Hunting Research Articles

The Role of Forest Police in Eradicating Bird Hunting in Alas Purwo National Park

This article aims to answer problems related to animal hunting in the Alas Purwo National Park conservation area. An indisputable fact about the richness of biodiversity and ecosystems, but with the rise of poaching can threaten the loss of life of endemic animal species. This research is descriptive qualitative, aiming to provide a systematic and clear picture of the problem of animal hunting. Data collection methods through observation, interviews, and documentation. The source of the data came from key informants, consisting of communities around buffer villages, forestry police, perpetrators of animal thieves, Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural and Biological Resources and Their Ecosystems. Data analysis using interactive models, including data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that the Government's efforts to protect endemic animals are considered less than optimal, even though regulations have been made regarding the prohibition of hunting and trading protected animals. So, it takes the role of the forestry police to act as the spearhead through preemptive, preventive, and repressive security operations. Forest police are at the forefront of combating unlawful acts.

Coleta de sêmen com uso da eletroejaculação e parâmetros espermático em pacas (Cuniculus paca, Linnaeus, 1766)

ABSTRACT Pacas (Cuniculus paca) are highly hunted animals because of the flavor of their meat, and commercial breeding is recommended. However, this species has a relatively low reproductive rate. This study aimed to collect semen from pacas through electroejaculation and obtain the sperm parameters of this species for the first time. Seven male pacas were used, submitted to an anesthetic protocol before stimulation by an electroejaculator appropriate for the species. The stimulus protocol was performed in three series: series I, 10 stimuli with 1 and 2 V; series II, 10 stimuli with 3 and 4 V; and series III, 10 stimuli with 5 V and interval between series of 2 s. The collected material was evaluated for color, volume, motility, vigor, and concentration. The sperm parameters collected showed a mean volume of 0.43±0.33 mL, concentration of 45.5±42.44×106 sperm/mL, motility of 33.33±32.14%, and mean vigor of 2.6±1.15. In this study, the anesthetic protocol did not seem to favor semen collection by electroejaculation in the pacas. The electrical stimulation protocol was able to stimulate all animals in the study; however, there were few samples with sperm cells and a low rate of motility and vigor in most ejaculates.

A case study – The occurrence of pests in stands of newly introduced energy crops in large-scale pilot experiments in conditions of Central Europe

Abstract The objective of this paper is to document the occurrence of pests recorded in a large-scale pilot field experiment, where a unique set of newly-introduced herbaceous energy crops was tested under conditions of eastern Slovakia. The set consisted of Elymus elongatus, Secale cereanum, Silphium perfoliatum, Galega orientalis, Sida hermaphrodita, Panicum virgatum, Amaranthus spp., Panicum miliaceum, Sorghum sudanense, and Sorghum bicolor. A total of 14 cultivars were tested on 4 sites during 4 crop years (2016 – 2020). At least 17 species of pests were recorded in total, as some of the species may represent the identity of the couple or several relative ones, which was rare only as usually a fower common species. The occurred pests list consists of Anisoplia lata Erichson, Agriotes lineatus L., Capreolus capreolus L., Deroceras agreste L., Oulema gallaeciana Heyden, Lepisma saccharinum L., Lepus europaeus Pallas, Meloe proscarabaeus L., Metcalfa pruinosa Say, Microtus arvalis Pallas, Philaenus spumarius L., Psylliodes chrysocephala L., Rhopalosiphum padi L., stemborers as any insect larva or arthropod boring into plant stem, Sus scrofa L., Aleyrodes proletella L., Tettigonia viridissima L., and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. Overall, the occurrence of pests was regular and scattered, and damages caused by them were negligible usually, but a total destruction of the crop stand even cultivar-specific was recorded too. Most of the meaningful pests are primarily field hunting animals and only secondarily commonly occurring insect species, which for further observations are desirable in order to capture the tendency of important pests’ overpopulation, confirming respectively. Although even rare finding of the single caterpillar of Xylena exsoleta exsoleta L. was recorded in a buffer zone, within the experiment no newly introduced pest species was recorded.

