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Livestock predation by big cats in North State of Goiás


Data on cattle predation by pumas (Puma concolor) and jaguars (Panthera onca) has been recorded for six years in a farm in Northern Goiás, Mid-Western Brazil. This research’s main objectives were to determine: (1) the actual proportion of cattle killed by big cats; (2) whether there was a certain age class targeted by those predators; (3) whether the predation fluctuated along the year and (4) the spatial distribution of cattle predation. Data were recorded by employees and cattle managers using forms with the following information (observer’s name, date, id numbers, cause of mortality, age and sex). Predation represented 21,7% (n=309) of the overall cattle mortality. In biomass, kills represented 0,4 % of the farm’ annual stock with 63,8 kg/km². Predation was strongly correlated with cattle’s age with most attacks occurring on calves younger than 2 months old then gradually decreasing the animals get older. Predation was mainly associated with cattle’s age class and location along with the time of the births it occurred. It clearly appeared that cattle predation varied spatially and temporally. We recommended several preventive techniques to be used in order to limit cattle predation in rural farming contexts so as to reduce the conflict between villagers and large felids and thus enhance the last big cats’ conservation.

 
       
Calf killed by a cougar (Puma concolor) and dragged to a forest fragment
                                               
    

    Period: 02/2002 to 12/2004   
Support: WWF and IDEAWILD

Palmeira, F.B.L. 2004. Predação de bovinos por onças no norte do Estado de Goiás. Dissertação de Mestrado. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo. 53p. 
Palmeira, F.B.L.; Crawshaw Jr., P.G.; Haddad, C.M.; Ferraz, K.M.P.M.B. & Verdade, L.M. 2006. Fatores sazonais e espaciais na predação de bovinos por onças. Resumo do VII Congresso Internacional Sobre Manejo de Fauna Silvestre na Amazônia e América Latina, Ilhéus, Bahia.
 
Palmeira, F.B.L.; Crawshaw Jr., P.G.; Haddad, C.M.; Ferraz, K.M.P.M.B. & Verdade, L.M. 2008. Cattle depredation by puma (Puma concolor) and jaguar (Panthera onca) in central-western Brazil. Biological Conservation, 141: 118-125.