Dangerous Animals Research Articles

Shattering Reality: Monsters from the Multiverse

Kaijū media frequently features dangerous scientific experiments as a central theme, invented by scientists who are falsely convinced that they both completely understand and control their advanced technology. In the past few decades, this has included the introduction of high-energy physics (HEP) experiments—especially mammoth particle accelerators—that, among other destructive results, allow for the entrance of equally large and dangerous creatures into our world from parallel dimensions. Public concerns voiced about the safety of the creation of two groundbreaking energy accelerators—the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in New York and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Europe—in the early 21st century are tied to related science fiction media that capitalize on such fears (including Godzilla vs. Megaguirus [2000], Pacific Rim [2013], The Cloverfield Paradox [2018], The Kaiju Preservation Society [2022]). Particular attention is paid to the Netflix original series Stranger Things (2016–) as a detailed case study. This study concludes with an analysis of scientists’ attempts to embrace the popularity of Stranger Things in their communication with the general public, and suggests that ongoing issues with conspiracy theories have been fueled in part by such attempts, coupled with long-standing issues with the HEP community and their peculiar scientific naming conventions.

E. Boratynsky’s poem ‘The Stillborn’ [‘Nedonosok’] in the context of Slavic mythology

The article deals with E. Boratynsky’s poem about a spirit of a nonviable nedonosok, or stillborn, drifting between heaven and earth. Scholars have noted the poem’s affinity with works of Dante and Goethe, as well as Plato’s philosophy and the Old Testament. The present study considers the poem’s system of motifs and images in comparison with concepts found in folklore and mythology. The East Slavs believed premature or stillborn babies to be dangerous creatures. They emerged from the ‘other world’ and were ‘unclean.’ For that reason, an infant’s christening was a crucial means to humanize the baby. Unbaptized children (preterm or stillborn) were trapped in the air between heaven and earth. They were feared along with the rest of ‘unclean forces,’ e. g., spirits of sorcerers and sinners. Barred from entering heaven and restless, their existence was an agony that made others suffer as well. Boratynsky poetically interprets a popular superstition about a ‘wrongful’ or ‘bad’ death and its consequences for an infant who was forced out of this world unbaptized. These archaic topics and imagery, among others, inspired the poet’s religious and philosophical reflections.

Safe or sound? Factors influencing outdoor access, cat behavior, and hunting history with implications for conservation and welfare

Outdoor access may provide mental stimulation and enrichment for companion cats (Felis catus); however, it also raises concerns regarding their safety and predation of vulnerable local wildlife. Understanding factors that shape cats’ outdoor access and behavioral outcomes is therefore crucial for identifying nuanced solutions to the human-cat-wildlife conflict. In this exploratory study, we aimed to 1) explore owner attitudes towards providing or reducing outdoor access, 2) identify general predictors of free-roaming outdoor access, and 3) identify predictors of hunting behavior among cats that are allowed outside. Using a quantitative questionnaire (n=75 questions), we collected information on cat owners’ demographics and attitudes, their cat’s characteristics and behaviors in the home, home environment, outdoor lifestyle, and hunting history. Of 631 cat owners living near Davis, California, USA, recruited through convenience and snowball sampling, 36.7 % indicated they were keeping their cat indoor-only (n=232), 34.1 % providing supervised or controlled outdoor access (n=215), and 29.2 % providing uncontrolled, or free-roaming outdoor access (n=184). More than half of outdoor cat owners reported they were likely or somewhat likely to reduce outdoor access if they lived near busier streets (59 %, n=235), if more dangerous animals were around (59 %, n=235), if their cat stopped coming home consistently (56 %, n=223), or if they knew their cat was negatively impacting wildlife (53 %, n=211). We found that cats had higher odds of freely roaming if they were 7–10 years old compared to <1 year old (p=0.030), obtained from the street rather than a shelter (p=0.007), living within 500 ft of traffic (p=0.002), living with a dog (p=0.014) or a child (p=0.005), or if they showed aggressive behaviors in the home (p=0.008). Cats had lower odds of freely roaming if they had scratching areas in the home (p=0.017), or were living with one (p=0.020) or two (p=0.017) other cats. Among those allowed outside, cats had higher odds of having hunted prey in the last year if they were allowed to freely roam without supervision (p=0.016), or were allowed outdoors between 6:00–11:59 am (p=0.014). These results generate directions for future research in the field of companion animal management, and emphasize the role of cat owners in the intersection of animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

