Cattle depredation by puma ( Puma concolor) and jaguar ( Panthera onca) in central-western Brazil

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 141; no. 1; pp. 118 - 125
• Main Authors: Palmeira, Francesca B.L., Crawshaw, Peter G., Haddad, Claudio M., Ferraz, Katia Maria P.M.B., Verdade, Luciano M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2008; Kidlington, Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; calves; cattle; Cattle breeding season management; Cattle production; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Human–wildlife conflict; Landscape; Livestock depredation; mortality; Panthera onca; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; pastures; predators; Puma concolor; riparian forests; spatial distribution; temporal variation; Wild felids conservation; wildlife damage management; wildlife-livestock relations; Brazil; Cattle breeding season management; Human–wildlife conflict; Landscape; Livestock depredation; Wild felids conservation; Cattle production; Human; Fissipedia; Breeding season; Carnivora; Bovine; Conservation; Wild life; Felis concolor; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Pest; Conflict; Human-wildlife conflict; Livestock; Artiodactyla; Ungulata; Environmental protection
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2007.09.015
• ISSN: 0006-3207

In this study, data on cattle depredation by puma ( Puma concolor) and jaguar ( Panthera onca) were recorded for six years (1998–2003) in a cattle ranch in central-western Brazil. Depredation represented 18.9% of the overall cattle mortality, being predominant on calves. In biomass, kills represented 0.4% (63.8 kg/km 2) of the ranch’s annual stock. In economic loss, kills represented 0.3% of the cattle stock value. Depredation was mainly associated with cattle’s age class and location along with the time of birth of calves. The proportion of pastures next to forest with depredation ( n = 33, 48.5%) was not distinguished to the proportion of pastures not bordering forest with depredation ( n = 35, 51.5%). However, the proportion of pastures next to forest with depredation represented 54% ( n = 33) of the 61 total pastures that were at least partially surrounded by forest patches or riparian forests that comprised eight continuum blocks of forest fragments of different sizes in the ranch and adjacent areas. No kills occurred in the central portion (main house) of the farm, close to the headquarters where the pastures not bordering forest. The distances of the kills in relation to areas of native forest was 1317.48 ± 941.03 m. In order to reduce depredation, calves should be kept as far as possible from forest areas and concentrated cattle breeding and calving seasons should be encouraged.