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Coexistence between humans and carnivores enables the persistence or recovery of wildlife populations. In 2018, we conducted a survey in Kenya's Greater Mara Ecosystem to explore community attitudes toward the reestablishment of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) following their regional disappearance. Analyzing data from 60 households, we found that proximity to protected areas, land lease to conservancies, and risk perception significantly influenced people's tolerance of African wild dogs, as revealed by Generalized Linear Models. Notably, there were no instances of human attacks and 78% of respondents had not experienced livestock predation, indicating positive coexistence. Among those perceiving a risk, 37 out of 46 recognized livestock predation only occurred when livestock were unguarded during the day. These findings highlight the potential for coexistence and species recovery in this mixed-use landscape, emphasizing the importance of effective conservation education, livestock management, and economic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities and climate change are degrading wildlife habitats, making it crucial to assess suitability of remaining habitat for effective conservation and management of threatened wildlife. This study aimed to determine the variables influencing habitat selection and spatial distribution of caracal (Caracal caracal) in southwestern Iran from 2019 to 2020. Ensembles of Small Models (ESM) were used based on eight species distribution models that included a combination of statistical and machine learning methods (GLM, CTA, FDA, GBM, ANN, MARS, RF, and MaxEnt). The outputs of two ensemble models were hybridized by simple averaging. In ESM 1, distance to water resources was used as a representative of environmental variables and in ESM 2, annual precipitation was used as a representative of bioclimatic variables. In both ESMs, these variables were combined with ecological variables such as the distribution of wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and livestock. The average importance of the model variables for ESM 1 and ESM 2 showed that the distribution of wild goat and livestock were the most important factors in predicting suitable habitat for caracals, respectively. Habitat suitability was higher close to the distribution of wild goat and livestock, near water sources and during periods of higher precipitation. Probabilistic predictions of caracal presence based on the hybridization of ESM 1 and ESM 2 suggest that only 1.3 % (206 ha) of the study area was highly suitable habitat, while 58.4 % (9570 ha) was unsuitable. Based on the ensemble of binary presence-absence maps, caracals were certainly absent in 76.2 % (12,490 ha) of the area, while their presence was uncertain in 21.6 % (3536 ha). The presence of caracals was certain in 2.2 % (363 ha) of the study area. Awareness of the habitat and distribution of caracal can help to make better decisions towards conservation and management and also reduce its conflict with humans.

Background & Research Aims: Understanding how people and wildlife coexist is crucial to informing conservation and management of biodiverse areas, supporting both wildlife conservation and human well-being. Yet, most studies of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence focus on a limited number of wildlife species. Methods: This study characterizes patterns of reported human-wildlife conflict in the Okavango region of Botswana based on records for all species from the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (2008 – 2016). Results: The reported incidents implicated a diverse range of wildlife species in conflict. The patterns indicated that for conflicts like crop and property damage, only a few main species were implicated, while livestock damage reports had more diversity of conflict species. Additionally, people in this region faced wildlife challenges throughout the year. Conclusion & Implications for Conservation: Having such variable types and timing of conflict, and from diverse species, may make it particularly difficult for people to mitigate costs and prevent further conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) frequently prey on livestock throughout their range, posing a potential threat to human livelihoods and endangering the predator's own survival. In this study, we document seven incidents of snow leopards intruding into livestock corrals and engaging in surplus killing in three districts of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Six of the predation incidents were attributed to a single individual, occurring in five locations of Wakhan District and eventually in Yumgan District, where the captured animal was relocated. The remaining predation incident occurred in Keran-wa Munjan District, marking the first recorded evidence of snow leopards in this area. In all but one of the incidents, the predator was trapped in the corral it intruded and safely released back to the wild with the support of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) team in Afghanistan. Local communities have been supportive in releasing the snow leopard despite losses of over 50 livestock. To mitigate negative interactions between snow leopards and livestock, conservation efforts should focus on conserving prey species, implementing predatorproof measures for livestock corrals, and utilizing collar tracking when a trapped snow leopard is found in a corral. Unfortunately, when an individual repeatedly enters livestock corrals and continues killing livestock, capture and relocation to captivity often become the only viable option to address the problem and ensure the animal's safety from retaliatory action by affected herders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs Canis lupus familiaris, among canids, have emerged as the most successful predators and facultative scavengers, and have prevented other carnivores from approaching human habitats through intraguild competition. Over time with increasing population and livestock predation, they have become a matter of concern for pastoralists. The present study was conducted to understand the patterns of free-ranging dogs’ predation on livestock and wildlife, from 2015 to 2017 in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), Ladakh, India. Information was collected on (a) dog populations in 10 sites using polygon search in Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture framework and block count, (b) their diet using scat analysis (n = 205) and (c) perceptions of pastoralists towards dogs through questionnaire-based interviews (n = 210). Dog densities varied between 10 and 310 individuals/ 100 km² and were high in and around human habitations. A major part of their diet constituted of livestock (74.29%) and wild species (13.06%). Among wild prey species, birds (4.49%), lagomorphs (3.67%), rodents (2.45%) and Tibetan wild ass (1.63%) had high occurrence in dog diet. The local people admitted that dogs pose a threat to livestock and wildlife. As unowned free-ranging dogs harm livestock and wildlife, about 40% of the respondents had negative perceptions towards them. The perception varied with occupation and pastoralists were more negative than non-pastoralists (P < 0.001). We suggest that effective mechanisms need to be identified or developed to manage dog populations in ecologically and economically sensitive areas to minimise the threats and safeguard the endangered wildlife and local livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock have been and continue to be an important part of the agricultural landscape in North America. Research on how to mitigate livestock predation by North American carnivores developed quickly during the 20th century. We collected information on 75 field-based experiments published since 1970 that evaluated strategies to mitigate livestock predation by wolves and coyotes. Collected research came from journal articles and grey literature, and we identified 22 mitigation strategies. We developed a ‘robustness index’ to compare each experiment based on its empirical design, temporal/spatial coverage, and sample size. We found the robustness index values increased over time, particularly for lethal mitigation strategies. Overall robustness of research on lethal mitigation strategies was similar to the robustness of research on non-lethal mitigation strategies. Some strategies were not well evaluated as 12 of the 22 mitigation strategies were evaluated only once or twice; some common lethal mitigation strategies (e.g., shooting) were not formally evaluated until the 1990s. We identified some robust assessments of mitigation strategies that reported positive effects (e.g., predator sterilization, protection llamas). In some cases, these were the only evaluation or the only robust evaluation of a strategy. In the few cases where there were multiple robust assessments for a single strategy, the outcomes were inconsistent. No strategies evaluated more than once had consistently high robustness index values and positive outcomes. Importantly, older practices based on less robust research should be re-evaluated or discarded.

