Impact by bomas on the distribution of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Mara Region, Kenya

The aim of this study is to find out if, and in what way the Maasai pastoralists affect the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) through Bomas (Maasai settlement) and keeping of livestock. The study was carried out in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the adjoining group ranch, Koyake GR, in South-western Kenya. Data was assembled through transect driving, with instantaneous scan sample during two seasons, December 2003 and May-June 2004. Study area contained 12 bomas with three different type of transects each: T1 (0.5 km from boma), T2 (3 km from boma) and T3 (5.5 km from boma), to create a gradual decline in human and livestock impact. Results show that there are differences in the hyena's utilisation of transect type during the day and during the night. The spotted hyena tend to avoid transects close to the boma during the day time, but go there during the night time. This could be an indication of impact from human activity. As previous studies demonstrate, hyenas tend to avoid pastoralists on foot with livestock. Results found here indicate that hyenas also avoid Maasai settlements during day time. The conflict between and impact of Maasai pastoralists, may not be large at the moment, since the behaviour plasticity of the hyena reduces this impact through adaptations. But change is on its way, pastoralism and group ranch system is gradually being replaced by private owned land and cultivation. Due to these changes in utilisation of the land that have occurred after gathering of the data it would be very interesting to conduct the same study again, to see if the impact has increased

Feline stress

Group-housing of domestic cats (Felis silvestris lybica) may induce a stress response with consequences such as cats developing infectious disease or problem behaviours. Still, there is no validated behavioural protocol to assess stress in cats. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of group-housing of cats, and how this can be assessed non-invasively, by advancing a behavioural assessment tool. In Study I, frequency of group-housing and related issues such as management was investigated using a survey sent to Swedish shelters. The majority of shelters practised group-housing and had routines and/or protocols for management and care. Despite a high rate of group-housing, many shelters reported low occurrence of disease. In Study II suitability of saliva sampling as a non-invasive method to assay cortisol in naïve awake shelter cats was investigated by association with plasma cortisol levels and prevalence of respiratory disease. Few samples yielded enough saliva for analysis and there was no correlation with plasma cortisol levels. Few cats tested positive for respiratory agents. In Study III cats housed in groups or singly were observed to investigate which stress related behavioural elements (BEs) can predict time from available for adoption until adoption (Time at Shelter). Fourteen BEs could predict short and nine long time until adoption. Significantly fewer BEs were recorded in single-housed cats, so housing in itself seems to have an effect on the possibility to use the BEs to assess cats. In Study IV research cats kept under stable conditions, in stable groups, were observed using repeated measures to investigate stability of the BEs found to predict Time at Shelter. Close to 80% were stable in 75% of the cats. Group-housing is common in Swedish shelters, but does not necessary result in negative consequences. Salivary cortisol was not suitable for studies on cats not trained for sample collection. The majority of the BEs associated with Time at Shelter were stable within an individual and were used to develop a first version of the further advanced assessment tool to determine coping in group-housed cats