IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Jaramillo, F.H. | |
| Exploring large felids-livestock-humans interactions and attitudes of local ranchers in the Caribbean region of Colombia | |
| 2016 Full Book | |
To explore large felids-livestock-humans interactions and attitudes of local ranches, a survey was conducted with a sample of 87 ranchers in two departments of the Caribbean region of Colombia, with both, history of livestock predation and large felids hunting. Respondents were asked about livestock management and husbandry practices, status of natural prey, occurrence of hunting and occurrence of attacks. To record attitudes of ranchers toward large felids and toward predation problem, attitudinal statements were included on a 5-point Likert scale. I tested for correlations between the variables to identify determinants of attitudes and large felids-livestock-humans interactions in the area. Attacks were more common on ranches with reduced levels of livestock management, better status of natural prey and larger forested areas. Disease, accidents and drought showed to be most important causes of livestock mortality than predation. Local ranchers did not implement preventive methods against predation and the presence of large felids and occurrence of attacks constitute little to no incentive to ranchers modify their practices. Hunting of felids in the area is not only function of retaliation, and demographic and socio-economic variables and experience with large felids showed no influence on local attitudes. This suggest that attitudes may be more related with perceptions, beliefs and values shared by all the community regardless of socioeconomic and demographic status or experience with large felids, for example, the shared belief that pumas and jaguars are a threat to people and that it is better to live without large felids in the region. Under this circumstances, reducing livestock predation will not guarantee that pumas and jaguars hunting will be reduced proportionately. On the other hand, management actions for conserving large felids in the area may be oriented to reduce other causes of livestock mortality related with poor husbandry practices, enhance ranches productivity and reduce livestock vulnerability. |
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