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Human-wildlife conflict is considered one of the significant challenges that conservation authorities face in managing protected areas and the surrounding lands. This study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal trends and characteristics of conflicts between rural communities and wild animals in a protected area in northeastern Iran. We collected data on wild animals' attacks on humans and livestock and damages to crops within the Ors-e-Sistan Protected Area (OSPA) and its 5 km buffer zone for 2010–2020 via official reports and questionnaire surveys (n = 373). We found that multiple species-specific and human-related factors determine conflict hotspots in space and time. Wild boars (Sus scrofa), wolves (Canis lupus) and leopards (Panthera pardus saxicolor) were perceived to be responsible for the highest number of attacks on humans and livestock. Wild boars were responsible for more than 90% of attacks on agricultural lands. Hotspots of attacks on livestock were located in the pastures around villages and pastures within the protected area. In contrast, hotspot areas of attacks on humans and damage to crops were located in the orchards and farms of villages on the protected area's northern and southern fringes. Temporal patterns in the variability of conflict revealed that grazing seasons and species' nocturnal behaviors caused more attacks and damages during warm seasons and nights. Conflict hotspots and their temporal clustering, identified in this study, can guide managers to focus mitigation activities in prioritized areas and allocate management resources that reduce conflicts between people and wild animals. The assessment of the type of species and their characteristics, land-use type, and distribution of human settlements is recommended when identifying locations and occasions of conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of poison against predators is pervasive and negatively impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health globally. Little is known about the correlates of poison use as a lethal control method on small-livestock farmland. We used a mixed-methods approach to investigate commercial farmers' experience with and perceived effectiveness of predation control methods, reported poison use and its correlates in the Central Karoo. Farmers perceived lethal methods to be cheaper and more effective than non-lethal methods in protecting their livestock from predation. They reported more experience with lethal methods, and over half reported having used poison. This is higher than other estimates in southern Africa and consistent with other survey-based evidence from the Karoo. Reported poison use was positively related to perceived efficacy, declining on-farm employment and perceived threats of predators. It was negatively related to terrain ruggedness. Our findings provide an understanding of the context and motivations shaping this illegal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is facing various threats because of the human conflict in the northern mountainous areas of Pakistan. The present study was initiated to provide baseline information regarding human-black bear conflicts and their possible mitigation at Siran and Kaghan valleys of District Mansehra, from April-2018 to April 2019. A total of 100 inhabitants of various occupations were interviewed and questionnaires were filled from 32 villages of both valleys. Agriculture crops destruction was documented as a common conflict issue (92%), followed by livestock predation (90%), and human casualties (85%). Maiz was frequently raided crop (50%) followed by fruits and vegetables (27.1%, 22.6%). Goats were the most (47.61%) predated animals, followed by sheep and cattle (37.14%, 12.38%). Human casualties were rare and mostly accidental, while victims often experienced deep injuries. Local communities faced annually Rs.167,922 (US$ 1085.47) agriculture loss and Rs. 1,620,000 (US$ 10,731.19) livestock loss during 2015-19. Generally, local inhabitants expressed negative attitudes (48%), and they were in favor of eliminating bears due to frequent conflict incidents. Although good husbandry is the most effective measure of preventing black bear damage, compensation of loss and community involvement in conservation programs were documented as the most effective mitigation strategies. Human dependence on forest resources, habitat destruction, anthropogenic food waste, and retaliatory killing were the main conservation threats to black bear survival in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-carnivore conflicts over predation on domestic animals are a global challenge. Knowledge of determinants and patterns of predation on domestic animals is an essential prerequisite to develop and apply effective interventions against carnivores. Yet, it is surprisingly little known about how these determinants and patterns vary across different parts of the distribution areas of individual carnivore species. We synthesized published information on Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) predation in terms of: (a) domestic prey species, (b) selectivity, kill rates and consumption; (c) problem seasons; (d) problem individuals and sex/age categories of lynx; (e) problem areas (hotspots); (f) predation in Europe and Asia; and (g) effects of livestock protection interventions. Using a global database of dietary profiles (104 cases from 39 publications), we found that the main domestic animals killed and consumed by lynx are semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and sheep (Ovis aries). Predation patterns on these two species are very different. Reindeer tend to be predated as a main wild prey species, whereas sheep are primarily available during summer and appear to be killed upon chance encounters (mainly lambs), mostly by male lynx, in predictable hotspot areas. As sheep and especially reindeer graze over remote areas without human attendance, only few interventions can be effectively used, with a primary focus on hotspot areas and peak seasons associated with the highest losses to lynx. Electric fencing and herding have been recommended as practical tools for sheep protection on small to medium scales, whereas compensation of confirmed losses is mostly ineffective as poaching still remains to be the major cause of lynx mortality. Risk-based compensations and performance payments are promising, but their application in lynx has yet to be tested.

Good conservation strategies that include direct attention towards the affected people can promote positive attitudes to wildlife and its conservation. We assessed how the attention from wildlife authorities and non-profit institutions affects ranchers' attitudes towards jaguars and pumas in Northern Costa Rica. Our sample was divided into ranchers with livestock predation issues who received institutional attention, ranchers with predation issues who did not receive any attention, and ranchers without livestock predation incidents. The attention received was self-reported by the respondents. We applied a 10-item Likert scaled test used previously to assess attitudes toward big felids in South Africa. We looked for spatial patterns of segregation of attitudes to determine areas that need special attention. Ranchers who receive no institutional attention had the most negative attitude score, –1.77 (IC 95%: –4.19 – 0.64). Ranchers with a positive attitude were geographically closer to each other than to the other ranchers (S = 0.32). Although preliminary, our findings suggest that institutional attention can be positively related to attitudes held by ranchers toward big cats.

The conservation of the vulnerable Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Pakistan is challenged by retaliatory killing, driven by negative interactions between people and bears, such as livestock depredation. We distributed a questionnaire among 369 individuals in rural communities within the Mansehra District, Pakistan, where bear retaliatory killings are often reported. We focused on human–Asiatic black bear negative interactions, such as livestock depredations, crop damage, and human injuries occurring between 2015 and 2019. Although the number of livestock depredation events was small in absolute terms (an average of 11.5 livestock heads reported to be killed annually), it had a large estimated economic impact in terms of local economies ($1367 per year, or a total of $5.469 between 2015 and 2019). Such annual estimated costs account for 93% of the per capita gross domestic product for Pakistan, roughly equivalent to $55,853 for a US citizen. Additionally, 30 incidents between people and bears were registered, where 6% human were fatal. We recommend awareness campaigns on different mitigating interventions, and training on how to use them, as well as behaviors to reduce the risk of negative interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, long-term conservation goals are hindered by the high economic costs of human–wildlife conflicts. The grey wolf is one of the prominent species indulged in these incidents. We investigated human–wolf conflicts (HWCs) by interviewing 104 respondents from five villages in Kumrat Valley, northern Pakistan. The respondents declared the grey wolf a common and highly dangerous carnivore. The grey wolf was found implicated in livestock predation, inflicting a yearly economic loss of USD 9225 (USD 88.70 per household (with monthly average income of 119 USD)). Our results confirmed that livestock predation was the main reason for the community's hostile attitude (65.38%) and perception of the grey wolf. Concerning occupation, farmers have the most significant negative attitude (p = 0.040) towards the grey wolf, yet employees (p = 0.025) and students (p = 0.030) showed a positive attitude. In addition, the other factors contributing to the negative attitude towards the grey wolf were the grey wolf sightings and livestock predation (p = 0.016 and p = 0.006), respectively. Based on the findings, we believe that predation compensation and livestock vaccination programs (as done in Gilgit-Baltistan Province of northern Pakistan as a measure of snow leopard conservation, to prevent mass mortalities of livestock due to diseases and in turn safeguarding the predator from retaliatory killing by locals in case of livestock predation) educating the populous can be very promising in minimizing the HWCs in the study area. We also recommend robust and continuous coordination between the local communities and the concerned departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of the human population into wildlife habitats increases human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) and threatens the survival of dwindling wildlife populations. HWCs are a major problem globally but are most prevalent in countries where a major part of the population adopts agro-pastoralist life as the primary source of income. In Pakistan, HWCs has led to a highly negative attitude towards apex predators and are one of the chief reasons for the retributory killing of rare carnivore species. One such carnivore involved in HWCs is the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), listed as vulnerable globally and in Pakistan. Surveys of human-bear interactions were conducted in Kumrat Valley of Dir upper district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 104 randomly selected respondents between February-March 2022. According to the respondents, Asiatic black bears attacked 14 individual livestock over the past two years, incurring an economic loss of USD 2392. However, respondents incurred a higher economic loss though damages to crops, causing a total loss of USD 7302 with an annual economic loss of USD 3651 (USD 35.1 per household). Guarding of livestock was the predominant factor influencing patterns of livestock predation. Season was the main influence on rates of crop damage, with the highest levels observed in summer. 67.31% of respondents had a negative attitude towards the black bear and wanted its elimination or reduction from the area owing to economic losses. The people's attitudes were influenced by four factors: education, agricultural land owned, livestock owned, and bear sightings. Despite economic losses and negative attitudes towards black bears, not a single bear has been killed by the locals. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that insurance schemes for crop damage and livestock losses are implemented. These should be coupled with effective awareness campaigns to ensure and maintain the peaceful co-existence of Asiatic black bears with humans in this intact ecosystem.