Predicting the consequences of subsistence poaching on the population persistence of a non-target species of conservation concern

Illegal animal hunting, a contributor to biodiversity loss, occurs along a relative selectivity spectrum from indiscriminate to highly selective. Extensive research has evaluated the impacts of selective hunting on animal populations. In contrast, the ways in which indiscriminate hunting pressure can shape populations of non-target species has not yet received comparable attention. We used empirical field data collection and simulation modelling to predict the persistence of an African lion population (Panthera leo) subject to indiscriminate hunting pressure from non-target subsistence poaching via wire snares in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. Our simulation modelling predicted lion population extirpation following a 50 % rise of lethal poaching pressure above the observed levels. When lethal poaching pressure doubled, the lion population was extirpated in ~70 % of our simulations. We then simulated reductions in lethal poaching pressure to quantify the predicted population recovery of lions. We found that the lion population increased by 40 % with reductions in lethal poaching pressure of 50 %. When we removed lethal poaching pressure entirely, the lion population nearly doubled in just 18 years. Our results demonstrate that by reducing the density of wire snares in the study area by just 2.79/km2, the lion population transitioned from being locally extirpated in 67 % of the simulations to reaching carrying capacity inside of two lion generations. We explore how vulnerable even non-target animals are to subsistence poaching and describe the types of applied practices that can be implemented to reduce wire snaring and effectively promote the population recovery of species of conservation concern.

Let the Elephants Talk—Exploring Ivory, the Ivory Trade, and Exchange in Southeast Africa and the Indian Ocean World in the Early 16th Century

This article explores ivory and ivory trade in early 16th century Southeast Africa, examining them through both historical and environmental lenses. It emphasizes the importance of inter and transdisciplinary research to fully understand the intricacies of the ivory trade, highlighting the need to integrate diverse data sources to understand the sociodynamics of the region and the links between hunted animals, extracted ivory, ivory work and the global networks, and markets in Africa and the Indian Ocean world. In addition, the article also discusses the limitations of the documents used, stressing the complexities of interpreting historical data, the importance of tightly weaving relevant data from other disciplines, and the need for caution when drawing conclusions based on limited evidence. This study contributes to interdisciplinary research on the history of ivory and the ivory trade in Southeast Africa, underscoring the significance of merging historical and environmental perspectives. It encourages future researchers to take a more critical approach and gather more extensive data to gain a deeper understanding of the trade’s complexities.

The Impact of Roadkill on Cervid Populations in Lithuania

Cervid roadkill, including moose, red deer and roe deer, can pose a risk to drivers and are frequently registered. However, the roadkill influence on overall cervid populations is not fully known, especially by roadkill that are not officially registered. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cervid roadkill on population abundance, evaluating (i) the proportion of ungulate–vehicle collisions not registered by official bodies, (ii) the number of roadkill in relation to hunted animals and (iii) the proportion of roadkill that occurs in forest habitat. The number of unreported roadkill was calculated based on a roadkill index assessed during 3815 registration sessions on main and national roads in Lithuania from 2002–2022. During this period, 373 moose, 712 red deer and 9179 roe deer roadkill were unreported, correlating to 13.8%, 95.8% and 31.1% of those registered by the Traffic Supervision Service. In conclusion, 39.5%, 17.5% and 20.1% of roadkill were registered on roads through forests. Moose roadkill amounted to a figure corresponding to 10% of those hunted, with the same figure for red deer being 1.8%, neither adding much mortality. At 16.5%–16.6%, the figure for roe deer might be important.

ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION BY CHEMICAL ELEMENTS (POST-TRANSITION METALS): AL, GA, IN, SN, TL, PB, BI

Technological progress is rapidly growing, but the side effect of this process is an increase in the anthropogenic impact on the environment. These factors can cause serious ecological problems. Uncontrolled hunting and exploitation of animals leads to the extinction of many species. The widespread use of plastic products results in large amounts of plastic waste that is not biodegradable and breaks up into micro- and nanoplastics. These particles accumulate in living organisms and can cause toxicity. Deforestation (especially of tropical forests) to the needs of urbanization and agriculture leads to climate change and extinction of many species of plants and animals. Industrial development and farming cause the large production of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4). This leads to a greenhouse effect and climate change. Waste of metallurgical, chemical, pharmaceutical industries, as well as household waste, enters the environment in large quantities, contaminating it. A large number of chemical elements, including post-transition metals, can be considered as anthropogenic pollutants. The purpose of this manuscript was to overview the facts of environmental pollution with post-transition metals. These metals are naturally present in the Earth's crust, however, their use in the industrial cycle has significantly increased their release into the environment. Many of them are emitted to the environment during the combustion of coal and oil, use and disposal of products, as the waste from industrial plants. Extensive pollution of water, soil, and air has been discovered. The accumulation of metals in living organisms is risky since in this way they become a component of the food chain and have a toxic effect on organisms. To date, some sources of pollution are already being restricted, e.g., more environmentally friendly alternatives are chosen, the use of leaded gasoline, Pb or Sn paints in many countries are limited. Some elements, such as Ga, In, Tl, became especially widespread with the development of the electronics. Given the exponential growth of this industry and the lack of eco-friendly recycling ways, severe environmental pollution by these metals may develop. To date, it already occurs in areas of e-waste in some countries, such as Ghana, Nigeria, India, where the accumulation of Ga, In, Tl is found not only in the environment, but also in plants, animals, and people. Increased emissions of industrial untreated waste can lead to acute toxic stress for the entire planet. The development of optimal methods for the production and utilization of these metals and their compounds is crucial in order to preserve the biosphere.