Assessment of anticoagulant potential of Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) against black rat (Rattus rattus Lin.) from Algeria

BackgroundBlack rats (Rattus rattus; Rodentia: Muridae) cause significant damage to agricultural and human health, and they are considered a reservoir for a variety of diseases. ObjectivesThe current study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of oral anticoagulants derived from Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb. to these dangerous animals. MethodFour selected doses (100, 150, 200 and 300 mg/day/kg of individual weight) and one control were utilized, with 10 repetitions of each dose (5 ♂ and 5 ♀). The extract was powdered on dates as bait. ResultsUPLC-ESI/MS-MS chromatography identified three distinct coumarins (coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and 4-hydroxycoumarin). The results showed that the fourth dose used caused the highest number of deaths (100 % after three days of treatment). In contrast, after 48 h of therapy, all rats examined showed lethargy, anorexia and unconsciousness, followed by rapid death at 72 h in the treated individuals. The LD50 was recorded at 146.4 mg.kg−1 with a LT50 of 59.37 h. At the end of the experiment, the autopsies of all deceased individuals allowed us to observe the bleeding of their internal organs. The analysis of PT and aPTT demonstrated that the halophyte under investigation possesses anticoagulant activity that increased with the concentration. Histological sections of the liver revealed cellular alteration and significant necrosis. As well, the kidneys had vascular occlusion with an inflammatory filtrate. ConclusionsTo reduce food losses and wastes caused by these pests, H. strobilaceum will be an important plant for use in protecting against invasive rodents, especially in environmental and stored product programs focused at eradicating rodent pests.

Hadza Landscape Burning.

We present the first published ethnographic description of landscape burning by Hadza hunter-gatherers of northern Tanzania and identify environmental, social, and cultural influences on Hadza landscape burning, thereby broadening the ethnographic record of anthropogenic burning practices described for hunter-gatherer communities. We report interview data collected in 2022 and 2023, describing their practices and attitudes regarding the causes and consequences of burning. We provide context by comparing our observations with those recorded for hunting and gathering populations in Africa, Australia, and North America. Hadza landscape burning is generally a solitary and male-dominated activity, contrary to ethnographic accounts of Indigenous landscape burning from North America and Australia. The primary goals stated by Hadza for landscape burning were improved hunting, reduced hazards from dangerous animals, and to reduce the density of livestock. Firsthand observations suggest that landscape burning has decreased over the past 20 years, and this historical trend is supported by interviews. Satellite imagery also suggests an overall decrease in burning activity in the region from 2001 to 2022. Among the Hadza, landscape burning is a culturally influenced and strongly gender-biased activity that is rapidly disappearing. Because burning can radically transform landscapes, these practices often generate or amplify conflicts of interest between groups with different land use strategies. Hadza report serious social conflict with pastoralists over landscape burning, and our study suggests this tension has constrained the practice in the past two decades.

Metatranscriptomic analysis of common mosquito vector species in the Canadian Prairies.

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals on the planet, responsible for over 800,000 deaths per year globally. This is because they carry and transmit a plethora of human disease-causing microorganisms, such as West Nile virus and the malaria parasite. Recent innovations in nucleic acid sequencing technologies have enabled researchers unparalleled opportunities to characterize the suite of microorganisms harbored by different mosquito species, including the causal agents of disease. In our study, we carried out 3 years of intensive mosquito surveillance in Canada. We collected and characterized the microorganisms harbored by >35,000 mosquitoes, including the identification of the agents of Cache Valley fever, avian malaria, and canine heartworm. We also detected insect-specific viruses and discovered 17 new viruses that have never been reported. This study, which is the first of its kind in Canada and one of only a handful globally, will greatly aid in future infectious disease research.

