Wild Dogs Research Articles

A novel record of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Malawi.

Most African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) populations are in decline and, due to habitat fragmentation and conflict rates in areas of higher anthropogenic land-use, are primarily restricted to protected areas. As a species that occurs at low densities, with a strict reproductive social structure, wild dogs rely on long-range dispersal to facilitate colonization, reproduction, and pack formation. In Malawi, large carnivores have been subject to widespread population decline and several protected areas have a reduced large carnivore guild, including the loss of resident wild dog populations. Here, during a biodiversity monitoring camera trap survey, we captured a novel record of wild dogs in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (Vwaza), Malawi. The 11 photographic captures of potentially three individual wild dogs represent the first documented evidence of the species in Vwaza and the first record since an unconfirmed report in 2011. We hypothesize that this group of wild dogs moved into Vwaza through the Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (MZTFCA), with the MZTFCA linking protected areas in Malawi with the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. The evidence provided here, and similar documentation in Kasungu National Park, Malawi, show that large carnivores can potentially move through the MZTFCA into protected areas in Malawi. We argue that the MZTFCA provides an important dispersal corridor that could help facilitate the recolonization of wild dogs, and other large carnivores, in Malawian protected areas. However, further research is needed to assess the permeability and status of the MZTFCA corridor into Malawi. We show that camera traps can be useful to document novel records of rare species and can be used to inform conservation management planning.

Evaluating patterns and drivers of mammal space use and richness in the Angolan savannah woodlands of the Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

AbstractLarge transboundary protected areas such as the Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA‐TFCA), improve mammal conservation by addressing biodiversity threats on regional and international levels, but an adequate understanding of mammal space use and richness within protected areas is critical for effective management planning. This information has however been missing from the Angolan component of the KAZA‐TFCA, such as areas of Luengue‐Luiana National Park (LLNP), especially compared with neighbouring countries. We used camera trap data from 2021 to 2023 to investigate species richness of medium‐ and large‐sized mammals in two hotspot areas of LLNP, as well as assess the space use patterns of 9 carnivore and 16 herbivore species. A total of 48 species were recorded over 10,781 camera trapping nights, with African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and small antelope (e.g. common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia and steenbok Raphicerus campestris) being the most common. Species composition differed significantly between sites, with 21 species more relatively abundant at Ndunjuru, including cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), and eight species more relatively abundant at Bico, including lion (Panthera leo) and hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). The detection probability of 22 species were affected by one or more ecological (e.g. proximity to rivers) or anthropogenic (e.g. human settlement) covariate. These results are intended to act as a baseline to monitor conservation effort and aid habitat management in LLNP, as well as similar protected areas within the KAZA‐TFCA and elsewhere.

Higher Mortality Is Not a Universal Cost of Dispersal: A Case Study in African Wild Dogs.

AbstractMortality is considered one of the main costs of dispersal. A reliable evaluation of mortality, however, is often hindered by a lack of information about the fate of individuals that disappear under unexplained circumstances (i.e., missing individuals). Here, we addressed this uncertainty by applying a Bayesian mortality analysis that inferred the fate of missing individuals according to information from individuals with known fate. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that mortality during dispersal is higher than mortality among nondispersers using 32 years of mark-resighting data from a free-ranging population of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in northern Botswana. Contrary to expectations, we found that mortality during dispersal was lower than mortality among nondispersers, indicating that higher mortality is not a universal cost of dispersal. Our findings suggest that group living can incur costs for certain age classes, such as limited access to resources as group density increases, that exceed the mortality costs associated with dispersal. By challenging the accepted expectation of higher mortality during dispersal, we urge for further investigations of this key life history trait and propose a robust statistical approach to reduce bias in mortality estimates.

