IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Jewell, Z.C.; Alibhai, S.K.; Evans, J.W. | |
| In the lion's footsteps: Monitoring Mountain lion using a non-invasive and cost-effective footprint identification technique | |
| 2014 Conference Proceeding | |
Mountain lions are solitary, elusive and cover very large areas, and as a result, it is very difficult to collect reliable data on population characteristics (parameters) and distribution. While telemetry and/or camera-trapping techniques can provide useful information, they are relatively expensive and difficult to deploy over large areas. Also, if monitoring data are to be reliable and reflect the true population dynamics then the method of collection must have minimal or no impact on natural behavior or physiology of the target animal. The authors developed a footprint identification technique (FIT), initially for use with black and white rhino in southern Africa, and have since adapted it for use with felids including Bengal and Amur tiger, African lion and cheetah. Digital images of multiple left_]hind footprints from individual animals are captured using a basic digital camera. They are uploaded to an FIT add in for JMP data visualization software from SAS Institute. Feature extraction allows >120 measurements of length, angle and area to be collected. Using a customized cross validated pairwise discriminant analysis with Ward_fs clustering technique, the footprints can be classified by individual, sex, age-class, and species with a high degree of accuracy. Jewell and Alibhai have collaborated with Jonah Evans, Mammalogist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, to adapt FIT for use in monitoring free-ranging mountain lion populations. They have collected 535 footprints from 35 captive (16:19) animals of known sex and identity to form the initial reference database. Accuracies of >90% have been obtained in classifying by individual and sex. FIT is inexpensive, non-invasive, and provides high accuracy when compared with other methods. This tool could potentially be used to estimate mountain lion populations at dramatically reduced costs in areas with suitable substrate. The authors will invite those with access to free-ranging mountain lion populations at dramatically reduced costs in areas with suitable substrate. The authors will invite those with access to free-ranging mountain lion tracks to join this effort by contributing footprints for field validation trials. |
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