Traditional beliefs prolong outbreaks of man-eating lions

From the 1800s to the 1950s, “spirit lions” and “spirit leopards” were blamed for countless deaths across Africa that were in fact caused by a combination of genuine carnivore attacks and murders instigated by witch doctors and secret societies. The widespread belief in supernatural spirit animals was viewed by the colonial authorities as rendering populations more vulnerable to further attacks by actual lions and leopards, as villagers were often reluctant to take concrete steps to eliminate the dangerous animals. Nearly a thousand people were attacked by lions in southern Tanzania between 1990 and 2006, involving 32 spatially discrete outbreaks that had been categorized by local communities as having been caused either by spirit lions or by real lions. Our interviews revealed that at least 40% of adults in three of the worst-hit districts believed in spirit lions and that this belief generally delayed their communities’ response. Consequently, outbreaks that were attributed to spirit lions persisted far longer than those attributed to real lions and included nearly twice as many victims. Belief in spirit lions declined with level of primary-school education, and male respondents were less likely to express a belief in spirit lions when interviewed by an American woman than by a Tanzanian man.

Private Keeping of Dangerous Wild Animals in Great Britain.

We analysed the licences issued by British local government authorities under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which regulates the private keeping of wild animals categorised as "dangerous", to assess the scope and scale of private keeping of dangerous wild animals in Great Britain. Results are compared with historical data from England and Wales, showing that there has been an overall decrease both in the total population of dangerous wild animals privately kept under licence and the number of licences, resulting primarily from a decrease in the farming of wild boar and ostrich, and from certain other species no longer requiring a licence to be kept. Nonetheless, the private keeping of dangerous wild animals remains prevalent, with a total population of 3950 animals kept under licence, and at least one-third of local authorities in Britain licensing keepers of one or more such animals. The population of non-farmed dangerous taxa has increased by 59% in 20 years, with notable increases in crocodilians (198%), venomous snakes (94%), and wild cats (57%). We present evidence that the average cost of a licence to keep dangerous wild animals has fallen over time, and that there is a negative association between cost and licensing. The current schedule of species categorised as dangerous is compared to a formally recognised list of species kept in zoos assessed by risk to the public. Problems with the legislation, enforcement of the licensing system, and animal welfare for privately kept dangerous wild animals are identified and discussed.

Stability of fecal microbiota during degradation in ex situ cheetahs in the USA

Objective Gut health and its relationship to gut microbiota is an important consideration in the care and well-being of managed endangered species, such as the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Non-invasive fecal sampling as a proxy for gut microbiota is preferred and collecting fresh fecal samples is the current gold standard. Unfortunately, even in managed facilities, collecting fresh samples from difficult to observe or dangerous animals is challenging. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine the terminal collection timepoint for fecal microbial studies in the cheetah. Methods We longitudinally sampled eight freshly deposited fecals every 24 h for 5 days and assessed bacterial relative abundance, diversity, and composition changes over time. Results Our data indicated that fecal samples up to 24 h post defecation provided accurate representations of the fresh fecal microbiome. After 24 h, major changes in community composition began to occur. By 72 h, individual cheetah fecal microbiota signatures were lost. Conclusion Our findings suggest that cheetah fecal samples should be collected within 24 h of defecation in humid environments, especially if precipitation occurs, in order to provide a more biologically accurate representation of the gut microbiome, and we provide visual characteristics that can aid researchers in approximating time since defecation. Significance statement Data from this study provides guidelines for researchers investigating cheetah and other large felids and carnivores where the ability to collect fresh fecal deposits is limited.

