Bait delivery for cats using drons

Johnston, M., McCaldin, G., & Rieker, A. (2016). Assessing the availability of aerially delivered baits to feral cats through rainforest canopy using unmanned aircraft. Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 4(4), 276-281.

At least eight threatened wildlife species are at direct risk from predation by cats (Felis catus) on Christmas Island (Director of National Parks. 2014. Christmas Island biodiversity conservation plan. Canberra. Australia: Department of the Environment.). A range of strategies are now being used to manage cats across the island, including responsible ownership methods for domestic cats and lethal control tools to remove feral cats outside the township area. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used to drop non-toxic baits through the rainforest canopy to assess whether aerial baiting could be undertaken successfully on the island. Ground crews located 88% of baits, indicating that sufficient baits would be accessible to feral cats if broad-scale aerial baiting was to be undertaken in the future.

Feral dog impact on a urban fragment of Atlantic forest in Brazil

Galetti, M. & I. Sazima. 2006 . Impacto de cães ferais em um fragmento urbano de Floresta Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil.  Natureza & Conservação 4 (1): 58-63

Os cães ferais domésticos são um dos principais predadores da vida selvagem nativa em áreas
protegidas em todo o mundo. Entretanto, o número de presas caçadas por cães ferais não é registrado
de maneira precisa. Foram encontradas, em um fragmento urbano de 250 hectares de Floresta
Atlântica na Região Sudeste do Brasil, 46 carcaças de no mínimo 12 espécies de vertebrados, caçadas
pelos cães ao longo de 44 meses. Os cães ferais não demonstraram qualquer seleção aparente em
relação às diferentes espécies de presa, matando desde veados a pequenos sapos. Os mamíferos
foram a presa mais freqüentemente encontrada (75%). Nossos dados indicam que os cães ferais têm
um grande impacto sobre a vida selvagem da Floresta Atlântica, especialmente em áreas onde os
animais silvestres precisam mover-se entre os fragmentos florestais. Os programas de erradicação,
embora controversos, são a única maneira de reduzir a predação da vida selvagem por cães ferais.

Feral dogs are one of the main predators of native wildlife inside protected areas all around the world. Nevertheless, the number of preys hunted by feral dogs has not been precisely recorded. In a 250 hectares Atlantic forest fragment in Southeast Brazil, 46 carcasses have been found from at least 12 vertebrate species, hunted by feral dogs along 44 months. Feral dogs didn't have any apparent selection related to their different preys, killing from deer to small toads. Mammals were the most frequently found preys (75%). Our data show that feral dogs have a great impact on wildlife in the Atlantic forest, especially in areas where wild animals have to move between forest fragments. Eradication programs, even if controversial, are the only way to reduce predation of wildlife by feral dogs.

Predation of domestic dogs on capuchin monkey

Oliveira, V.B. de; A. M. Linares; G.L. C. Corrêa & A. G. Chiarello 2008. Predation on the black capuchin monkey Cebus nigritus (Primates: Cebidae) by domestic dogs Canis lupus familiaris (Carnivora: Canidae), in the Parque Estadual Serra do Brigadeiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil.Rev. Bras. Zool., 25 (2)  

Predation on an adult male black capuchin monkey, Cebus nigritus (Goldfuss, 1809) by two domestic dogs was observed in the Parque Estadual Serra do Brigadeiro, in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Minas Gerais. Predation occurred in an area of well preserved native forest 800 m from the nearest forest edge. This is the first confirmed record of predation by domestic dogs in this reserve, yet data from a study in the same area indicates that the domestic dog is the most frequently recorded mammal species, which suggests that it is common in the area. The few published reports indicate that this problem occurs in other conservation units in Brazil and should, therefore, be treated with more rigor by the environmental agencies.

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A predação de um macho adulto de macaco-prego, Cebus nigritus (Goldfuss, 1809) por dois cães-domésticos é relatada no interior do Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, localizado na Mata Atlântica do sudeste de Minas Gerais. A observação foi registrada em local de mata nativa bem preservada, a cerca de 800 m da borda mais próxima da reserva. Embora este seja o primeiro registro confirmado de predação por cão doméstico nesta unidade de conservação, dados de um estudo sobre a mastofauna local, usando parcelas de pegadas, indicam que o cão-doméstico é a espécie de mamífero mais freqüentemente registrada, sugerindo que sua presença é constante e amplamente distribuída na área. Os poucos relatos existentes na literatura indicam que este problema está presente em outras unidades de conservação e deveria, portanto, ser tratado com maior rigor pelas agências ambientais.

Domestic dogs in protected areas: a threat to Brazilian mammals?

Lessa, I., Guimarães, T. C. S., de Godoy Bergallo, H., Cunha, A., & Vieira, E. (2016). Domestic dogs in protected areas: a threat to Brazilian mammals?.Natureza & Conservação.

The presence of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in Brazilian protected areas is fairly frequent. The interaction of such dogs with native animals leads to population declines for many species, particularly carnivores. In this paper the main threats dogs bring about Brazilian biodiversity are assessed with a focus on protected areas. We collected information from papers on the interaction of dogs and wildlife species as well as from interviews with National Park managers. Studies in protected areas in Brazil listed 37 native species affected by the presence of dogs due to competition, predation, or pathogen transmission. Among the 69 threatened species of the Brazilian fauna, 55% have been cited in studies on dogs. Dog occurrence was assessed for 31 National Parks in Brazil. 

(A) Domestic dog sniffing a prey (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the Ilha Grande State Park. (B) A female dog with territorial marking behavior registered by a camera trap in the same Park; the dog was 3 km away from the nearest village. Photos: H.G. Bergallo and I.C.M. Lessa.