Analysis of wild animal hunting in the Caatinga biome, Bahia-Brazil: what factors influence species preference?

ABSTRACT Hunting comprises the extraction of wild animals from their natural environment for use in various purposes. In this sense, based on the Socioecological Theory of Maximization (TSM), semi-structured forms were applied to 45 hunters from rural communities located in the Caatinga region in the state of Bahia/Brazil to verify the influence of cost-benefit, perceived abundance, taste preference and multiple uses in the selection of hunted species. Fourteen species were selected to test whether hunting intensity is influenced by the presented variables. It was found that the only variable that showed statistical significance was flavor preference, increasing the chance of a species being hunted by up to three times (OR = 3.09). It is concluded that subjective variables related to culture significantly influence species selection in the study region.

A Blunt Force Trauma Analysis of Interpersonal Violence in Northern Patagonia and Southern Pampa (Argentina): An Experimental Perspective

AbstractThis article evaluates the level of interpersonal violence among human groups that inhabited northern Patagonia and southern Pampa (Argentina) during the Middle and Late Holocene, especially before contact with Europeans. We analyzed a particular type of trauma—blunt force trauma—in skull samples from several archaeological localities and compared our outcomes with those of a previous experimental work. The results agree with what is expected for small-scale societies within the regional historical and archaeological framework. The recorded percentages show a diachronic increase toward higher frequencies of this injury among males than among females and subadults, but the differences are not statistically significant. Generally, the levels of violence remained relatively constant during the period studied. Most of the injuries reflect low levels of damage, which allows us to hypothesize that the objects causing the injuries would be elements of everyday life. A smaller proportion show significant bone alteration that could be associated with weapons manufactured to exert violence or hunt animals.

Motives, other meat sources and socioeconomic status predict number of consumers with preference for two antelope species served in Enugu-Nigeria

Conservationists are raising concerns about escalating rates of illegal hunting and trading of wildlife resource for food (meat). Hunting of wild animals is associated with complex motivations and drivers that include the high demand for high-value luxury products or a preference for a particular wild animal that consumers consider nutritious over other commercial meat products. Despite the fact that the preference for animal meat from the wild could be a contributory factor hampering most conservation efforts, more studies are still focusing more on habitat destruction rather than bushmeat trade. We investigated the factors influencing preference for antelopes compared with other forms of meat (commercial and non-antelope bushmeat) sold at bushmeat retail centers of Enugu-Nigeria. Data was collected from retailers and a face-to-face interview of respondents at four different centers (selected by cluster probability sampling method) of the three rural areas over a 12-month period. A total of 283 bushbucks (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) and 211 common duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia) were provided by hunters to the retail centers. Data from 1884 semi-structured questionnaires (administered by simple random sampling) indicate most respondents preferred to consume antelope meat because it is readily availability. The duiker was consumed for its morphology and resemblance to goat. In the absence of antelope, the non-antelope bushmeat (guinea fowl) and commercial meat (pork) were consumed due to affordability. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMMs) analyses indicated that respondent age, occupation and motives were significantly related to the number of consumers of antelopes and other sources of meat at the retail centers. The younger consumers of age range 18–35 years consumed antelope and other forms of meat at the retail centers due to health benefits, while businessmen, due to availability. The selection of antelopes by the younger consumers could be an indication of a push to healthier living which may be motivated by status-seeking attitude that could in turn affect future conservation of wildlife resources.