Farmer Friendly Solar Based Electric Fence for Rural Agriculture

Agriculture provides all the people’s food needsas well as a variety of raw materials for industry. However, there is a significant loss of crops due to animal intrusion in agricultural lands. Wild animals will wreak havoc on crops. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye out for animals in the region. Then various devices should be activated to repel the dangerous animals. Operational amplifier circuits are put in place primarily for the purpose of detecting animal intrusion into the farm. The completed protection system is responsible for providing early warning of potential wild animal intrusion and harm. Key Words: agriculture operational amplifier circuits farm

Proximate causes and perceptions of livestock keepers toward the risks of illegal grazing in Serengeti National Park

ABSTRACT This study used a semi-structured questionnaire to investigate proximate causes of livestock grazing in Serengeti National Park (SNP) and the perceptions of livestock keepers about the risks involved. We found that insufficient pasturage and water for cattle in the districts and the large number of cattle competing for common pasturage are perceived as the proximate causes. In addition, majority of livestock keepers fear being arrested inside the park. However, most of the large herders do not fear dangerous wild animals because they use defensive techniques. The responsible authorities should promote grazing practices that consider rangeland conditions, readiness, and stocking rates.

Nazarin Wasu Waibuwar Masunta

Fishing has long been a revered traditional occupation within Hausa society, dating back to ancient times. This paper, titled "The Fishermen's Magic and Wonders," aims to analyze the magical and extraordinary practices exhibited by fishermen in Hausa society during traditional ceremonies, special occasions, or in times of dire predicament. Given the inherent risks and dangers associated with fishing, fishermen have historically sought precautions and protections against the hazards they encounter in rivers. This necessity has rendered them deeply knowledgeable and vigilant in all activities related to water. Additionally, they offer specialized treatments or remedies to individuals afflicted by waterborne diseases or injuries sustained from encounters with dangerous aquatic animals.

Death and injuries caused by cattle: A forensic overview.

Lethal episodes arising from interactions with cattle may be the result of a response of the animals to simple handling and herding, or from reactions to deliberate provocation or goading intended to incite aggressive behavior for public entertainment purposes. Deaths may be considered to be unprovoked and unanticipated, or provoked and predictable. Cattle cause significant numbers of deaths globally and are considered the most dangerous large animal in Britain. Behavior may be unpredictable even in apparently docile domesticated animals, and attacks may be by a single animal or a herd and result in injuries from kicking, head/butting/charging, stomping, goring, and crushing. Craniofacial injuries may involve fractures of the spine or skull with cerebral contusions and lacerations associated with subarachnoid, subdural, and extradural hemorrhages. Chest injuries are also characterized by fractures which may be multiple with flail chest, hemo- and pneumothoraces, and organ disruption. Injuries to the abdomen and perineum include intestinal perforations, splenic rupture, perineal and vaginal tears, urethral lacerations and avulsions, and bladder and rectal perforations. Significant vascular injuries include complete and partial transections and lacerations. Males living in rural areas are most at risk of a fatal encounter.

Występowanie i zwalczanie wysoce zjadliwej grypy ptaków w krajach Unii Europejskiej, w tym w Polsce w sezonie 2020/2021

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is one of the most contagious and dangerous infectious animal diseases of the twenty first century. Its recurring outbreaks in recent years have been increasing in scope and have resulted in previously unrecorded losses in poultry production, related to both its high mortality rate and the need to kill poultry in outbreaks, as well as economic losses related to trade restrictions imposed on affected countries and regions. An increase in the average duration of the so-called „flu season” was also observed. This is related to the shift in the phenological calendar observed in nature, which was created based on the analysis of climatic factors, weather and the impact on animal behavior. Currently, in the countries of the European Union, the direct legal basis for the control of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the EU, is provided by the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) (Animal Health Law, AHL), while the detailed manner and mode of control of this disease is defined in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of December 17, 2019.

