IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Jansen, C. | |
| Diet of key predators responsible for livestock conflict in Namaqualand, South Africa | |
| 2016 Full Book | |
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) occurs in areas where humans and wildlife occupy the same area or compete for the same resources. Although some carnivores are responsible for incidental attacks on humans, predation on livestock is an increasingly common form of HWC. Understanding the ecology of these predators outside the confines of protected areas could provide insight into decreasing conflict and ensuring the persistence of these animals in non-protected areas. I analysed the diet of leopard (_Panthera pardus_), caracal (_Caracal caracal_) and black-backed jackal (_Canis mesomelas_) in Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa, an area where HWC is commonly reported. Scats were collected for each predator in both protected areas (Namaqua National Park) and surrounding, non-protected farmlands (810 kmý). Eight caracals were also collared to analyse caracal diet from GPS-cluster data. The diet of the three predators was assessed across both land classifications (protected vs. non-protected). Prey availability was determined by means of camera and small mammal traps and compared between the two land classifications. The relative abundance index (RAI) was used to determine the abundance of prey species on the two contrasting land classifications and whether prey abundance and availability influenced the feeding ecology of leopard, caracal and jackal in Namaqualand. All three predators relied on the most abundant and easy to catch prey species, reflecting opportunistic feeding behaviour. In the protected national park, where livestock was absent, all three predators selected for natural prey items. These findings coincided with previous studies on leopard, caracal and black-backed jackal in South Africa. A shift in leopard diet was observed on farmlands, as livestock replaced small-to medium-sized ungulates in scats. For black-backed jackals, steenbok (_Raphicerus campestris_) contributed >20% to the total biomass consumed in protected areas while on farmlands sheep (_Ovis aries_) contributed > 20% and steenbok only < 5%. These findings in scat are mirrored in ungulate surveys; steenbok was the most abundant small-to medium-sized ungulate in the national park and sheep were the most abundant prey on farmlands. Caracal preferred hyrax (_Procavia capensis_) and lagomorpha as prey, while predation on livestock occurred in low frequencies (scat analysis, 6.9%), making caracal the predator which depended the least on livestock. Land-use also had very little effect on caracal diet. When analysing caracal diet by means of kill site analysis, sheep contributed the bulk to the total biomass consumed (59.5%). However, GPS cluster analysis is inherently biased towards the overestimation of larger bodied prey items and excludes smaller prey items (< 1 kg) which contributed > 25% to the total biomass consumed according to scat analysis. Predation of livestock by these three predators was not significant in relation to livestock availability on farmlands, especially for caracal. Due to the opportunistic feeding behaviour of these predators it was more likely that livestock was an alternative prey source. A suitable natural prey base on farmlands would decrease livestock losses, especially where leopards depredate on stock. Leopards are the last remaining large predator in this area and the loss of these large felids could be detrimental to the healthy functioning of the ecosystem. If increased vigilance is practiced during the lambing period, lambs could survive to past their vulnerable size when they fall victim to jackals. Improved livestock husbandry methods, implementation of guarding animals and herders and various other holistic methods could decrease livestock losses in Namaqualand. |
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