Conservation and Sustainability of Hunted and Traded Wild Animals in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (Nigeria): Perceptions and Implications

Anthropogenic activities pose a significant threat to wildlife, including hunting, trading, overexploitation of docile species, climate change, habitat loss from deforestation, encroachment into natural habitats, and general construction. The loss of wild animal species has far-reaching impacts on the environment and its inhabitants. This study assessed the hunting, trading, and values of wild animals in the FCT, and its implications for conservation and sustainability. The research focused on six selected areas because of their diverse species and rapid development. The study took a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research. Data analysis involved SPSS for quantitative data and a non-parametric Chi-Square test for qualitative data. Stakeholders' perceptions were analyzed using the Likert scale. The results showed that most respondents were unskilled males under 35 years old. Mammals, birds, and reptiles were the most hunted and traded animals, with uncertainty about the present status of many species. Human activities were identified as the main cause of population decline, with trapping being the most common hunting method. The trade of wild animals for food was prevalent, and the awareness of wildlife conservation was low. The study emphasized the need for targeted conservation awareness programs to enhance people's understanding of the dangers associated with trading and consuming wild animals in the study areas. These findings revealed a bleak future for threatening wild animal populations and highlighted the potential risk of zoonotic disease transmission between animals and humans.

Genomic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Wildlife.

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic multi-host pathogen that threatens both human and animal health. Animals can act as a reservoir of S. aureus for humans, but very little is known about wild animals' epidemiological role. Therefore, in this study, we performed a genomic characterization of S. aureus isolates from wildlife, hunters, and their auxiliary hunting animals of Eastern Spain. Of 20 different species, 242 wild animals were examined, of which 28.1% were S. aureus carriers. The common genet, the Iberian ibex, and the European hedgehog were the species with the highest S. aureus carriage. We identified 30 different sequence types (STs), including lineages associated with wild animals such as ST49 and ST581, multispecies lineages such as ST130, ST398, and ST425, and lineages commonly isolated from humans, including ST1 and ST5. The hunters and the single positive ferret shared ST5, ST398, or ST425 with wild animals. In wildlife isolates, the highest resistance levels were found for penicillin (32.8%). For virulence factors, 26.2% of them carried superantigens, while 14.8% harbored the immune evasion cluster (IEC), which indicates probable human origin. Our findings suggest that wild animals are a reservoir of clinically relevant genes and lineages that could have the potential to be transmitted to humans. These data support the notion that wildlife surveillance is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of S. aureus as a pathogen that circulates among humans, animals, and the environment.

Parasites either reduce or increase host vulnerability to fishing: a case study of a parasitic copepod and its salmonid host

Parasites generally increase host vulnerability to predators via host manipulation for trophic transmission and reduction of host activities. Predators also select prey depending on the parasite infection status. Despite such parasites' roles in prey-predator interactions in wild animals, how parasites affect human hunting probability and resource consumption remains unknown. We examined the effects of the ectoparasitic copepod Salmincola cf. markewitschi on fish vulnerability to angling. We found that infected fish were less vulnerable compared with non-infected fish when the fish body condition was low, which was probably due to reduced foraging activity. On the contrary, infected fish were more vulnerable when the host body condition was high, probably due to the compensation of parasites' negative effects. A Twitter analysis also suggested that people avoided eating fish with parasites and that anglers' satisfaction decreased when captured fish were parasitized. Thus, we should consider how animal hunting is affected by parasites not only for catchability but also for avoiding parasite infection sources in many local regions.

Animal husbandry in Sicilian prehistory: The zooarchaeological perspective from Vallone Inferno (Scillato, Palermo)

Starting in the mid-6th millennium cal BCE, Neolithic groups occupied the midlands of Sicily. The economy of these groups was based primarily on livestock farming. Archaeological and archaeobotanical data indicate an intensification of livestock practices during the Early Bronze Age, leading to a change in the landscape in the form of more open forests.The Vallone Inferno rockshelter in the Madonie massif is one of the few sites that has been systematically excavated in these midlands, and has yielded evidence of Middle Neolithic and Early Bronze Age occupations. This work focuses on the study of prehistoric husbandry in the Sicilian midlands and highlands through the analysis of the Vallone Inferno faunal remains. Although the Middle Neolithic and Early Bronze Age faunal assemblages of Vallone Inferno are mixed, the paucity of information from other sites in this area makes their study worthwhile. The faunal remains were analysed by means of a zooarchaeological and taphonomic study.Prehistoric Sicilian shepherds adapted to the conditions and resources of the Madonie massif midlands and highlands through husbandry and hunting practices. Husbandry was based on raising sheep and goats for meat and milk and exploiting their derivatives. Cattle, pigs and hunted animals were also exploited for their meat. The hunting of deer, leporids and, most probably, wild boar for meat and skins complemented livestock farming.Although mortality profiles should be interpreted with caution, the rockshelter was probably occupied seasonally as a sheepfold during the breeding months and most likely served as an intermediate settlement between herd movements across the Madonie massif. These occupations coincide with a period in which the forests were opened up in the Madonie mountains, which is related to the practice of livestock farming.