The presence of human residents and hunters in protected areas were the factors most often quoted as facilitating dog occurrence. These may be feral, street or domestically owned dogs found in protected areas in urban, rural or natural areas. Effective actions to control this invasive alien species in natural areas must consider dog dependence upon humans, pathways of entry, and the surrounding landscape and context.

Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from forest fragments in Brazil

Fournier, G. F. D. S. R., Lopes, M. G., Marcili, A., Ramirez, D. G., Acosta, I. C. L., da Silva Ferreira, J. I. G., Aline Diniz Cabral, Ribeiro de Lima, J.T., de Jesus Pena,H.F., Dias, R.A. & Gennari, S. M. Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from forest fragments of the municipality of Natal, northeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Vet. Parasitol., Jaboticabal, 23 (4): 501-508

Toxoplasmosis stands out as a global disease that has felines as definitive hosts. In the municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, two parks are notable for their ecological and social importance. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in short hair cats, bats and small non-volant mammals in these two ecological reserves. Altogether, biological samples were obtained from 154 mammals, 92 wild animals from both areas and 62 domestic cats of the Parque da Cidade. In total, 22 (53.7%) non-volant wild mammals, 11 (21.5%) bats and 28 (52.8%) cats were positive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (≥ 25). It was
possible to detect the presence of T. gondii DNA, by means of a molecular amplification of a B1 gene fragment (155bp), in 92 tissue samples from wild animals, including Didelphis albiventris, Monodelphis domestica, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina. Of the 62 cats examined by the same molecular method, T. gondii DNA could be detected in 4 cats. In this study, it was observed the circulation of T. gondii in wild species and domestic cats, demonstrating the involvement of wild and domestic animals in the cycle of T. gondii.

Domestic cat predation in an insular Atlantic Forest remnant

Ferreira, G. A., Nakano-Oliveira, E., & Genaro, G. (2014). Domestic cat predation on Neotropical species in an insular Atlantic Forest remnant in southeastern Brazil. Wildlife Biology, 20(3), 167-175.

The domestic cat Felis silvestris catus is considered a potential threat to the native fauna of regions it populates, particularly when it has free access to these areas. Although this problem is known in Brazil, little is known regarding the effects of this species on natural areas. This study aimed to obtain information concerning the diet of domestic cats by identifying the main items found in fecal samples from domestic cats. In addition, the effects of seasonality on the diet were examined, as it has been hypothesized that seasonal variation of food items has little influence of the diet of the domestic cat. These semi-domiciled cats are thought to face a constant and continuous supply food offered by their owners throughout the year. Feces were collected in a remnant fragment of an Atlantic Forest located south of the municipality of Ilha Comprida — SP, Brazil. These samples provided important information regarding the dietary ecology and predation behavior of this species in endangered forest areas. The results of the scat content analyses demonstrated that domestic cats inserted in this biome presented a generalist and opportunist diet with little seasonal variation, even when receiving food from their owners. The most frequently consumed groups of prey were insects (20.8%) followed by mammals (13.9%) and birds (4.0%). Although the cat is not the only factor that impacts the species of the region, management programs need to be established in conjunction with the local community with the aim of minimizing the pressure exerted by these animals on the native fauna.

Cat impact in Madagascar forests

Farris, Z. J., Karpanty, S. M., Ratelolahy, F., & Kelly, M. J. (2014). Predator–Primate Distribution, Activity, and Co-occurrence in Relation to Habitat and Human Activity Across Fragmented and Contiguous Forests in Northeastern Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology, 1-22.

Predator–primate interactions are understudied, yet predators have been shown to influence primate behavior, population dynamics, and spatial distribution. An understanding of these interactions is important for the successful management and conservation of these species. Novel approaches are needed to understand better the spatial relationships between predators and primates across changing landscapes. We combined photographic surveys of predators and humans with line-transect sampling of lemurs across contiguous and fragmented forests in Madagascar to 1) compare relative activity; 2) estimate probability of occupancy and detection; 3) estimate predator–primate and local people–primate co-occurrence; and 4) assess variables influencing these parameters across contiguous and fragmented forests. In fragmented (compared to contiguous) forest sites endemic predator and lemur activity were lower whereas introduced predator and local people activity were higher. Our two-species interaction occupancy models revealed a higher number of interactions among species across contiguous forest where predator and lemur occupancy were highest. Mouse lemurs show evidence of “avoidance” (SIF < 1.0) with all predator species (endemic and introduced) in contiguous forest whereas white-fronted brown lemurs show “attraction” (SIF > 1.0) with feral cats and local people in contiguous forest. Feral cats demonstrated the highest number of interactions with lemurs, despite their distribution being limited to only contiguous forest. Distance to forest edge and distance to nearby villages were important in predicting predator occupancy and detection. These results highlight the growing threat to endemic predators and lemurs as habitat loss and fragmentation increase throughout Madagascar. We demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel combination of techniques to investigate how predator species impact primate species across a gradient of forest fragmentation.

Dogs in Atlantic forest fragments in Brazil

Galetti, M., & Sazima, I. (2006). Impact of feral dogs in an urban Atlantic forest fragment in southeastern Brazil. Natur. Conservation, 4, 146-151.

Feral domestic dogs are one of the main predators of native wildlife in protected areas all over the world. However, the number of prey killed by feral dogs is poorly recorded. A total of 46 carcasses of at least 12 vertebrate species killed by dogs were found along 44 months in an urban, 250 ha Atlantic forest fragment in southeastern Brazil. Feral dogs showed no apparent selection towards different species of prey, killing from small frogs to deer. Mammals were the most frequent prey found (75%). Our data indicate that feral dogs have a great impact on wildlife in the Atlantic forest, especially in areas where wildlife needs to move between forest fragments. Eradication programs, although controversial, are the only way to reduce wildlife predation by feral dogs.

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