[Display omitted] • Contrary to the collective hypothesis, the increased abundance of livestock in the conflict zone has led to the Andean bear displacement. • Seasonality is the key modulator of the use of space by Andean bear in high grasslands, using different habitat types to secure its food sources. • Conservation of cloud forests and grasslands with terrestrial bromeliads is essential for Andean bear habitat availability and conflict mitigation. • Based on the findings, we propose main measures to mitigate human-bear conflict, considering the limitations and needs of the local traditional population. In Tropical Andes, livestock predation is the main cause of conflict between Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) and humans. In central Peru, the small village of San Pedro de Churco, located in buffer zone of Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary, has experienced a conflict with Andean bears since 2013 due to the livestock depredation of cattle. To create a baseline for formulating mitigation measures, we seek to analyze which environmental and anthropogenic characteristics best explain the habitat use by the Andean bear in this conflict region. Using camera traps, transects, and occupancy modeling, we distributed 16 sampling units in the conflict area from May 2019 to November 2020. We collected seven variables: slope, forest cover, the occurrence of Puya bromeliads, livestock abundance, distance from S.P. Churco village, distance to trails, and rainfall. We expected that variables linked to food resources would have a large explanatory weight (w +) positively on habitat use by the Andean bear, while anthropogenic variables would have a negative impact on the species' habitat use due to disturbances caused by human activity. Our results demonstrated the importance of maintaining the cloud forests (w+ =0.61) and the high-Andean grasslands with Puya (w+ =0.66) for the establishment of the Andean bear in conflict areas, in addition to the effect of seasonality (w+ =0.63) on the use of different habitats and the resource availability for the species. However, the presence of abundant livestock (w+ =-0.64) may be causing the displacement of bears, negatively impacting the availability of their habitats in conflict zones. The habitat use rate by bears across the study area was 0.69 with a detectability of 0.15, and we identified six individuals through the body marks. Based on the results and the conflict landscape, we mapped the focal areas sampling with the greatest potential for livestock depredation by Andean bears and the implications for management and coexistence. Measures that conserve cloud forests and the Puya grasslands, as well as more sustainable and profitable livestock management practices can be prioritized to reduce human-bear conflict in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Predation of layer chickens is a major issue for free-range egg producers. Using livestock guardian dogs (LGD) to protect free-ranging poultry is a possible option for producers, although there is little published literature regarding how the dogs protect chickens. Aims: This case study was conducted at a free-range egg production farm in Western Australia, where red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were a common predator of chickens prior to introducing Maremma LGD. We investigated LGD responses to experimental cues that might indicate fox incursion (fox urine and calls). Methods: Four dogs were GPS tracked and monitored using camera traps. Over the first week, experimental fox cues were set out around the paddock boundaries, alternating with 'non-cue' experimental control nights. We recorded whether the LGD altered (1) their space use, (2) activity patterns (movement speed), or (3) behaviour in response to these cues. We also recorded (4) distances between LGD from known sightings of foxes. Key results: The Maremmas appeared to work independently of each other, covering separate areas. There was no significant difference in overnight home range area by experimental fox cue treatment, but there was a significant (P < 0.001) treatment × dog interaction term for distance moved. Three dogs spent most of their time at night around the chicken shelters and generally increased distances moved on experimental fox cue nights. The fourth dog was more bonded to people and did not alter its movements. Paradoxically, dogs rested more and barked less on experimental fox cue nights; however, we recorded foxes on camera traps placed around the chicken shelters on 17 of the 23 nights of monitoring, and the high background activity level of foxes on this property compromised our experimental control (nights without experimental fox cues). The dogs did not move towards known fox sightings. Conclusions: The Maremmas in this trial closely guarded the chicken shelters rather than maintaining the entire paddock as a predator-exclusion zone. Implications: Understanding how guardian dogs behave when challenged by potential predators will help increase producers' confidence in the efficacy of these dogs as a viable method to protect livestock from predation threat. Livestock guardian dogs are increasingly important in preventing livestock predation around the world, including in protecting hens for free-range egg production. Using GPS tracking and cameras, we identified behavioural responses of four dogs to potential threat of fox incursion. Three dogs showed a strong bond with their chickens and spent more time around the chicken huts at night, increasing their activity on nights where they were exposed to fox cues. The fourth dog preferred spending time around people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Wild carnivores are threatened by human activities, particularly by lethal responses to livestock predation. As natural prey populations decline, predation of livestock and consumption of discarded livestock 'waste' (carcasses and body parts) should increase. We investigated whether parameters linked to the production of livestock waste affected the likelihood of livestock predation. We interviewed 160 households near Ruaha National Park in Tanzania to obtain information on households, livestock ownership, predation and parameters linked to livestock waste production. Our analysis identified parameters that affected the likelihood of predation on cattle, sheep and goats. When these parameters were controlled for, we found an increased likelihood of cattle predation as waste from diseased and slaughtered cattle increased. Sheep predation was more likely and cattle predation was less likely as sheep deaths from starvation increased. Goat predation was more likely in medium-sized than smaller or larger villages, suggesting a trade-off to predators between the increasing benefit of more livestock waste and the costs of higher human disturbance and diminishing natural prey abundance as village size category increased. Our findings suggest that improved disposal of livestock waste from slaughtered cattle and measures to decrease cattle deaths from disease should reduce predation of highly prized cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local people knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) have played an important role in human‐wildlife coexistence and have received increased attention in biodiversity conservation. However, studies on the KAP of local people towards human‐carnivore coexistence (HCC) are scarce, species‐specific or limited to the protected areas. Therefore, we investigated the local people KAP towards carnivore coexistence with humans, the problem of livestock and mitigation practices in a human‐dominated landscape of southern Ethiopia. We collected the data from 352 households interviews using a semi‐structured questionnaire and photographic sampling. The respondents mentioned 13 carnivores coexisting with local people belonging to six families. Eighty‐five percent of the respondents perceived carnivores as problematic species and expressed a negative attitude towards them, primarily due to the damage they caused to their livestock. Respondents who had better knowledge of carnivores also showed a positive attitude towards carnivores. The cluster analysis showed that the spotted hyena, serval, leopard, common genet and black‐backed jackal were grouped under a high‐threat cluster. Chickens and goats were the most threatened livestock reported by respondents. The main predation control methods reported were guarding and fencing for larger livestock and keeping chickens indoors during the night. The regression models predicted that males and literate respondents had better knowledge of carnivores than females and illiterates. The respondents who owned more livestock experienced more damage to livestock, and females showed a negative attitude towards carnivores. Although the study area is the critical conservation value of the 13 carnivore species, livestock predation by carnivores, the local people's negative attitude towards carnivores and lethal predation control methods practiced by local people were affecting HCC in the area. The findings call for conservation actions such as conservation education to raise awareness and develop a positive attitude and non‐lethal predation mitigation measures to promote HCC in consultation with the local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted between September 2018 and March 2019 to investigate the nature and extent of human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in the surrounding area of Alage College, the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, and to assess the perception of the local people to wildlife. For data collection, a total of 140 household (HH) heads were selected randomly for interviews from nine villages using structured and semi‐structured questionnaires. Moreover, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and personal observation were carried out to obtain additional information. Descriptive statistics, Chi‐square test (2 tailed), one‐way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Likert scale statements were used to analyze the data. Based on, 66 (47.1%) of the respondents, HH heads, the local people of the area experienced livestock predation leading to HWC. Whereas, (40.7%, n = 57) of the respondents perceived both crop damage and livestock predation as a cause of conflict. A total of 932.43 total livestock unit of livestock and 218 dogs' losses were reported by HH due to predators over the last 5 years. Thus, the largest number of livestock (89.9%) and dogs (100%) attacks was happened due to spotted hyenas. Nearly half of the respondents (49.3%, n = 69) ranked warthogs as the primary crop raiders, while the majority of respondents (82.1%, n = 115) reported maize as a severely damaged cereal crop. More than half, (57.1%, n = 80) of respondents used different methods simultaneously to minimize damage caused by wild animals. About half, (48.6%, n = 68) of respondents had a negative attitude toward wildlife conservation. The level of education and amount of money imposed as a penalty for illegal grazing were affecting the local community's attitudes to wildlife conservation. Using effective methods to reduce damage and loss to crops, including improved livestock husbandry and creating better awareness to the local community could make the locals actor of conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apex predators are widely threatened globally and generally considered a priority on the conservation biology agenda. The harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja, is an apex predator threatened by habitat loss and persecution and a flagship species for Neotropical conservation. We investigated the roles of social, economic and environmental factors related to livestock depredation by harpy eagles, causes of reported harpy eagle persecution by local landholders and the intent of future harpy eagle killings. We explored these issues using structured interviews with 184 local livestock owners, who had admitted killing a combined total of 181 harpy eagles. We found that livestock abundance and livestock husbandry were the best positive predictors of levels of self‐reported livestock predation by harpy eagles. Domestic livestock reported to be killed by harpy eagles (192) were mainly chickens (47.9%), followed by goats (22.4%), pigs (18.2%) and sheep (8.3%), with pets representing only ~3% of kills. Few harpy eagle killings were related to livestock predation, which accounted for less than 20% of all eagles killed. Instead, the main reason for killing harpy eagles was simple curiosity, and many interviewees reported later regretting their acts. Regarding intent to kill harpy eagles in the future, interviewees' perceptions of the threat posed to livestock and humans by eagles, and the subjective norm, were unrelated to intent to kill harpy eagles further. The single most important factor in predicting intent to kill harpy eagles was whether the interviewee had suffered livestock predation by eagles in the past. Additionally, the intention to kill eagles was negatively associated with landholding size. Most of our interviewees were relatively large landowners, but they are typically outnumbered by smallholders who are more likely to persecute harpy eagles. Consequently, education, compensation and tourism activities should be directed to smallholders to mitigate unnecessary persecution and mortality of harpy eagles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001, Marin County, California, replaced its USDA Wildlife Services (WS) cooperative predator damage management program with a county-run program that emphasized non-lethal methods for preventing and controlling coyote predation on sheep. This new “Livestock Protection Program” cost-shared with livestock producers’ efforts to improve fencing, obtain and maintain guard animals, and other such non-lethal methods, and initially it compensated producers for documented losses to predators. We surveyed sheep producers in Marin County in an effort to review the program over the past 15 years, evaluating the program in relation to livestock production, economics, predation management, and other measures of producer satisfaction. Lack of standardized data collection during the current program complicates its evaluation; however, from available information, we conclude the number of sheep and lambs are being produced in Marin County has continued to decline; some producers left the sheep business and other who remain graze less acreage with smaller flocks; predation by coyotes remains a high concern to producers; and most producers are dissatisfied with the Livestock Protection Program.