Охотничье-промысловые звери, обитающие в заповеднике «Басеги» на границах ареалов

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of long-term series of observations on the facts of registration and population records on the territory of the Basegi Reserve (Middle Urals, Perm Krai) of five species and one hybrid form of hunting and commercial animals (reindeer, Siberian roe deer, wolverine, sable, kidus, columns) registered in this area near the borders of their areas. The basis for the work was the results of winter route records and data from the scientific card index of the Basegi Reserve, obtained over 40 years of research (1984-2023). Summarizing these materials, the author connects them with the results of his own field observations of 1989, 1999-2023 and draws conclusions about the current state of the livestock of these animals in the Basegas, possible prospects for changing the boundaries of their ranges, optimal ways to assess population density in the conditions of the mountain taiga of the Middle Urals. Judging by the data of long-term observations, reindeer are not currently found in the area of the Basegi Reserve. The Siberian roe deer is a very rare species that periodically enters the protected area during the snowless season. Sable and kidus are also rare, but the situation with these representatives of the genus Martes in the reserve is unclear and requires the use of additional research methods. Wolverine and columns are not numerous in Basegs, but they live constantly.

Epidemiological tools to assess the spread of Fascioloides magna

The giant liver fluke (Fascioloides magna) has four continuously expanding focus endemics in Europe. The parasite is considered an invasive species in our continent and could affect the local host populations or, after host switching, it can infect other potential host species. Therefore it is important to track this alien species' presence. The authors compared the gold standard test with the effectiveness of two potential screening tests, the conventional sedimentation method and an illustrated guideline-based approach, which could be applicable in the field. The gold standard test was based on the necropsy detection of adult flukes in the liver tissue of hunted animals (N=319). Besides applying the linear regression, the sensitivity and specificity were determined in both approaches. The analysis showed that the shed egg number was moderately associated with the fluke burden (R2=0.5679; p<0.0001) and the flukes' dry mass (R2=0.6016; p<0.0001). The final results of sensitivity (100%; CI95%: 97.2 – 100) and specificity (96.3%; CI95%: 92.5 – 98.5) confirmed that the illustrated guideline-based approach is a capable method for monitoring the F. magna expansion in endemic areas.

Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm With Adaptive Two-Population Strategy

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is a swarm intelligence (SI) algorithm used to solve optimization problems. Owing to its advantages in simplicity, using only a few parameters, PSO has become one of the most popular optimization algorithms. However, the single structure of PSO leads to challenges in finding the appropriate optima, resulting in low convergence accuracy. To solve the defects of PSO, it is necessary to increase the diversity of the populations involved as well as enhance the ability of the algorithm to develop locally. In this study, we propose a PSO algorithm with an adaptive two-population strategy (PSO-ATPS), which adaptively divides a population into two groups representing excellent and ordinary populations. Inspired by animal hunting behavior, a new velocity–position update method is proposed for the general population. A velocity update formulation with decreasing inertia weights based on logistic chaotic mapping is applied to the excellent population. The algorithm increases the diversity of the population by continuously changing the search strategy of the particles. In addition, a new neighborhood search strategy (oscillation strategy) is proposed, in which a particle searches randomly in its own adaptive neighborhood when its motion is stagnant and updates the particle position using an elite strategy. Among several optimization strategies, PSO-ATPS achieved first place in 7, 8, and 9 groups of tests involving 10 test functions in 3 dimensions, indicating the accuracy and effectiveness of PSO-ATPS. The results show that the performance of PSO-ATPS is competitive, and many improvements developed for PSO can be applied to PSO-ATPS, demonstrating the potential for further development.

