CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF LIVESTOCK LOSSLIVESTOCK LOSS
WHY CONSERVE PREDATORS???
• Predators are indicator species,
demonstrating the health of an ecosystem
• Control numbers and health of prey species
• Valuable national resource to be protected
• Generate income through ecotourism and trophy hunting
• TheftTheft• Poisonous plantsPoisonous plants• Disease Disease • PredatorPredator
CORRECT CAUSE MUST BE CORRECT CAUSE MUST BE INVESTIGATEDINVESTIGATED
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW???
Predator Identification ToolPredator Identification Tool
Hind Front
Hind Front
LION
LEOPARD
PREDATORS Behaviour and Capabilities
Social, living in prides of up to 16 individualsTerritorialMales larger than femalesFemales do most of the huntingGroups are capable of bringing down buffalo-sized preyIndividual lions are capable of bringing down wildebeest-sized prey
SolitaryTerritorialMales larger than femalesStocky, muscular and a stealthy ambush hunterFavours trees and is an excellent climberCapable of bringing down wildebeest-sized prey
PREDATOR IDENTIFICATION TOOLSPREDATOR IDENTIFICATION TOOLS
INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION
Killed or scavengedKilled or scavenged Bite marksBite marks TracksTracks Carcass location / dragged?Carcass location / dragged?
APPROACHING A CARCASSAPPROACHING A CARCASS
Scan whole areaScan whole area Keep onlookers in a group to one Keep onlookers in a group to one
sideside Examine all tracksExamine all tracks Mark site of tracksMark site of tracks Front and back track sizes can differFront and back track sizes can differ Record all informationRecord all information
Killed or scavenged?Killed or scavenged? Skin the neck Skin the neck Look for bruisingLook for bruising
and bite marksand bite marks
Big or small carcass / predatorBig or small carcass / predator
Bite marksBite marks
MeasurementsMeasurements
Cheetah 36 - 39 mm (2 fingers)Cheetah 36 - 39 mm (2 fingers) Leopard 40 – 46 mm (3 fingers)Leopard 40 – 46 mm (3 fingers) Jackal 19 - 21 cm (3/4 - 1 finger)Jackal 19 - 21 cm (3/4 - 1 finger) Caracal 29 - 32 mm (1 ½ finger)Caracal 29 - 32 mm (1 ½ finger) Spotted Hyena 47 - 58 mm (3 fingers)Spotted Hyena 47 - 58 mm (3 fingers) Brown Hyena 47 – 58 mm (3 fingers)Brown Hyena 47 – 58 mm (3 fingers) Domestic dog 36 - 58 mm (3 fingers)Domestic dog 36 - 58 mm (3 fingers)
Bite marks on the carcassBite marks on the carcassWidth, locationWidth, location
TRACKSTRACKS
Dogs = nailsDogs = nails Dogs = straight Dogs = straight
at the back of at the back of the foot padthe foot pad
Cats = no nailsCats = no nailsCats = W shape at Cats = W shape at the back of the foot the back of the foot padpad
Dog Dog CatCat
Cheetah / LeopardCheetah / Leopard
CheetahCheetah Leopard
HOW THE CARCASS HAS BEEN HOW THE CARCASS HAS BEEN EATENEATEN
Long bonesLong bones IntestinesIntestines Internal organsInternal organs RemainsRemains Covered / draggedCovered / dragged
Will chase down and bite prey Will chase down and bite prey animal as it runs.animal as it runs.May result in messy kill with May result in messy kill with numerous bite marks all over numerous bite marks all over the body.the body.No claw marks. No claw marks.
Usually ambush then Usually ambush then chase prey.chase prey.Very clean killers, most Very clean killers, most will deliver a killing bite will deliver a killing bite to the throat or back of to the throat or back of the neck. Claw marks the neck. Claw marks will be evident.will be evident.