Feral hog population has been increasing significantly in the past few years in Brazil. Rio Grande do Sul state has the largest sheep herd in Brazil and predation reports had grown exponentially lately. In Santana do Livramento County, 20,000 lambs were reported predated by feral hogs in 2013, resulting on approximately US$700,000 direct losses. Rising domestic pigs free-ranging is still a common practice, which increases the opportunity for breeding and hybridizing with the feral population, resulting in better environmental adaptation and reproductive ability of the offspring. American literature suggests that females can produce 1.6 litters per year with an average of 5.7 piglets per litter. However, reports from feral hog controllers in Santana do Livramento, in the Campos grasslands with short riparian forest, suggest a higher reproduction rate, where pregnant females carry from 3 to 14 fetus, averaging 7.5 piglets per litter (n = 61). According to simulation from data collected in Southern Brazil, feral hog populations could be increasing at a rate of 36% higher than what thought before. Survival rates also seem to be high, with repots of up to 12 piglets per litter at weaning age. This could be attributed to favorable climatic conditions and resources abundance (i.e. water and feed). Data from camera-traps in Itamonte County, Minas Gerais State, identified females farrowing once per year with an average of 2.3±1.6 piglets (n = 55) in continuous fragments of Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The Araucaria angustifolia seeds and local small crops are known to be important resources for feral hog population. Those are preliminary data of investigation being done in Brazil, and several more questions need to be assessed. An estimation of economic losses and potential of population expansion need to be done in both south and southeast of Brazil, where the feral hog invasion are concentrated. Those are key information for warning competent attorneys to the problem and to start a broader and more effective control planning.

