IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Payan, E.; Durant, S.; Homewood, K.; Carbone, C. | |
| Jaguar Depredation in the Llanos: an Ecological and Socio-Cultural Approach to Coexistence | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Jaguar distribution in the Colombian Llanos is largely unknown and uncertain with constant persecution by cattle ranchers. We evaluated presence, studied the spatial, ecological and sociocultural aspects of jaguar-livestock conflict in this Neotropical savannah habitat (100,242 km2). Some 1,800 jaguars are estimated present; all associated to major rivers and riparian forests, but never far from cattle pastures. Free roaming pigs were most predated by jaguars (91%), followed by cattle (21%), goats, horses and dogs. For cattle, jaguar depredation never exceeded 5% of the standing stock. Small and poor cattle ranches are more vulnerable to jaguar depredation and than larger ones, since they suffer higher depredation impact and are less tolerant. They run an unprofitable production system mainly due to poor acidic soils, lack of technology, extreme drought and flood dynamics and lack of connectivity to markets; resulting in extensive area grazing and to rear stock in a semi-wild manner - which in turn increases depredation risk and decreases the viability of implementing anti-predatory management strategies. Approximately, 0.4 jaguars are hunted annually per 100 km2. Linear trends show that attack numbers decrease as distance of attack site to water, forest edge and homestead increases. Cheap and easy anti-predator management techniques are suggested. |
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