Dogs Dogs CatsCats
LionLion
LionLion
Lion home ranges can be anywhere between 150 and 2000 Km2
They are social, territorial animals and females often hunt together. A group of lions is capable of killing prey as large as cow or buffalo and a single lion can take down a wildebeest sized prey.
They are mainly active at night and may take animals out in the veld and from poor kraals.
They may eat the whole animal but the large bones will remain.
150 Km2
2000 Km2CCB farm
LeopardLeopard
LeopardLeopard
Leopard home ranges are often between 30 and 80 Km2
CCB farm80 Km2
30 Km2
They are solitary, territorial animals that hunt alone. They are excellent climbers and often hide their kills in trees. Leopards are capable of killing prey as large as wildebeest but rarely take fully grown cattle.
They are usually nocturnal and will take unprotected livestock from poor kraals and out in the veld.
Cheetah Cheetah
CheetahCheetah
Cheetah home ranges can be as small as 200 Km2 and as large as 1500 Km2
Female cheetah are often solitary but males may live in small groups. They may hunt together or alone. Cheetah are poor climbers and prefer open habitats. They usually take small to medium sized antelope species.
There are most active during the morning and evening and usually involved in conflict out in the veld. They are not active at night. They generally kill by strangulation on the throat.
CCB farm
200 Km2
1500 Km2
African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog
African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog
Except when denning, African Wild Dogs are effectively nomadic some recorded ranges have been between 420 and 1300 Km2
Wild dogs are social and live in packs. They hunt together and are capable of killing kudu sized prey. They can be a concern to farmers as can take fully grown cattle, however, they can be deterred by human presence
They are most active during the morning and the evening and more likely to cause conflict out in the veld than in the kraal.
CCB farm
420 Km2
1300 Km2
Brown hyenaBrown hyena
Brown HyenaBrown Hyena
Brown Hyena ranges have been recorded from approx. to over 900 Km2
Brown hyena are most often solitary but males sometimes form small groups or clans. They are primarily scavengers but are capable of killing small antelope sized prey. They are active at night and may take very young livestock from poorly built kraals.
CCB farm
900 Km2
170 Km2
Spotted hyenaSpotted hyena
Spotted HyenaSpotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena ranges are also variable ranges of 40 to 1100 Km2 have been recorded
Spotted hyena live in large groups called clans. They are scavengers and hunters capable of killing zebra sized prey.They are active at night and may take livestock from poorly built kraals. They are hunt similar to dog species and often only large bones will remain.
CCB farm
1100 Km2
40 Km2
JackalJackal
JackalJackal
Jackal territories can be small and are approximately 10 to 100 Km2 in area.
Jackal are social and often live in mated pairs, they are scavengers and hunters capable of killing small antelope sized prey. They usually hunt during the morning and evening and can take young livestock.
CCB farm
10 Km2
100 Km2
Domestic dogDomestic dog
Domestic DogDomestic Dog
Dog ranges can be very small if they are near a reliable food source but feral dogs can range over 100 Km2 in area.
Dogs are social and if feral live in packs, they are scavengers and hunters capable of killing domestic livestock. They are often not effective killers and may injure a number of livestock without killing them. They can be active during the day and night.
CCB farm
3 Km2
100 Km2
CaracalCaracal
Less common conflict animalsLess common conflict animals
ServalServal
African wild catAfrican wild cat
Non - conflict animalsNon - conflict animals
Aardwolf
Bat eared foxBat eared fox
AardvarkAardvark
Honey BadgerHoney Badger
IN SUMMARYIN SUMMARY
Be informedBe informed
Know your predatorsKnow your predators Know your other animalsKnow your other animals Strive to keep improving Strive to keep improving your livestock managementyour livestock management Participate in community efforts to find Participate in community efforts to find
solutions to human/wildlife conflictsolutions to human/wildlife conflict
THREE SOLUTIONS TO THREE SOLUTIONS TO LIVESTOCK LOSSESLIVESTOCK LOSSES
MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
YOU ARE THE MANAGER…
YOU ARE THE SOLUTION