South Africa has a long record of depredation. Since 2004, renewed awareness of this conundrum has markedly increased. The question arose as to what was learnt from historic management efforts, and how farmers, managers and conservation officials can best include it in management programs. Historical reports of two government-subsidised hunt clubs that operated in the Mossel Bay district of South Africa during the late 1970s to early 1990s were analysed to determine their contribution in managing the effects of specific predators on small livestock. District-level and farm-level analyses highlighted the value of such data in depicting the extent and distribution of predation and predator control and the role of government as an authoritative body to coordinate predation management and research efforts. However, the format of hunt reports, inaccurate or incomplete data recorded by hunters and untraceable hunt reports did not provide a clear understanding of predation and predator control relationships and patterns. Detailed data will enable meaningful analyses on predation management, such as cause-and-effects of predation incidences and predator control. Detailed spatiotemporal information on each predation incident and predator control activity, background information on club membership, the extent to which farmers depended on technical aid from the clubs, as well as physical and managerial aspects of each farm, may aid in interpreting the effect of predators on livestock. It may also aid in determining the effect of different control methods and management practices on predators and future predation, as well as factors which may influence these effects. Although information from the reports investigated was, therefore, not as useful for management purposes, it illustrated the potential value of the well-coordinated collection of standardised data for research on a local, regional, and national level. However, a framework needs to be developed that should be informed by multi- and interdisciplinary research approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predators inhabiting human-dominated landscapes are vulnerable to various anthropogenic actions, including people killing them. We assess potential drivers of predator killing in an agricultural landscape in southern Chile, and discuss the implications for policies and interventions to promote coexistence. We evaluate five different types of motivation: (i) sociodemographics and household economy; (ii) livestock loss; (iii) predator encounter rates; (iv) knowledge of legal protection (all native predators are currently protected); and, (v) tolerance to livestock predation. As the killing of native predators is illegal, the prevalence of this behavior by rural residents was estimated using a symmetrical forced-response randomized response technique (RRT), a method designed to ask sensitive questions. A total of 233 rural residents from randomly assigned sample units (4 km2) across the study region completed our questionnaire. More conspicuous species, such as hawks (Falconiformes sp), foxes (Lycalopex sp) and free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), were killed by a higher proportion of farmers than more cryptic species, like the felid güiña (Leopardus guigna), skunk (Conepatus chinga) and pumas (Puma concolor). The proportion of respondents admitting to killing predators was highest for hawks (mean = 0.46, SE = 0.08), foxes (mean = 0.29, SE = 0.08) and dogs (mean = 0.30, SE = 0.08) and lowest for güiña (mean = 0.10, SE = 0.09), which is the only species of conservation concern we examine (considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List). From our five motivation categories, past killing of predators was associated with higher reported predator encounter rates (guina, hawks), lower tolerance to livestock predation (hawks, dogs), higher reported livestock loss (dogs) and sociodemographics and household economy (foxes). Our results demonstrate that a one-size-fits-all approach to predator persecution is unlikely to reduce or eliminate illegal killings for the suite of species we examined. We identify and describe two main types of intervention that could foster coexistence, improvement of livestock management and domestic dog management in rural areas, as well as discussing the potential for social marketing.

Human–wildlife conflicts are increasing worldwide, and are typically most intense in human-dominated unprotected areas where local people, livestock and wildlife share the same landscapes. Such conflict becoming severe as wildlife species damage crops and predate livestock, and the subsequent factors undermine wildlife conservation efforts in a region. Between March and June 2017, I conducted a questionnaire-based interview with 124 local farmers to examine the extent of human-olive baboon (Papio anubis) conflict and their conservation attitudes towards baboons in Wollo, Ethiopia. All respondents reported that crop foraging and small livestock (sheep and goats) predation were the two main human-olive baboon conflict causes in the region. Most respondents placed olive baboons as the second most destructive crop pest after geladas (Theropithecus gelada), and as the first most small livestock predator followed by leopard (Panthera pardus). Most farmers placed bean (Vicia faba) as the first most frequently raided crop by olive baboons followed by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays). In the two years period (between 2015 and 2016), most (70.2%) respondents claimed that they lost their small livestock to olive baboons, with an annual average loss of 2.5 heads per year, equivalent to US$ 52.26. I found that most (80.7%) respondents had negative attitudes towards olive baboons, and 81.9% were not interested to olive baboon conservation in their localities. Most farmers agreed guarding as the best mitigation measures to minimize crop and livestock losses. The result shows that human-olive baboon conflicts create negative impact on both farmers’ livelihood and baboon conservation in the region. I suggest that to mitigate human-olive baboon conflict shifting guarding system among local farmers as the means of keeping crop fields and small stock, and educating people about the ecosystem services of baboons as well as creation of a protected area should be considered in the region.

Abstract Vultures and condors are among the most threatened avian species in the world due to the impacts of human activities. Negative perceptions can contribute to these threats as some vulture species have been historically blamed for killing livestock. This perception of conflict has increased in recent years, associated with a viral spread of partial and biased information through social media and despite limited empirical support for these assertions. Here, we highlight that magnifying infrequent events of livestock being injured by vultures through publically shared videos or biased news items negatively impact efforts to conserve threatened populations of avian scavengers. We encourage environmental agencies, researchers, and practitioners to evaluate the reliability, frequency, and context of reports of vulture predation, weighing those results against the diverse and valuable contributions of vultures to environmental health and human well‐being. We also encourage the development of awareness campaigns and improved livestock management practices, including commonly available nonlethal deterrence strategies, if needed. These actions are urgently required to allow the development of a more effective conservation strategy for vultures worldwide.

Consolation payments have been introduced as an important mitigation measure for avoiding human-carnivore conflicts. However, few studies have assessed their impact on changing people's behaviors toward wild predators. Here, we used questionnaires to assess people's behaviors toward livestock predation before and after the introduction of consolation payments in three villages near the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem, Tanzania. Findings revealed that people's behaviors toward wild predators changed after the introduction of consolation payments; from hunting/killing the predator after livestock predation to reporting the incident to game scouts. To enhance the sustainability, adequacy, and effectiveness of consolation payments, we recommend regular revision of consolation regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures and condors are among the most threatened avian species in the world due to the impacts of human activities. Negative perceptions can contribute to these threats as some vulture species have been historically blamed for killing livestock. This perception of conflict has increased in recent years, associated with a viral spread of partial and biased information through social media and despite limited empirical support for these assertions. Here, we highlight that magnifying infrequent events of livestock being injured by vultures through publically shared videos or biased news items negatively impact efforts to conserve threatened populations of avian scavengers. We encourage environmental agencies, researchers, and practitioners to evaluate the reliability, frequency, and context of reports of vulture predation, weighing those results against the diverse and valuable contributions of vultures to environmental health and human well‐being. We also encourage the development of awareness campaigns and improved livestock management practices, including commonly available nonlethal deterrence strategies, if needed. These actions are urgently required to allow the development of a more effective conservation strategy for vultures worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexican gray wolves were reintroduced into New Mexico and Arizona in 1998. When wolves kill a producing cow, ranchers in the region are eligible to receive an indemnity payment equal to the market value of the lost animal. We developed a model that allows estimation of the present value of the revenue stream that a cow or herd provides and find that if a producing cow is killed, the decrease in the present value of the rancher’s revenue stream is about $1,230. Mean indemnity payments are currently $1,000, implying ranchers are not being sufficiently compensated.