Occupancy model to unveil wildlife utilization at Yeongyang-gun wind farm management road, Korea

Wind power is a rapidly growing renewable energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides sustainable energy. However, environmental destruction in wind power plant areas, particularly in wind farms within forests, is an emerging issue. This study aimed to analyze the impact of wind-farm roads on terrestrial animals in forested areas. A camera trap survey was conducted to investigate the impact of road management on wildlife behavior. We installed 52 cameras along roads connecting wind turbines for three months (1st October to 30th December 2021) on the Yeongyang-gun wind farm in South Korea and evaluated animal occupancy and detection probabilities using an occupancy model. Factors related to terrain and vegetation were used to estimate the occupancy probability (station use). The detection analysis included the presence or absence of guardrails, wind turbines, shrublands, and retaining walls. Additional variables included camera type, number of camera-operating days, and survey time. During the survey period, seven terrestrial mammals (roe deer, wild boar, water deer, raccoon dogs, badgers, leopards, cats, and martens) were captured using cameras. Based on camera trap records, roe deer was the most dominant species, followed by wild boars, raccoon dogs, and water deer, with fewer badgers and martens. The presence of forests in the road area was a significant factor for most species in terms of use probability, and camera type was significant for detection probability. Detecting animals along roads shows that roads are passageways for wildlife, affecting animal behavior during vehicle movement and can cause habitat disconnection. Our results demonstrate that wind farms are indirectly linked to wildlife distribution and welfare. Effective management policies for mitigating wildlife disruption can support sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity. The results of this study can serve as a reference for supporting wildlife conservation, terrestrial ecosystems, and environmental impact assessments.

RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY OF CAPTIVE AFRICAN WILD DOGS (LYCAON PICTUS) HELD WITHIN UNITED KINGDOM ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2020.

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is part of captive breeding programs designed to support free-living populations and genetic diversity. This study's aim was to identify common causes of morbidity and mortality objectively in United Kingdom captive African wild dogs to inform management recommendations that will improve health and welfare and reduce disease prevalence. Data were gathered from 140 individual dogs housed in 10 institutions, with morbidity records for 122 individuals and 70 postmortem reports. Descriptive statistics including the Mann-Whitney U test and odds ratios were used to analyze morbidity and mortality across age and sex. The most common cause of death for African wild dogs, excluding those,< 7 d old, was trauma (23%), followed by geriatric (18%), degenerative (15%), and neoplastic (14%) conditions. The most common morbidity was also trauma (62%), of which 76% was caused by intraspecific aggression. Integumentary disease secondary to trauma was the most common morbidity by body system. Eight independent incidents of barbiturate toxicosis from consumption of contaminated carcasses, affecting 18 animals, were identified. Records for neonatal deaths were incomplete and conclusions limited; neonatal loss was estimated at 20.5%. Recommendations include research into factors affecting intraspecific aggression in captivity, operant conditioning for hand injection, provision of dietary carcasses from reputable sources, and improved record-keeping.

Distribution and population status of the African wild dog in Bicuar National Park, Angola: Insights from interview-based surveys and camera trapping

Distribution and population status of the African wild dog in Bicuar National Park, Angola: Insights from interview-based surveys and camera trapping

Molecular Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum in Small Wild Mammals, Dogs, and Cats from Areas of Remaining Forest in the Brazilian Amazon

Histoplasma capsulatum is the etiological agent of histoplasmosis, which can infect birds and different mammal species, including humans. In Brazil, the disease is not notifiable, and little is known about its infection in domestic and wild mammals. This study aimed to perform the molecular detection of H. capsulatum in small wild mammals from peri-urban forest remnants and in dogs and cats peri-domiciled in rural communities adjacent to these fragments in the Pará State, Brazilian Amazon. Samples of lung, liver, and skin were collected from free-living rats and marsupials captured in three peri-urban forest patches, as well as blood and skin from dogs and cats. H. capsulatum DNA was detected by nested PCR amplification, with products sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. H. capsulatum DNA was detected in 9.5% (12/126) of small wild mammals, with rats having a higher frequency of positive animals (25.6%; 10/39) when compared to marsupials (2.3%; 2/87) ( p = 0.0001 ). The frequencies of positive dogs and cats were 1.6% (2/121) and 5.5% (1/18), respectively. A higher frequency of infection by H. capsulatum was observed among small wild mammals when compared to dogs and cats ( p = 0.0143 ). In conclusion, H. capsulatum infection occurs in rats, marsupials, dogs, and cats in the Brazilian Amazon, with rats being important sentinels of the presence of this fungus in areas of remaining forest.

