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Business of Conservation

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/100286

This digital collection includes presentations given at the 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium held in 2014 for the symposium theme: Business of Conservation.

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Browsing Business of Conservation by Author "Perry, T. W., speaker"

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    How does land use affect the relative abundance of two mesopredators in the, Eastern Cape, South Africa?
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Parker, D. M., speaker; Kok, A. D., speaker; Perry, T. W., speaker; van Hoven, Wouter, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    Livestock pastoralism and game ranching are the two dominant land use types in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and conflict between humans and medium sized carnivores is widespread. In this study, we used 12 spatially explicit (3 x 3) trail camera grids (3600ha), to assess the relative abundance indices (RAI) of two common predators; black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal). Camera grids were equally distributed across the two land use types. Over 19121 trap nights, 726 photographs of black-backed jackals and 81 photographs of caracals were taken. The RAI of jackals was significantly higher on game ranches than livestock farms (U = 109; df = 1; p < 0.05). In contrast, the RAI of caracals was similar on the two land use types (U = 73; df = 1; p > 0.05). While the two mesopredators are actively removed by managers on both land-use types, removal rates are higher on livestock farms than game ranches. Thus, monogamous, pair-bonded black-backed jackals may be more sensitive to the effects of predator control than solitary caracals. The merits of predator removal as a conflict mitigation strategy are discussed.