Context: Exclusion fences are increasingly used to prevent interactions between predators (introduced and native) and assets such as endangered species or livestock. However, challenges remain in identifying when exclusion fences are an optimal investment and the intended outcome is likely to be achieved. The level of association with complementary methods of control that is needed is also unclear. Aims: We aimed to quantify the interactions among factors that affect fencing efficiency, including the size of the fenced area, the fence permeability, the initial density of the predator population, and its survival of complementary control methods. Methods: Using a spatially explicit, individual-based model, we simulated wild dog (dingo) populations as a proxy for describing predator dynamics inside a fenced area under different management practices and fence designs. We then fit a generalised linear model to the model outcomes to assess the effects of the four factors mentioned above. Key results: Lethal control had a strong effect on wild dog density when the survival of control was lower than 0.5. Fences generally had an effect on wild dog density only when their permeability was lower than ~1% and their effect was most noticeable when the initial density was very low (<2 dogs per 100 km2), or when survival of control was very low (<0.5). Conversely, when the initial density was very high (~12 dogs per 100 km2), a fence with a low permeability (<1.5%) caused the paradoxical effect that wild dog density could be higher than that obtained with a more permeable fence. Wild dog eradication was possible only when survival of control was 0.25 or lower, except when either initial density or fence permeability were extremely low (<2 dogs per 100 km2 and <0.1% respectively). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that large exclusion fences can be an effective aid in managing predator populations. We recommend that this tool should be used as a preventive measure before predators establish a population inside the area targeted for exclusion, in tandem with lethal control, or when an initial marked reduction of predator density can be achieved. We also demonstrated that eradication can be achieved only when a narrow combination of parameters is met. Implications: Land managers should carefully evaluate when and at what scale control tools should be deployed to control wild dog populations. Landscape application of exclusion fences faces the challenge of high maintenance to ensure low permeability, coupled with very high sustained suppression of wild dog density, which are unlikely to be feasible options in the long term. Conversely, the same control techniques could provide efficient asset protection at a smaller scale where fence maintenance and sufficient control effort can be sustained. Exclusion fences are increasingly used to prevent interactions between predators and assets of interest. We aimed to quantify the interaction among factors that affect fencing efficiency. Our results demonstrated that exclusion fences can be a very effective and should be used either as a preventive measure, or when the initial predator density is very low. Photograph by DPIRD (camera trap). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large scale spatial patterns of livestock predation risk from multiple co-predators are fundamental to applied conservation planning. Here, we examined important ecological, social, and landscape attributes explaining spatial patterns of human-carnivore interactions. We used a systematic grid-based framework, across an area of 14,200 km2 of sixteen Forest Divisions at the human-wildlife interface encompassing Protected Areas, Reserved Forest and Fringe Areas at the human-wildlife interface in the Eastern and Western Ghats, India. The data was collected on livestock depredation incidents from the tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), and dhole (Cuon alpinus) for the past five years, through semi-structured interviews (n = 1460) of local communities. We examined socio-ecological (i.e. livestock abundance and forest dependency) and landscape attributes (i.e. forest cover, climates and topographic) influencing the depredation events from each carnivore species. We found that livestock predation risk by the tiger, leopard and dhole was driven by the size of livestock species, the dependency of local people on the forest, topography, proximity to water body and the forest boundary, precipitation, and forest cover. Risk of predation from leopard and dhole exhibited high spatial overlap, and predation by leopards was higher than dhole and tiger. Livestock predation by leopard and dhole was frequent in open areas of Reserved Forest and buffer zones, while that from tiger occurred in densely forested core regions of Protected Areas (PAs). Our predictive risk maps (ca. 22,525 km2) showed species-specific predation patterns, reflected ecological differences among large carnivores with regards to their habitat and spatial partitioning for domestic prey. Our predictive predation risk map and factors associated with livestock predations provides powerful visual guidance and tools for PA managers in developing multi-species conflict mitigation strategies. We recommend diversifying local economic livelihoods and benefit-sharing options for local communities to minimize their forest dependency.

Livestock predation is a global problem and constitutes the main source of conflict between large carnivores and human interests. In Latin America, both jaguar and puma are known to prey on livestock, yet studies in Mesoamerica have been scattered and few have been carried out in Honduras. We interviewed ranchers in a biosphere reserve where jaguars and pumas are present. Local indigenous communities reported livestock predation (average annual loss of 7% from 2010–2019), with preventive and retaliatory killing as their main actions against predation by the jaguar and puma. Other sources of cattle loss included diseases and theft. The extensive management system (free grazing) lets cattle access forests where predators are more common. We found that livestock predation is not random, but rather, related to landscape variables and human influence. Sites farther from human influence and closer to forest cover were more susceptible to predation. Jaguar and puma persistence in the biosphere reserve will require measures that facilitate human–carnivore coexistence and comply with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 15 (zero hunger and biodiversity conservation). We propose management practices to mitigate livestock predation in the presence of large carnivores based on examples of proven human–carnivore coexistence in Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, and Nicaragua, such as improving the spatial arrangement of livestock (maintaining a distance from forest areas) and the incorporation of confinement pens for young calves (at least the first three months of life) and their mothers. If the pens are built close to the property’s house and have constant surveillance and/or dogs, the results are likely to be more effective. Deploying these proven tools may help change the current negative perception of ranchers towards large carnivores that is essential to conservation under the aims of SDG 15. We recommend government policies and support aimed to strengthen livestock health to increase productivity and to reduce their vulnerability to predation. Finally, this study represents a baseline to understand the magnitude of the human–carnivore conflict over cattle in one of the largest biosphere reserves in Mesoamerica.