Exploring Pathogenic and Zoonotic Bacteria from Wild Rodents, Dogs, and Humans of the Ngorongoro District in Tanzania Using Metagenomics Next-Generation Sequencing

Globally, zoonoses have serious consequences due to their socioeconomic impacts. Ngorongoro District is home to a diverse range of wildlife and domestic animals, including rodents and dogs, which often coexist in close proximity with humans. The aim of the study was to identify the zoonotic bacteria present in wild rodents, domestic dogs, and humans using metagenomics next-generation sequencing technology. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. This study used both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies to identify bacteria in 530 blood samples collected from humans (n = 200), wild rodents (n = 230), and dogs (n = 100). Several zoonotic airborne/contagious bacteria, including Mycobacterium spp., Mycoplasma spp., Bordetella spp., and Legionella spp., were detected in wild rodents, domestic dogs, and humans. Arthropod-borne zoonotic bacteria such as Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., and Rickettsia spp. were detected in all three hosts, while Orientia spp. was found in wild rodents and domestic dogs. Yersinia pestis, Streptobacillus spp. and Anaplasma spp. were found only in wild rodents. Other zoonotic bacteria found shared among wild rodents, domestic dogs, and humans are Leptospira spp., Brucella spp., and Salmonella spp. Generally, wild rodents had the highest prevalence of zoonotic bacterial species when compared to domestic dogs and humans. The detection of zoonotic bacteria in rodents, dogs, and humans supports the hypothesis that infections can spread between animals and humans sharing the same environment.

Climate change is predicted to cause population collapse in a cooperative breeder.

It has been suggested that animals may have evolved cooperative breeding strategies in response to extreme climatic conditions. Climate change, however, may push species beyond their ability to cope with extreme climates, and reduce the group sizes in cooperatively breeding species to a point where populations are no longer viable. Predicting the impact of future climates on these species is challenging as modelling the impact of climate change on their population dynamics requires information on both group- and individual-level responses to climatic conditions. Using a single-sex individual-based model incorporating demographic responses to ambient temperature in an endangered species, the African wild dog Lycaon pictus, we show that there is a threshold temperature above which populations of the species are predicted to collapse. For simulated populations with carrying capacities equivalent to the median size of real-world populations (nine packs), extinction risk increases once temperatures exceed those predicted in the best-case climate warming scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP] 2.6). The threshold is higher (between RCP 4.5 and RCP 6.0) for larger simulated populations (30 packs), but 84% of real-world populations number <30 packs. Simulated populations collapsed because, at high ambient temperatures, juvenile survival was so low that packs were no longer recruiting enough individuals to persist, leading them to die out. This work highlights the importance of social dynamics in determining impacts of climatic variables on social species, and the critical role that recruitment can play in driving population-level impacts of climate change. Population models parameterised on long-term data are essential for predicting future population viability under climate change.

Spread of rabies in the Kyiv Oblast during 2020-2022

In Ukraine, there is a prominent level of rabies circulation among domestic and wild carnivores. Consequently, the epizootic situation of rabies in Ukraine requires studying the spread of this infection using modern surveillance tools, which allow for territorial assessment and identification of risk zones during analysis. The purpose of this research was to describe the spatial characteristics of the rabies epizootic in the Kyiv Oblast during 2020-2022, focusing on both wild and domestic animals. Official reporting data were analysed to examine the total number of samples of pathological material (brain tissue) collected from various animal species with suspected rabies. Positive samples were georeferenced and visualized using software to form clusters of rabies cases based on years and types of animals, creating point layers and density mapping of cases. The analysis revealed that in the Kyiv Oblast, 1788 samples of pathological brain material from animals with suspected rabies were examined, of which 237 were positive. The largest number of samples belonged to wild animals (primarily foxes), acting as a reservoir of the infection. The proportion of wild animals accounted for 64.4% of the total examined, but the number of positive samples varied between 1.7% and 5.5%. Compared to domestic animals (cats and dogs), this figure reached up to 30.0% of the total number of samples examined. Other animal species accounted for 3.2% of positive cases among the total examined. Thus, the highest morbidity rate was observed in domestic animals, representing 72.1% of the total identified positive cases. The highest density of rabies cases in the Kyiv Oblast was observed in the southwest and centre. Persistent clusters of rabies cases were in the Bila Tserkva district and the western outskirts of Kyiv. In the western part of Kyiv, the cluster was formed by cases in wild animals, cats, and dogs. In the Bila Tserkva district, the cluster was formed by cases in wild animals, cats, dogs, and cattle. The highest density of rabies cases in wild animals was registered on the western outskirts of Kyiv

