Keeping predators out: testing fences to reduce livestock depredation at night-time corrals

Gustaf Samelius,Lkhagvasumberel Tumursukh,Charudutt Mishra,Örjan Johansson,Jens Frank,Bayarjargal Agvaantseren,Tserennadmid Mijiddorj,Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi,Erdenechimeg Baasandamba

doi:10.1017/s0030605319000565

Gustaf Samelius, Lkhagvasumberel Tumursukh + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605319000565

Copy DOI

Abstract

AbstractLivestock depredation by large carnivores is a global conservation challenge, and mitigation measures to reduce livestock losses are crucial for the coexistence of large carnivores and people. Various measures are employed to reduce livestock depredation but their effectiveness has rarely been tested. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of tall fences to reduce livestock losses to snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus at night-time corrals at the winter camps of livestock herders in the Tost Mountains in southern Mongolia. Self-reported livestock losses at the fenced corrals were reduced from a mean loss of 3.9 goats and sheep per family and winter prior to the study to zero losses in the two winters of the study. In contrast, self-reported livestock losses in winter pastures, and during the rest of the year, when herders used different camps, remained high, which indicates that livestock losses were reduced because of the fences, not because of temporal variation in predation pressure. Herder attitudes towards snow leopards were positive and remained positive during the study, whereas attitudes towards wolves, which attacked livestock also in summer when herders moved out on the steppes, were negative and worsened during the study. This study showed that tall fences can be very effective at reducing night-time losses at corrals and we conclude that fences can be an important tool for snow leopard conservation and for facilitating the coexistence of snow leopards and people.

Highlights

Livestock depredation by large carnivores is a major conservation concern that results in economic loss and emotional trauma for livestock owners and can lead to retaliatory and preventive killing of carnivores (Treves & Karanth, ; Woodroffe et al, )
Developing measures to reduce livestock losses is crucial for successful conservation of large carnivores and for establishing conditions that facilitate their coexistence with people (Treves & Karanth, )
Night-time losses of goats and sheep at herder camps were similar to daytime losses of goats and sheep in the pastures for both snow leopards (χ ( ) = . , P = . ) and wolves (χ ( ) = . , P = . ) in the year prior to the study: mean livestock losses to snow leopards at night-time camps and on the pastures were . and . goats and sheep per family and year, respectively, and mean livestock losses to wolves at night-time camps and on the pastures were . and . goats and sheep per family and year, respectively (Table )

Summary

Introduction

Livestock depredation by large carnivores is a major conservation concern that results in economic loss and emotional trauma for livestock owners and can lead to retaliatory and preventive killing of carnivores (Treves & Karanth, ; Woodroffe et al, ). Developing measures to reduce livestock losses is crucial for successful conservation of large carnivores and for establishing conditions that facilitate their coexistence with people (Treves & Karanth, ). There are currently no efficient means to reduce night-time losses for large livestock holdings where it is not possible or economically feasible to build predator-proof corrals or other structures that can hold large livestock herds (but see Mohammad et al, for building walled structures that can hold up to livestock). Predator attacks at night-time corrals and other night-time holdings can be devastating to herders as they often result in mass killings that have a large impact on herder economy and emotions and thereby herder attitudes towards large carnivores in general

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion