To understand how the geography of these economic activities is related to jaguar populations, we developed a jaguar distribution model (JDM), livestock density model, and ecotourism lodge density model for the Pantanal. Due to the recent wildfires within the Pantanal, we also assess the impact of burnt areas that are suitable for jaguars, cattle ranching, and tourism. Our JDM indicate that 64% of the Pantanal holds suitable habitat for jaguars. However, jaguar habitat suitability was positively correlated with ecotourism, but negatively correlated with areas most suitable for intensive cattle-ranching. This demonstrates a biome-wide scenario compatible with jaguar conservation. Of particular concern, recent wildfires overlap most suitable areas for jaguars. If wildfires become increasingly frequent, this would represent a serious threat to jaguars and many other wildlife populations. We emphasize the global importance of the Pantanal wetland ecoregion as a key stronghold for long-term jaguar conservation

CATTLE RANCHING AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AS ALLIES IN SOUTH AMERICA’S FLOODED SAVANNAS

Cattle ranching in Latin America supports wildlife conservation. Ranching probably represents one of the few land uses in which we can advance conservation goals. The approximately 950,000 km2 of Bolivian, Brazilian, Paraguayan, Colombian, and Venezuelan savannas that are privately owned and dedicated to meat production provide a model for conservation programs. We present a geographic and historical description that covers several centuries and ends with descriptions of seven successful cattle ranches (three in the Venezuelan Llanos and four in the Brazilian Pantanal) where cattle ranching, ecotourism, and wildlife conservation coexist. These three activities support each other: tourism creates additional income for cattle ranchers while promoting protection of natural heritage and wildlife research

Cougars (Puma concolor) Killed by North American Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)

Predation is inherently risky, and Cougars (Puma concolor) are occasionally injured while hunting prey. Between 2001 and 2015, we documented the cause of death of 59 Cougars (22 subadults and 37 adults) in the Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem, Wyoming. Here we report on 2 animals (9% of subadult mortalities) killed as a result of complications after hunting North American Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum). We also report an observation of a Cougar killed in Venezuela by quills of a Prehensile-tailed Porcupine (Coendou prehensilis). Porcupines may kill and wound more Cougars than previously suspected and may be an important cause of mortality, at least for subadult animals

Retrato biográfico de Dieter Plasse

Biographical portrait of Dieter PlasseSemblanza biográfica de Dieter PlasseRetrato biográfico de Dieter Plass

É possível integrar pecuária à conservação da biodiversidade? Estudo de casos de depredação de ovinos por onça-parda (Puma concolor)

RESUMO: Em diversas partes da América Latina, a perda e diminuição do habitat natural de animais silvestres ocorre em função do aumento das atividades agropecuárias. Nos últimos anos o número de mortes de animais de criação por depredação tem aumentado, bem como a consequente retaliação aos predadores. Como resultado destas ações, ocorre à extinção ou redução das populações destes predadores de topo, provocando perdas ecológicas. Esse estudo teve como objetivo apontar medidas preventivas e mitigatórias da depredação de ovinos por onça-parda (Puma concolor). Através da análise de dois estudos de casos de depredação no Centro-Oeste brasileiro e na região dos Andes Colombianos, levantamos soluções alternativas sustentáveis para que profissionais e criadores possam se prevenir desta ameaça ao rebanho ovino. Um estudo de caso foi realizado em fazenda no município de Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso. Entre os anos 2005 e 2014 houve visitas na propriedade para diagnóstico de doenças e realizou-se estudo comparativo da quantidade de mortes por doenças com as mortes por depredação. No ano de 2010 ocorreu um ataque depredatório que resultou em morte de seis ovinos. Em 2014, realizou-se um estudo na região central do Departamento del Valle del Cauca, há 2814m de altitude nos Andes colombianos, para diagnosticar a depredação de gado na região e implementar medidas para prevenir sua ocorrência e avaliar sua eficácia. No total, foram implementadas medidas anti-depredação sobre oito propriedades, e entre elas, um curral com cerca elétrica para ovelhas foi implementada em uma fazenda no município de Tuluá. Os resultados mostram que as perdas econômicas por depredação são graves nas duas regiões estudadas e se equiparam a perdas por doenças no estudo de caso em Mato Grosso, Brasil. Portanto recomenda-se a combinação entre o manejo sanitário, métodos de prevenção e, se necessário, mitigação de ataques depredatório. Além disso, legisladores devem se associar a pesquisadores para traçar estratégias efetivas para esse sério problema na América Latina

Drivers of large carnivore density in non‐hunted, multi‐use landscapes

Abstract Protected areas serve as population strongholds for many large carnivores, with multi‐use landscapes along their borders forming the front‐lines of wildlife conservation. Understanding large carnivore population dynamics within working landscapes is difficult where anthropogenic mortality is high and unregulated. This study focused on working ranches, where killing jaguars (Panthera onca) and their prey was prohibited, to gain insight into jaguar population potential across multi‐use landscapes. Faced with forest fragmentation, presence of domestic livestock, and dynamic land‐use practices, we expected jaguar populations in working landscapes to be predominantly male and transient, with low cub production, and inflated population densities in remnant forest patches, versus protected areas where we expected native forest habitat and stable jaguar territories. Using camera traps and spatial‐capture recapture analyses, we observed that male jaguars demonstrated larger‐scale movements and were more detectable than females (0.07 ± 0.01 SE vs. 0.02 ± 0.01 SE) in both working and protected landscapes. Female jaguars in ranches traveled farther than females in parks. Carnivore density increased with forest cover and wild prey activity, decreased with domestic prey activity, and was marginally higher in ranches (4.08 individuals/100 km2 ± 0.73 SE) than in parks (3.59 individuals/100 km2 ± 0.64 SE). Females outnumbered males in both landscapes (2.20–2.60 females/100 km2 vs. ~1.60 males/100 km2), although local male density reached up to 11.00 males/100 km2 in ranches (vs. 3.50 males/100 km2 in parks). While overall jaguar density was patchier in protected areas (x̿ = 0.69 parks, 0.54 ranches), inter‐annual patchiness was higher within ranches (Moran's I = 0.49–0.60 ranches, 0.69–0.70 parks), reflecting changes in cattle management. Despite major habitat alterations, working landscapes can support carnivore densities equivalent to (or exceeding that of) unmodified forest habitat, provided that wildlife‐tolerant ranching practices are maintained