Habitat shifts in response to predation risk are constrained by competition within a grazing guild

IntroductionPredators can affect prey not only by killing them, but also by causing them to alter their behavior, including patterns of habitat selection. Prey can reduce the risk of predation by moving to habitats where predators are less likely to detect them, less likely to attack, or less likely to succeed. The interaction of such responses to risk with other ecological processes remains relatively unstudied, but in some cases, changes in habitat use to avoid predation may be constrained by competition: larger, dominant competitors should respond freely to predation risk, but the responses of smaller, subordinate competitors may be constrained by the responses of dominant competitors. For large grazing herbivores, an alternative hypothesis proposes that smaller prey species are vulnerable to more predators, and thus should respond more strongly to predation risk.MethodsHere, we tested these two hypotheses with 775 observations of habitat selection by four species of obligate grazers (zebra, wildebeest, puku and oribi) in the immediate presence or absence of four large carnivores (lion, spotted hyena, African wild dog and cheetah) in three ecosystems (Greater Liuwa, Greater Kafue and Luangwa Valley). Patterns of predation within this set were described by observation of 1,105 kills.ResultsOur results support the hypothesis that responses to predation risk are strongest for larger, dominant competitors. Even though zebras were killed least often, they showed the strongest shift into cover when carnivores were present. Wildebeest, puku and oribi showed weaker habitat shifts, even though they were more frequently killed. These patterns remained consistent in models that controlled for differences in the hunting mode of the predator (stalking, coursing, or intermediate) and for differences among ecosystems. There was no evidence that smaller species were subject to predation by a broader set of predators. Instead, smaller prey were killed often by smaller predators, and larger prey were killed often by larger predators.DiscussionBroadly, our results show that responses to predation risk interact with interspecific competition. Accounting for such interactions should help to explain the considerable variation in the strength of responses to predation risk that has been observed.

Cheetah spatiotemporal overlap with other large carnivores and prey at camera-trap sites: do they fit the niche-complementarity hypothesis?

In guilds, such as the large predators, species compete over multiple resources that are both consumable and non-consumable. The niche complementary hypothesis states that competitors can overlap in resource use if there is low overlap for at least one shared resource. In Africa, cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, compete with other large carnivores across space, time and prey and are known to be subordinate; however, rarely has the entire guild been considered when assessing resource partitioning by cheetah. Using camera-trap data from four areas sampled over 4 years, we compared spatial and temporal overlap between cheetah and other large carnivores. Moreover, we estimated short-term avoidance of sites by cheetah after another large carnivore had visited. We show that cheetah align with the niche complementary hypothesis to avoid other large carnivores. Cheetah experienced high overlap with African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, activity patterns but avoided sites that were used frequently by them. The inverse was observed for lion, Panthera leo, and spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta, with cheetah avoiding them across time but not space. Cheetah experienced moderate overlap with leopard, Panthera pardus, across both space and time, with only possible short-term avoidance occurring. Finally, cheetah exhibited high levels of spatial and temporal overlap with preferred prey species, suggesting a novel demonstration of the trade-off between resource acquisition and predator avoidance. Our results showcase the importance of taking multiple scales and resource axes into consideration when determining species abilities to co-exist and provides tools for managers working in highly managed systems.

Optimizing the automated recognition of individual animals to support population monitoring.

Reliable estimates of population size and demographic rates are central to assessing the status of threatened species. However, obtaining individual-based demographic rates requires long-term data, which is often costly and difficult to collect. Photographic data offer an inexpensive, noninvasive method for individual-based monitoring of species with unique markings, and could therefore increase available demographic data for many species. However, selecting suitable images and identifying individuals from photographic catalogs is prohibitively time-consuming. Automated identification software can significantly speed up this process. Nevertheless, automated methods for selecting suitable images are lacking, as are studies comparing the performance of the most prominent identification software packages. In this study, we develop a framework that automatically selects images suitable for individual identification, and compare the performance of three commonly used identification software packages; Hotspotter, I3S-Pattern, and WildID. As a case study, we consider the African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, a species whose conservation is limited by a lack of cost-effective large-scale monitoring. To evaluate intraspecific variation in the performance of software packages, we compare identification accuracy between two populations (in Kenya and Zimbabwe) that have markedly different coat coloration patterns. The process of selecting suitable images was automated using convolutional neural networks that crop individuals from images, filter out unsuitable images, separate left and right flanks, and remove image backgrounds. Hotspotter had the highest image-matching accuracy for both populations. However, the accuracy was significantly lower for the Kenyan population (62%), compared to the Zimbabwean population (88%). Our automated image preprocessing has immediate application for expanding monitoring based on image matching. However, the difference in accuracy between populations highlights that population-specific detection rates are likely and may influence certainty in derived statistics. For species such as the African wild dog, where monitoring is both challenging and expensive, automated individual recognition could greatly expand and expedite conservation efforts.

SensorDrop: A system to remotely detach individual sensors from wildlife tracking collars.

The growing diversity of animal-borne sensor types is revolutionizing our understanding of wildlife biology. For example, researcher-developed sensors, such as audio and video loggers, are being increasingly attached to wildlife tracking collars to provide insights into a range of topics from species interactions to physiology. However, such devices are often prohibitively power-intensive, relative to conventional wildlife collar sensors, and their retrieval without compromising long-term data collection and animal welfare remains a challenge. We present an open-source system (SensorDrop) for remotely detaching individual sensors from wildlife collars. SensorDrop facilitates the retrieval of power-intensive sensors while leaving non-resource-intensive sensors intact on animals. SensorDrop systems can be made using commercially available components and are a fraction of the cost of other timed drop-off devices that detach full wildlife tracking collars. From 2021 to 2022, eight SensorDrop units were successfully deployed on free-ranging African wild dog packs in the Okavango Delta as part of audio-accelerometer sensor bundles attached to wildlife collars. All SensorDrop units detached after 2-3 weeks and facilitated the collection of audio and accelerometer data while leaving wildlife GPS collars intact to continue collecting locational data (>1 year), critical for long-term conservation population monitoring in the region. SensorDrop offers a low-cost method to remotely detach and retrieve individual sensors from wildlife collars. By selectively detaching battery-depleted sensors, SensorDrop maximizes the amount of data collected per wildlife collar deployment and mitigates ethical concerns on animal rehandling. SensorDrop adds to the growing body of open-source animal-borne technologies being utilized by wildlife researchers to innovate and expand upon data collection practices and supports the continued ethical use of novel technologies within wildlife studies.

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Astroviruses in Brain Tissues of Wild Raccoon Dogs.

Astroviruses (AstVs) have been detected in a wide range of animal species, including mammals and birds. Recently, a novel AstV associated with neurological symptoms has been detected in the brains of some mammals. Raccoon dog AstV has been reported recently in China. However, there have been no reports in South Korea. Therefore, the present study aimed to detect and genetically characterize AstVs in the intestine and brain tissues of 133 wild raccoon dogs collected in Korea between 2017 and 2019. Of the seven raccoon dogs, AstVs were detected in six intestinal tissues and four brain tissues. Analysis of the capsid protein amino acid sequences of raccoon dog AstVs detected in Korea revealed a high similarity to canine AstVs, suggesting possible interspecies transmission between raccoon dogs and dogs. Phylogenetic and capsid protein amino acid sequence analysis of raccoon dog AstVs detected in the brain the 17-148B strain belonging to the HMO clade and exhibiting conserved sequences found in neurotropic AstVs (NT-AstVs), indicating their potential as NT-AstVs. However, the pathogenicity and transmission routes of the raccoon dog AstV detected in Korea have not yet been elucidated, so further research and continued surveillance for AstV in wild raccoon dogs are needed.

Shinto, Buddhism, and Japanese Culture Elements in The Movie Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon Poko

This paper analyzes the Shinto, Buddhism, and Japanese cultural elements in the movie Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon Poko (Heisei-era Raccoon Dog War Ponpoko), which is a movie produced by famous Studio Ghibli and released in 1994. The director of the movie chose the tanuki, which is a wild raccoon dog species, as the protagonist character to reflect the destruction of natural environments on the outskirts of Tokyo caused by human expansion. The director also included many Japanese Shinto, Buddhism, and cultural elements in this movie, making the movie both entertaining and reflecting. In this work, I will summarize the plot of the movie, explain the three endings in this movie, and conclude the directors message.

Rule of Wild Dogs

Ignited by the sense of fury faced from being stuck in a singular, down-trodden town, the so-called “Paul” has delved into a life of crime with an equally impulsive crime mate, who mysteriously won’t reveal his true name. Together they discover the meaning of life, love, tragedy, loneliness, guilt, and anger amidst unforgiving creatures and melancholic dunes.