Problems with the diagnosis of haemotropic mycoplasma - like infection in the European wisent (Bison bonasus)

A veterinarian treating wildlife must sometimes provide assistance to a sick animal based on incomplete data. Animals of special biological value are not the same as livestock. Some procedures routinely performed on domestic animals require pharmacological restraint in the veterinary service of large and dangerous wild animals. Therefore, such procedures are performed only in situations of absolute necessity. Such a situation took place in the Gdańsk zoo when a young European wisent (Bison bonasus) showed symptoms of haemotropic mycoplasma infection. Hemotropic mycoplasmas cause intravascular infection by attaching to red blood cells and triggering an immune response leading to elimination of the affected cells. This process can result in the development of hemolytic anemia. The case of suspected hemotropic mycoplasmosis in a European wisent described in this paper concerns an almost 2-year-old female, who lost her mother at the age of 11 months and from that time was the lowest in the hierarchy in the group of 10 wisents exposed at the zoo. The disease was manifested by emaciation, marked weakness, protrusion of the third eyelid and severe pallor of the mucous membranes. The sick animal was immobilized. Collected blood showed significant anemia (RBC 1.51 T/l, Ht 0.08 l/l), and microscopic imaging showed characteristic cells adjacent to erythrocytes suggestive of hemotropic mycoplasma infection. The animal was treated with a long-acting oxytetracycline administered three times a week, for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6-week treatment the wisent was immobilized and it was found that the nutritional status of the animal improved, the third eyelid returned to its physiological state and the pallor of the mucous membranes disappeared completely. Examination proved that the red blood cells and hematocrit reached a state that could be interpreted as physiological (RBC 4.89 T/l, Ht 0.26 l/l0, no microscopic changes of RBCs. Unfortunately, the available laboratory methods did not confirm the presence of mycoplasma genetic material. However, the efficacy of the used antibiotic therapy could be a confirmation that the disease was caused by hemotropic mycoplasmas.

Improvement of the sensitivity of lateral flow systems for detecting mycotoxins: Up-to-date strategies and future perspectives.

Mycotoxins are dangerous human and animal health-threatening secondary fungal metabolites that can be found in various food and agricultural products. Several countries have established regulations to restrict their presence in food and agricultural products destined for human and animal consumption. Consequently, the need to develop highly sensitive and smart detection systems was recognized worldwide. Lateral flow assay possesses the advantages of easy operation, rapidity, stability, accuracy, and specificity, and it plays an important role in the detection of mycotoxins. Nevertheless, strategies to comprehensively improve the sensitivity of lateral flow assay to mycotoxins in food have rarely been highlighted and discussed. In this article, a comprehensive overview was presented on the application of lateral flow assay in mycotoxin detection in food samples by highlighting the principle of lateral flow assay, presenting a detailed discussion on various analytical performance-improvement strategies, such as the development of high-affinity recognition reagents, immunogen immobilization methods, and signal amplification. Additionally, a detailed discussion on the various signal analyzers and interpretation approaches was provided. Finally, current hurdles and future perspectives on the application of lateral flow assay in the detection of mycotoxins were discussed.

