Patterns of livestock predation by carnivores: human-wildlife conflict in northwest Yunnan, China.
Abstract: Alleviating human-carnivore conflict is central to large carnivore conservation and is often of economic importance, where people coexist with carnivores. In this article, we report on the patterns of predation and economic losses from wild carnivores preying on livestock in three villages of northern Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve, northwest Yunnan during a 2-year period between January 2010 and December 2011. We analyzed claims from 149 households that 258 head of livestock were predated. Wolves (Canis lupus) were responsible for 79.1 % of livestock predation; Asiatic black bears (Selenarctos thibetanus) and dholes (Cuon alpinus) were the other predators responsible. Predation frequency varied between livestock species. The majority of livestock killed were yak-cattle hybrids or dzo (40.3 %). Wolves killed fewer cattle than expected, and more donkeys and horses than expected. Wolves and bears killed more adult female and fewer adult male livestock than expected. Intensified predation in wet season coincided with livestock being left to graze unattended in alpine meadows far away from villages. On average, carnivore attacks claimed 2.1 % of range stock annually. This predation represented an economic loss of 17 % (SD = 14 %) of the annual household income. Despite this loss and a perceived increase in carnivore conflict, a majority of the herders (66 %) still supported the reserve. This support is primarily due to the benefits from the collection of nontimber resources such as mushrooms and medicinal plants. Our study also suggested that improvement of husbandry techniques and facilities will reduce conflicts and contribute to improved conservation of these threatened predators.
Publication Date: 2013-11-08 PubMed ID: 24202281DOI: 10.1007/s00267-013-0192-8Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research focuses on the human-carnivore conflict in northwest Yunnan, China due to wild carnivores preying on livestock. It discusses the patterns of predation, the economic impact of such events, and proposes improvements to farming practices to mitigate the conflict.
Study Background and Methodology
- The researchers conducted an observational study of three villages in northern Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve from January 2010 to December 2011.
- They gathered and analyzed claims from 149 households that reported a total of 258 instances of their livestock being attacked by wild carnivores.
- It was found that wolves were responsible for 79.1% of livestock predation. The other predators included Asiatic black bears and dholes.
Findings
- The study observed that predation frequency varied between livestock species with yak-cattle hybrids or dzo making up 40.3% of the victims.
- Wolves reportedly killed fewer cattle than expected and targeted more donkeys and horses.
- Gender-based predilection was also noted as wolves and bears more often attacked adult female livestock than adult males.
- The research indicated a surge in predation during the wet season when livestock was left to graaaa in alpine meadows far from human habitation.
- On average, carnivore attacks constituted an annual loss of 2.1% of the range stock.
- The economic loss as a result of predation represented 17% (standard deviation = 14%) of the annual household income.
Perceptions and Support for Conservation
- Despite the economic loss and perceived increase in carnivore conflict, a majority of the herders (66%) still expressed support for the reserve.
- The primary driver for this support was the benefits derived from collecting nontimber resources like mushrooms and medicinal plants from the reserve.
Recommendations
- The study suggested that improving husbandry techniques and facilities could reduce human-carnivore conflicts.
- Such improvements would also contribute to the enhanced conservation of these threatened predators.
Cite This Article
APA
Li X, Buzzard P, Chen Y, Jiang X.
(2013).
Patterns of livestock predation by carnivores: human-wildlife conflict in northwest Yunnan, China.
Environ Manage, 52(6), 1334-1340.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0192-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 Jiaochang Donglu, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / economics
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Carnivora / physiology
- Cattle
- China
- Conservation of Natural Resources / methods
- Conservation of Natural Resources / statistics & numerical data
- Female
- Humans
- Interviews as Topic
- Livestock
- Male
- Predatory Behavior / physiology
- Seasons
- Wolves
References
This article includes 7 references
- Namgail T, Fox JL, Bhatnagar YV. Carnivore-caused livestock mortality in Trans-Himalaya.. Environ Manage 2007 Apr;39(4):490-6.
- Treves A, Wallace RB, White S. Participatory planning of interventions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.. Conserv Biol 2009 Dec;23(6):1577-87.
- Goodrich JM. Human-tiger conflict: a review and call for comprehensive plans.. Integr Zool 2010 Dec;5(4):300-312.
- Woodroffe R, Ginsberg JR. Edge effects and the extinction of populations inside protected areas.. Science 1998 Jun 26;280(5372):2126-8.
- Pettigrew M, Xie Y, Kang A, Rao M, Goodrich J, Liu T, Berger J. Human-carnivore conflict in China: a review of current approaches with recommendations for improved management.. Integr Zool 2012 Jun;7(2):210-26.
- Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, da Fonseca GA, Kent J. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities.. Nature 2000 Feb 24;403(6772):853-8.
- Dickman AJ, Macdonald EA, Macdonald DW. A review of financial instruments to pay for predator conservation and encourage human-carnivore coexistence.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Aug 23;108(34):13937-44.
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Bano R, Khan A, Mehmood T, Abbas S, Khan MZ, Shedayi AA, Zaman S, Nawaz MA. Patterns of livestock depredation and Human-wildlife conflict in Misgar valley of Hunza, Pakistan.. Sci Rep 2021 Dec 7;11(1):23516.
- Parchizadeh J, Belant JL. Brown bear and Persian leopard attacks on humans in Iran.. PLoS One 2021;16(7):e0255042.
- Khan TU, Xiaofeng L, Ahmad S, Mannan A, Khan W, Khan AA, Khan BU, Din EU, Bhattarai S, Shah S, Saeed S, Amara U. Status and Magnitude of Grey Wolf Conflict with Pastoral Communities in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Oct 11;9(10).
- Huang C, Li XY, Shi LJ, Jiang XL. Patterns of human-wildlife conflict and compensation practices around Daxueshan Nature Reserve, China.. Zool Res 2018 Nov 18;39(6):406-412.
- Palmeira FB, Trinca CT, Haddad CM. Livestock Predation by Puma (Puma concolor) in the Highlands of a Southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest.. Environ Manage 2015 Oct;56(4):903-15.
- Xu Y, Yang B, Dou L. Local villagers' perceptions of wolves in Jiuzhaigou County, western China.. PeerJ 2015;3:e982.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