Başlangıcından Tunç Çağları Sonuna Kadar Doğu Anadolu’nun İskanında Rol Oynayan Başlıca Faktörler

Archaeological remains from the Paleolithic Age discovered during the studies conducted in Tunceli, Erzurum, and Malatya in Eastern Anatolia reveal that the region has been a hub of attention for communities since ancient times. The primary justification for such a deep-rooted history in the region can be attributed to the plenitude of caves and shelters under rocks, rich forests, flora, and the availability of animals for hunting. Especially, the Upper Euphrates-Malatya section of the region hosted permanent settlers during the Aceramic Period. However, very few of the architectural structures of these early settlers, including the Neolithic Period, have been reached. The main reason for this is the dense alluvial soil that covers the settlements. Because the existence of movable cultural assets detected in the region, which lapsed into silence regarding architecture in the Neolithic period, contradicts this situation. The archaeological records brought together as a whole with this study, support the existence of countless artifacts in the region in the Neolithic and prehistoric periods. In some of the settlements, which we reevaluated for another purpose, the existence of Neolithic architecture was confirmed, albeit weakly, when we reached the bedrock. Archaeological traces of the strong dynamics of Halaf, Obeyd, and Uruk cultures have been encountered in the Upper Euphrates-Malatya and Upper Murat-Van sections of the region, which have not been widely covered for the Neolithic Period in the literature. As a result, both the stratigraphic accessibility and the periodic progression of the great cultural transformations in Eastern Anatolia facilitated access to the settlement data of these cultures. Additionally, the questions concerning these transformations in the dwelling policies of the settlements along with the turmoil experienced throughout the region as of the beginning of the 3rd Millennium BC were discussed. Through this process, the Kura-Araxes culture, which radically changed the settlement order, dominated the region. The loss of the authority of the Uruk culture under the influence of Mesopotamia was much more effective in maintaining this dominance. It has been determined that even during the transition period to the 2nd Millennium BC when the settlers of Kura-Araxes lost their political hegemony, the traces of the powerful settled peoples in the Upper Euphrates-Malatya section continued, though they receded gradually. It was determined that almost all the established settlements in Erzurum-Kars and Upper Murat-Van section were abandoned and people migrated to high plateaus. The sizes of a few inhabited settlements diminished, and the architectural entities declined. This cycle which was experienced in Eastern Anatolia indicates that a colossal disaster occurred. All these records document that the settlers opted for an active life to adapt to the environment. To this end, the reasons for the transformation in the settlement policies of the peoples from the beginning to the end of the Bronze Ages were discussed along with the issues regarding the settlement models.

FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY: THE DAYAK TRADITION IN THE SHADOW OF THE WORLD FOOD CRISIS

A country food security issue was essential at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 2022. It became a hot topic amid the war between Russia and Ukraine, which caused a food crisis and a world energy crisis. Climate change and COVID-19 have affected food security in the D’esa Dayak and Kantu tribes, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This paper describes the Dayak food security strategy affected by climate change and COVID-19. This study aimed to understand what food security strategies the Dayak D’esa and Dayak Kantu tribes implemented in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and the strategic processes they implemented. The research used the qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. This study talked about traditions that have developed to date and had a role in food security in their groups. The results of this study could be an example or pattern of food security for other communities. The strategies had become a traditional concept implemented by the D’esa Dayak and Kantu Dayak tribes to grow staple food, hunt animals, weave, and use a small house for keeping the food. The process of food security followed the traditions that apply to the Dayak tribal community. Foods for stocking up are rice, animal meat, and fruits.

Francisella tularensis PCR detection in Cape hares (Lepus capensis) and wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Algeria

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Leporids are primary sources of human infections in the northern hemisphere. Africa is classically considered free of tularemia, but recent data indicate that this dogma might be wrong. We assessed the presence of this disease in wild leporids in Algeria. Between 2014 and 2018, we collected 74 leporids carcasses from spontaneously dead or hunted animals. Francisella tularensis DNA was detected by specific real-time PCR tests in 7/36 (19.44%) Cape hares (Lepus capensis) and 5/38 (13.15%) wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Known tularemia arthropod vectors infested half of the PCR-positive animals. At necropsy, F. tularensis-infected animals presented with an enlarged spleen (n = 12), enlarged adrenal glands (12), liver discoloration (12), hemorrhages (11), and pneumonia (11). Immunohistological examination of liver tissue from one animal was compatible with the presence of F. tularensis. Our study demonstrates the existence of tularemia in lagomorphs in Algeria. It should encourage investigations to detect this disease among the human population of this country.