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Wildlife Management

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/180917
This digital collection includes presentations given at the 9th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium held in 2016 for the symposium theme: Wildlife Management.

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Browsing Wildlife Management by Author "de Waal, HO, author"

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    Demography and morphometry of an important mesopredator (black-backed jackal - Canis mesomelas) in southern Africa
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016-09) de Waal, HO, author; Combrinck, Wliie, author; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
    Predation losses on livestock and wildlife ranches are more than ZAR 2 thousand million per year. The black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas is an important mesopredator in South Africa and Namibia and implicated for much of these losses. Despite control over decades, little is known about their demography and morphometry. Information was collected by farmers and specialist predator hunters during a period of 21 months. Time of year hunted (age relative to whelping), eruption of the permanent teeth and the wear of incisors were used to categorise 4 age groups: <0.5 years (pups), 0.5–1 years (juveniles), between 1–2 years (yearlings), and ≥2 years (adults). The 455 males and 411 females did not support the assumption that hunted (stressed) populations respond by producing more females to increase reproductive fitness of the species. Except for significantly more females in the age group 1-2 years (yearlings), their sex ratio was not skewed. Sexual dimorphism was evident with males weighing consistently more than same age females; the heaviest adult male and female weighed 12.5 kg and 11.5 kg, respectively. Growth and development of black-backed jackals occurred mostly in the first 6months of their lives, thereafter decreasing gradually. Sexual dimorphism was also displayed by morphometry and total body length, body length and tail length of males were consistently more than for females. Predation management of black-backed jackals must be informed by good knowledge of the interface between its biology and management; this information is now used to develop meaningful coordinated predation management strategies.
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    The iImpact of predation losses on beef cattle in South Africa
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016-09) Badenhorst, Conrad, author; van Niekerk, Walter, author; Strydom, Dirkie, author; Jordaan, Henry, author; de Waal, HO, author; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
    Predation losses on livestock farms and wildlife ranches in South Africa are poorly quantified. Recently predation losses on sheep and goats in five provinces were estimated at more than ZAR 1.39 thousand million annually. Predation losses were mostly ascribed to black-backed jackals Canis mesomelas and caracal Caracal caracal. In the present study predation losses for beef cattle in seven provinces were estimated at more than ZAR 383 million annually. The random sample of 1 344 beef cattle farmers ascribed predation losses mostly to black-backed jackals, followed (indifferent order of ranking for provinces) by leopard Panthera pardus, caracal, brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea, cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and vagrant dogs Canis familiaris. Only in Limpopo Province leopards were implicated as the major predator, followed by black-backed jackals. Beef cattle farmers have fewer methods available to manage predators than small livestock farmers. Non-lethal methods used were herdsmen, electric fences, kraaling, and livestock guard animals. The lethal methods included hunting (farmers and specialist hunters), cage traps, foothold traps, and hound packs. No non-lethal or lethal method, used individually or combined with other methods, served as a magic general solution for predation on beef cattle. The total direct and indirect costs of predation varied between provinces; for South Africa it was: total cost for lethal control – ZAR 39.522 million; total cost for non-lethal control – ZAR 89.175 million; total cost of predation losses – ZAR 254.447 million. This information is now being used to inform the development of meaningful coordinated predation management strategies.
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    The impact of predation losses on wildlife ranches in Limpopo Province, South Africa
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016-09) Schepers, Anche, author; van Niekerk, Walter, author; Matthews, Nicolette, author; de Waal, HO, author; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
    Predation losses on sheep and goats in five South African provinces were estimated at more than ZAR 1.39 thousand million annually and for beef cattle in seven provinces it was more than ZAR 383million per year. Predation losses have been ascribed to black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas, caracal Caracal caracal, leopard Panthera pardus, brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea, cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and vagrant dogs Canis familiaris. This study quantified predation losses on wildlife ranches, specifically the Limpopo Province. Management on wildlife ranches requires specific methods to assess changes in wildlife numbers, namely: physically counting of animals by means of aerial counting, drive census and known groups, Rand value (ZAR) based on live animal sales, trophy hunting, biltong hunting, comparing animal numbers with the previous year and the number of wildlife available to hunt. Baseline information was calculated for three different categories of wild antelope species. Wildlife ranchers can use the baseline information and calculate their own financial losses; for example: if nyalas Tragelaphus angasii are kept on 5 000 ha, the estimated total cost of predation losses is ZAR 593 765/year. Similarly, a wildlife rancher who keeps blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi on 12 000 ha can expect to incur a total cost of ZAR 668 103/year and for a wildlife rancher who keeps black impala Aepyceros melampus and Livingston eland Tragelaphus oryx on 6 000 ha, the total cost is ZAR 11 957 637/year. The information from these studies are now used to inform the development of meaningful coordinated predation management strategies.
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    The implementation of modern genetic improvement methods in wildlife
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016-09) Neser, Frederick, author; Fair, Mike, author; van Wyk, Japie, author; Lubout, Paul, author; Josling, Charné, author; de Waal, HO, author; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
    In recent times the economic value of wildlife has extended beyond merely hunting and eco-tourism. The demand for exotic and alternative meat sources worldwide has resulted in a shift on emphasis placed on the improvement of production and reproduction traits in the wildlife sector. This trend is in line with the current genetic improvement of commercial farm animals. However, the over emphasis placed on single trait selection, like horn length and colour, without considering the genetic correlations that exist between all possible traits, could have detrimental effect on the important traits of fertility and adaptation. Unfortunately these traits are normally difficult to measure, lowly heritable and negatively correlated with production. To overcome these obstacles it is necessary to have proper phenotypic and genomic data to implement modern genetic evaluation methodologies. To avoid mistakes made in the traditional livestock industry, the defining of sustainable and balanced selection goals is of paramount importance. Apart from the benefits of genetic improvement, conservation and diversity can also be maintained and improved, while inbreeding can be monitored and controlled.