Human–wildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated human–wildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns with individuals in 378 households occurring <3000 m outside the Sanctuary's borders. Respondents reported that hyenas Crocuta crocuta and African wolves Canis anthus were the only livestock predators and were responsible for combined losses of ∼ 10% (29 207 USD) of their livestock over a three‐year period. Hyenas predated cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, whereas African wolves targeted only goats and sheep. Hyena predation occurred both inside and outside SSHS, whereas African wolf predation occurred mainly near the inside periphery of the sanctuary. Most (58%) of the respondents experienced crop raiding of their farms by Swayne's hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and/or crested porcupines Hystrix cristata. Nearly two‐thirds (64%) of the crop raiding occurred 1–1500 m from the sanctuary. Potatoes and maize were the most commonly raided crops. Local communities used guarding, patrolling, loud noises, smoky fires, flashes of light, fences and trenches as deterrence methods. Of the crop raiding species, only Swayne's hartebeests were regarded positively, while warthogs and crusted porcupines were viewed negatively by respondents. We conclude that although SSHS is of critical conservation value to the Swayne's hartebeest, the surrounding communities endure significant livestock predation and crop raiding by wild animals sheltered in the sanctuary. The survival of this relict population of Swayne's hartebeest in the sanctuary remains at risk unless the human–wildlife conflict in surrounding areas is resolved. This calls for site‐specific measures in consultation with the local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human behavior often determines the success of conservation projects, and the emerging discipline of conservation psychology focuses on understanding and influencing this behavior. Social norms (a group's perception of the appropriateness of behaviors) are a key influence on human behavior, and social norms campaigns can often engender population‐wide behavior changes. Human‐predator conflict is a major conservation issue, and one in which human behavior plays a substantial role: high standards of livestock management can considerably lower predation levels. In this paper, we use factor analysis to show that the livestock management normative belief structure of rural livestock owners is highly conserved between populations in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Through cluster analysis, we also show that qualitatively distinct attitudinal groups can be identified, and that some of these groups are common to both regions. Researchers often assume that social landscapes are unique, but we show that this is not the case for livestock management norms. People's attitudes are also generally assumed to be site‐specific, but we found commonalities across different regions, indicating that certain attitude sectors may be present in all livestock‐owning populations. If livestock management norms and attitude groups are indeed highly conserved between regions, it may be possible to develop standardized tools with which to understand the norms that influence livestock management behavior, and identify population sectors for targeted interventions. Often, conservation projects have little in‐house social science expertise, and social studies are avoided despite the benefits they bring. Here, we demonstrate that standardized approaches may be possible, and could aid the implementation—and success—of conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the economic and social aspects of human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in Mhokwe, Mbire district, Zimbabwe. Data were collected through key informant interviews and a questionnaire survey. Most households in Mhokwe rely on crop and livestock production, and hence, HWC is an important factor affecting livelihoods. More than 60% of respondents experienced problems with lions (Panthera leo Linnaeus), spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta Erxleben), armoured bush crickets (Acanthoplus speiseri Brancsik) and quelea birds (Quelea quelea Reichenbach). Other problem animals included elephant (Loxodonta africana Blumenbach), vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus Cuvier), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros Pallas), chacma baboon (Papio ursinus Kerr), bushpig (Potamochoerus porcus Linnaeus) and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia Linnaeus). Few incidences of conflicts were reported for hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius Linnaeus), side‐striped jackal (Canis adustus Sundevall), porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis Peters), nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti), African wild cat (Felis lybica Forster), African python (Python sebae Gmelin) and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris Linnaeus). Livestock and crop losses were US$45,285 and US$57,541 in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Despite the losses, most respondents had positive attitudes towards wildlife. Construction of strong kraals and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) can contribute to conflict reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endangered dholes (Cuon alpinus) are restricted to small and declining populations in Southeast Asia, and little is known about how their ecology differs within the region. We used DNA‐confirmed scats and prey surveys to determine the seasonal diet and prey selection of dholes in 2 different landscapes that dominate Southeast Asia: closed evergreen forests in hilly terrain in northern Laos, and open deciduous forests in relatively flat terrain in eastern Cambodia. On both sites, muntjac (Muntiacus spp.; 20–28 kg) was the dominant prey item and was selectively consumed over other ungulates in all seasons. Our findings differ from previous conclusions, based largely on studies from India, that the preferred prey weight range of dholes was either 40–60 kg or 130–190 kg. Other important prey were sambar (Rusa unicolor) in Laos, and wild pig (Sus scrofa) and banteng (Bos javanicus) in Cambodia. Seasonal differences in overall diet occurred in Laos, but not Cambodia, primarily because of an increase in livestock consumption. The mean number of dhole scats in group defecation sites was higher in Cambodia (5.9 ± 0.5 [SE]) than Laos (2.4 ± 0.2), suggesting pack sizes were larger in Cambodia. Our results suggest that regardless of land cover type, prey diversity, or pack size, the management of muntjac will be important for conserving dhole populations in Southeast Asia. In Laos, we recommend that local villagers remove livestock from the protected area during the hot‐dry season to reduce livestock predation by dholes. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society. In both closed evergreen and open deciduous forests in Southeast Asia, dholes consumed mostly muntjac and selectively consumed this species over other ungulates in all seasons. Our results suggest that regardless of land cover type, prey diversity, or pack size, management of muntjac will be important for the conserving dhole populations throughout Southeast Asia. In Laos, we recommend that local villagers remove livestock from the protected area during the hot‐dry season to reduce livestock predation by dholes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative interactions between people and large carnivores are common and will probably increase as the human population and livestock production continue to expand. Livestock predation by wild carnivores can significantly affect the livelihoods of farmers, resulting in retaliatory killings and subsequent conflicts between local communities and conservationists. A better understanding of livestock predation patterns could help guide measures to improve both human relationships and coexistence with carnivores. Environmental variables can influence the intensity of livestock predation, are relatively easy to monitor, and could potentially provide a useful predictive framework for targeting mitigation. We chose lion predation of livestock as a model to test whether variations in environmental conditions trigger changes in predation. Analysing 6 years of incident reports for Pandamatenga village in Botswana, an area of high human–lion conflict, we used generalized linear models to show that significantly more attacks coincided with lower moonlight levels and temperatures, and attack severity increased significantly with extreme minimum temperatures. Furthermore, we found a delayed effect of rainfall: lower rainfall was followed by a significantly increased severity of attacks in the following month. Our results suggest that preventative measures, such as introducing deterrents or changing livestock management, could be implemented adaptively based on environmental conditions. This could be a starting point for investigating similar effects in other large carnivores, to reduce livestock attacks and work towards wider human–wildlife coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflict between people and carnivores can lead to the widespread killing of predators in retaliation for livestock loss and is a major threat to predator populations. In Kenya, a large, rural, pastoralist population comes into regular conflict with predators, which persist across southern Kenya. We explored the social and psychological backdrop to livestock management practices in this area in a process designed to be easy to use and suitable for use across large areas for the study of conflict and transboundary implementation of wildlife conflict reduction measures, focusing on community involvement and needs. We carried out fully structured interviews of livestock managers with a survey tool that examined how social and psychological factors may influence livestock management behavior. We compared survey responses on 3 sites across the study area, resulting in 723 usable responses. Efficacy of individuals' livestock management varied between and within communities. This variation was partially explained by normative and control beliefs regarding livestock management. Individual livestock managers' self‐reported management issues were often an accurate reflection of their practical management difficulties. Psychological norms, control beliefs, and attitudes differed among sites, and these differences partially explained patterns associated with conflict (i.e., variation in livestock management behavior). Thus, we conclude that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to improving livestock management and reducing human–predator conflict is not suitable. Article impact statement: Understanding the psychology of livestock management is key to determining the best strategy for mitigation of wildlife–livestock conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of livestock guarding dogs (LGDs) has been widely advocated as a responsible tool for reducing livestock predation and conserving wildlife. However, their hidden ecological costs have rarely been investigated. We analysed scats (n = 183) from six LGDs and visited Global Positioning System (GPS) location clusters (n = 352) from nine GPS-collared LGDs to reconstruct their diet and assess impacts on wildlife and livestock in Namaqualand, South Africa. Wild mammals, including 10 native species, and small-livestock were the main secondary foods (i.e. besides dog food pellets). A total of 90% of scats and one third of GPS clusters investigated had associated animal remains. When accompanied by a human attendant, fewer LGD scats contained animal matter (39.9%; of which 32.3% wild mammals and 4.6% livestock), in contrast to scats of LGDs on their own (93.2%; 14.4% wild mammals, 75.4% livestock). Similarly, few clusters of accompanied LGDs included animal remains (5.7%; of which 43.8% wild mammals and 31.3% livestock), whereas unaccompanied dogs clustered frequently at carcasses (92.4%; 16% wild mammals, 74% livestock). While sample sizes were relatively small and some dogs might have scavenged, we emphasize the importance of rigorous training and intensive monitoring of LGDs to correct unwanted predation behaviour and to maximize their ecological and protective benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana is one of the few countries considered to be a haven for globally threatened wildlife species such as the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and vulnerable ones such as the African elephant (Loxondota Africana). In the recent past, human-wildlife conflicts have increased. This article investigated factors that influence community participation in wildlife conservation. Data were collected using key informant interviews (n = 18) and household surveys with farmers (n = 221). Results indicates that all respondents have had encounters with wildlife through crop-raiding, livestock predation or both. Despite coexistence with wildlife for time immemorial, local communities had negative perceptions and attitudes toward wildlife. These were linked to the spread of the foot and mouth disease (74%), a reduction in the value of livestock (62%), and problems with payment of compensation for damages to crops (58%). Based on these results, implications for policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts with humans are one of the main causes of the decline in populations of large carnivores, making it a crucial conservation issue worldwide. In Mexico, jaguar Panthera onca, puma Puma concolor and American black bear Ursus americanus are involved in livestock predation and are persecuted in retaliation. The sites where predation occurs are distributed throughout the country and differ not only in environmental characteristics, but also in social, economic and livestock management practices. However, due to the general focus of the studies carried out so far, the proposed mitigation measures are also general. It is necessary to consider conditions that encourage predation in the design of strategies to be more effective. In this study, environmental, anthropic and livestock management characteristics of livestock predation by large carnivores were analyzed for conflict regionalization. The variables most related to predation sites were identified, with a high percentage of them being livestock management practices. Based on these variables, we formed clusters of similar sites and analyzed their spatial distribution, which presented grouping patterns in the cases of predation by puma and black bear, in contrast to the jaguar clusters, which presented a dispersed distribution. Considering the characteristics of the clusters, we propose as mitigation measures the confinement of livestock, construction or improvement of corrals and improvement of management practices. The anthropic component and livestock management practices are closely related to the predation events and, therefore, their inclusion in the conservation programs of carnivores in Mexico is fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the feeding ecology of mesopredators living on or adjacent to farmland is important as livestock predation fuels conflict between farmers and predators and between diverse stakeholders on how to best manage this conflict. Most dietary studies on elusive and heavily persecuted predators rely on indirect methods such as scat analysis, because direct observations of predation events are rare. Consequently, the proportion of livestock and other prey that was actively hunted vs. scavenged remains largely unknown. We used data from global positioning system collars affixed to black‐backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and caracal (Caracal caracal) to locate potential feeding sites on farmland and a protected area and to attempt to determine whether prey had been killed or scavenged. We compared dietary estimates from prey items found at global positioning system location clusters (GLCs) with those obtained from scat analysis and investigated whether GLC analysis is a suitable method to determine mesocarnivore diet. The success rate of finding a kill site when investigating GLCs was significantly higher for caracal than for jackal. Only 16.2% and 4.7% of jackal and caracal GLCs, respectively, were classified as scavenging events. Livestock was the most frequently detected prey in both scats and GLCs on farmland but GLCs provided a higher estimate of sheep biomass than scats. Caracal GLCs revealed prey ranging in size from small to large, whereas jackal GLCs were only for medium and large prey categories. Adult male caracals predated significantly more on livestock than females and younger individuals. Collared jackals residing in the protected area never formed GLCs containing livestock remains on neighbouring farms. Together, GLCs and scat analyses provide a more complete understanding of mesopredators feeding ecology on farmland. We recommend that both methods are applied, particularly in regions where livestock predation and lethal management of predators are driving conflict between stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of human activities and increasingly effective protection of biodiversity, human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are increasing. Determining the patterns and causes of HWCs at the landscape scale is important for the design and implementation of effective management actions. We used in-house questionnaires, combined with data from insurance companies and other sources, to take the Tibetan Plateau as an example to reveal the pattern and potential causes of HWCs. Livestock predation and house break-ins were the most common types of conflict on the plateau, and wolves (Canis lupus) (56.9 %) and bears (Ursus arctos) (35.8 %) were the main culprits. In the pastoral zone, 65.3 % of conflicts were caused by wolves, more than in other regions, and bears accounted for 20.8 %. Bears were responsible for house break-ins in crop-dominated zones (60.5 %), while they preyed on livestock in mixed crop and pasture zones (80.0 %). Differences in forest cover between regions are likely to be the cause of this, with bears preying more on livestock in areas with greater forest cover. Livestock loss caused by wolves increased, and those caused by bears decreased, with increase in elevation. Households with more livestock experienced a greater incidence of HWCs. Livestock losses were lower in counties with higher gross regional product per capita, and economic development likewise influenced the occurrence of HWCs. Our research findings provide a fundamental understanding of the patterns of HWC, which can inform the development of evidence-based policies and strategies for effectively addressing HWCs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001, Marin County, California, replaced its Wildlife Services (WS) predator damage management effort with a county-run program that cost-shares non-lethal methods of predation reduction with ranchers and also compensates them for sheep and lamb losses. This paper attempts to compare the former WS program with the current program, using such variables as livestock lost to predators, coyotes and non-target animals killed, and program costs. Inconsistent data collection and lack of information make a clear comparison of the two programs difficult; however, some sheep producers continue to suffer predation loss rates that threaten the sustainability of their enterprises.