A Novel Framework for Detection of Harmful Snakes Using YOLO Algorithm

The spotlight of our discussion here is on developing a model for detecting snakes present in the agricultural fields using cameras and machine learning algorithms. The idea is to construct a machine learning model to identify the snakes, which will be trained on a vast set of images of snakes. These images will be carefully selected to include the snake patterns, skin color of different species of snakes (extraction of the unique features). This is done to train the model properly to identify different types of snakes that the farmer encounters in the fields. Most famers are unaware and have a need for a way to detect these snakes so that they can either avoid them or get rid of them. Hence, this system can be implemented to prevent thousands of deaths and can help famers alleviate the repercussions of snake bites. Mistakes in recognizing potentially harmful animal species based only on visual cues are major contributors to the high death toll from venomous animal attacks. Since they spend so much time in the fields, where rice and wheat are cultivated, farmers are at a higher risk of being bitten by a snake than the general population. Because of their ignorance, illiterate farmers are more inclined to believe in superstitions, which can lead to their untimely deaths from snakebites despite medical intervention. Animals that would normally pose no threat to humans are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people every year because of environmental factors. However, because it is hard for humans to recognize these dangers, a new design paradigm has been developed to make it simpler. Researchers in the field of animal biology can use it to search for endangered species. Predators may enter gardens and green areas like tea and coffee plantations. There is not yet a plan in place to implement automated sorting for discovering distinctions. By applying the suggested framework to photographs of potentially dangerous animals, several factors useful for studying animal organization may be easily identified. For the classifier to run in real-time, it is suggested that YOLO be utilized for double processing within the framework. Furthermore, the YOLO technique enables quick animal recognition in a similar fashion. First, the YOLO method will be used to determine whether a snake is present in the proposed work. Here, 87 percent precision is also reached in the detection of snakes.

Exotic pet trade in Canada: The influence of social media on public sentiment and behaviour

The live trade in wild animals can increase the risk of escape of exotic animals, introduce invasive species, spread zoonotic diseases, over-exploit wild populations, and harm animal welfare. Trade in exotic pets is a particularly understudied issue in Canada. While Canadians generally have pro-environmental attitudes, it is unclear whether this extends to the trade in exotic animals. With most Canadians on social media, we aimed to use Natural Language Processing of social data to examine public sentiment towards exotic pet trade in Canada. We analysed 9,274 posts on Twitter (now 'X') about exotic pets between 2012 and 2022, and 150,236 comments from 2568 TikTok videos showing exotic pets from 50 unique Canadian accounts. We found that social media users demonstrate markedly positive attitudes towards the live trade in reptiles and amphibians, mammals, birds, and arachnids and insects, even on TikTok videos showing poor animal care and questionable legality. We propose a conceptual framework for how exotic pet influencers directly and indirectly contribute to increased demand for exotic pets through opinion leadership, sharing information on where to buy exotic pets, and normalising exotic pet ownership. We suggest that it is important to raise public awareness among social media users about the challenges associated with wildlife trade, including animal welfare considerations, and the links between exotic pet trade and conservation.

FINNCH: Cooperative Pursuit Navigation for a Pursuer Team to Capture a Single Evader in Urban Environments

The development of a cooperative pursuit strategy for capturing escaping criminals or dangerous animals in urban public safety emergencies is becoming increasingly in demand. An ideal strategy should consider both the encirclement needed to prevent criminals from evading and the distance that pursuers need to move. This article proposes a fine-grained navigation network-based cooperative hunting (FINNCH) method. A fine-grained navigation network is created to provide detailed information about the traversability in urban areas. Three interaction rules inspired by biological behaviors in nature are introduced to achieve dynamic cooperation between pursuers. An heuristic search strategy is used to guide the pursuers toward potentially good directions, which consequently reduces the search effort. Two spatial constraints, namely, the direction centrality constraint (DCC) and encirclement distance constraint (EDC), are then constructed to evenly distribute the pursuers around the evader. Several experiments are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. The results show that FINNCH can provide navigation for multiple pursuers in complex urban environments comprised of roads, meadows, trees, water, and buildings. These findings point to the promising future of FINNCH for practical applications.

Big-cat hunting in the Bronze and Iron Ages of the Near East: a view from Tel Burna

In ancient Near Eastern iconography, panthers and lions were frequently used to express social status. The zooarchaeological remains of panthers and lions found in this region, however, are most commonly interpreted only as evidence for the management of dangerous animals. Starting with the faunal material from Iron Age Tel Burna, the authors collate and analyse zooarchaeological evidence for big cats across the Near East, from the Neolithic to the Iron Age (c. 9500–50 BC). The results show a shift in assemblage composition and find contexts starting in the Chalcolithic period, indicating the display of these animals by political leaders. The results also urge caution in the use of archaeological remains for reconstructing the natural ranges of big cats.