Impact of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild: a comparison of activity patterns at artificial waterholes to roads and trails.

Temporal partitioning in large carnivores have previously been found to be one of the main factors enabling co-existence. While activity patterns have been investigated separately at artificial waterholes and e.g., game trails, simultaneous comparative analyses of activity patterns at artificial waterholes and game trails have not been attempted. In this study, camera trap data from Maremani Nature Reserve was used to investigate whether temporal partitioning existed in a carnivore guild of four species (spotted hyena, leopard, brown hyena and African wild dog). Specifically, we investigated temporal partitioning at artificial waterholes and on roads and trails an average of 1,412 m away from an artificial waterhole. Activity patterns for the same species at artificial waterholes and roads/game trails were also compared. We found no significant differences in temporal activity between species at artificial waterholes. Temporal partitioning on game trails and roads was only found between spotted hyena (nocturnal) and African wild dog (crepuscular). Between nocturnal species (spotted hyena and leopard) no temporal partitioning was exhibited. Only African wild dog exhibited significantly different activity patterns at waterholes and roads/game trails. This indicates artificial waterholes may be a location for conflict in a carnivore guild. Our study highlights the impact of anthropogenic landscape changes and management decisions on the temporal axis of carnivores. More data on activity patterns at natural water sources such as ephemeral pans are needed to properly assess the effect of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild.

Spatial and temporal patterns in wildlife tourism encounters and how people feel about them based on social media data from South Africa

With well-developed tourism infrastructure and high biodiversity, including charismatic mammals, wildlife tourism is popular in South Africa. But where and when do people encounter wildlife, how does this vary among species and land-tenures, and how do people feel about their encounters? To assess the potential of social media to provide insights into wildlife tourism, metadata from 22,002 images across South Africa posted by 9762 people to the photo-sharing platform Flickr were obtained on 15 March 2021 and analysed using standard spatio-temporal and sentiment analyses methods. Total wildlife-encounter-days, and specific hot spots of encounters varied among elephant, white and black rhinos, lion, cheetah, giraffe, leopard, zebra, buffalo, hippopotamus, hyena and African wild dog. Most encounters were in national parks and other government protected areas (59%), particularly Kruger National Park (33%), with private protected areas (25%) also important. Encounters were predominantly within the species’ traditional geographic ranges. These encounters were more common in early morning and late afternoon, on major holidays, weekends and in the dry season between August and October. Words used to describe images referred to locations, species and natural features, with people mostly expressing positive sentiments and emotions such as trust, joy and anticipation about their encounters. The results reinforce the concentrated nature of wildlife tourism – in parks, such as Kruger National Park, and adjacent private protected areas. Expanding where, when and which species are encountered would be valuable for marketing and management. The results also illustrate benefits but also limitations including who posts about what, where and when from online platforms such as Flickr.

Hot or hungry? A tipping point in the effect of prey depletion on African wild dogs

Interspecific competition has strong effects within carnivore guilds, and African wild dogs are strongly limited by intraguild predation by lions and food loss to spotted hyenas. The densities of these dominant competitors correlate tightly with prey density, and prey depletion due to snaring is contributing to declines of apex carnivores across Africa. As a consequence of snaring, subordinate competitors like the African wild dog and cheetah are simultaneously experiencing a costly reduction in prey and a beneficial reduction of competitors. The net effect is difficult to predict. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized tipping point in the effect of prey density on wild dog density. Above this tipping point, wild dog density increases as prey density decreases, because the benefits of competitive release outweigh the costs of prey depletion. Below this tipping point, wild dog density decreases as prey density decreases, because the costs of prey depletion outweigh the benefits of competitive release. Conservation strategies for wild dogs must recognize this tipping point. As prey depletion due to snaring becomes severe, it limits wild dogs (mesocarnivores), just as it does lions and spotted hyenas (apex carnivores). Recent analyses based on time trends have argued that climate change is likely to cause wild dog populations to collapse. We suggest that prey depletion provides a mechanistically direct explanation of patterns in wild dog dynamics that have been attributed to climate change, and that the effects of prey depletion are likely to go unrecognized in the absence of data on trends in prey density.