The West Virginia Integrated Predation Management Program was created in 1996 due to increasing livestock losses to coyotes and the inability of producers to solve the problem themselves. The eastern coyote arrived in West Virginia in the early to mid-1980s. By the early 1990s, coyote depredations were recognized as a serious threat to West Virginia’s livestock industries. At a June 26, 1995 public meeting in Riverton, West Virginia, livestock producers expressed to their state delegates and senators their concerns and frustrations with their inability to control coyote predation on sheep. This meeting provided the impetus for the creation of the West Virginia Integrated Predation Management Program as carried out by USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (WS). Wildlife Services predator management specialists in West Virginia integrate and apply or assist the producer in applying a combination of non-lethal and lethal alternatives to minimize coyote predation on sheep, goats, and calves. Wildlife Services has provided predation control workshops, on-site recommendations, and a guard dog cost-share program to encourage producers to implement non-lethal methods on their farms. Lethal control strategies directed at depredating coyotes have been either preventive or corrective. Preventive control has been initiated by WS prior to the onset of actual depredations in areas where historic losses due to coyote depredation have been documented and where there has been an imminent threat of loss of livestock. Corrective control by WS was directed at depredating coyotes in response to ongoing losses with the goal of removing the offending coyotes(s). In this paper, we discuss the development and success of the West Virginia Integrated Predation Management Program to protect livestock.

Electronic training collars have previously been used to condition captive predators not to attack livestock and other prey, but the use of aversive collars in actual management situations involving wild predators has not been scientifically evaluated and published. We adapted and tested commercially available dog training collars in an actual management situation involving wild wolves. Because we temporarily held wolves in captivity, we also discuss the use of pens as a tool that provides management flexibility. Three packs that had been implicated in killing livestock were held at a pen facility at the Flying D Ranch near Bozeman, Montana. Wolves from 2 packs were used in training collar experiments. We ran trials using bison calves, domestic cow calves, and hides to test equipment and the behavioral conditioning paradigm. In our program, we were unable to condition wolves not to attack livestock because of a variety of logistical and behavioral reasons. We concluded that temporarily holding wolves at a small, moderately accessible facility is of limited use for determining the utility of aversive conditioning as a wolf predation management technique. More research is necessary to effectively apply electronic training collars to wolf management. However, we determined that maintaining holding pens for wolves provides flexibility to managers in translocation efforts. Because wolves in our studies survived to reproduce, our collaborative efforts have made a significant contribution to wolf recovery.