![]() ![]() This long-term decrease in reproductive performance likely resulted from increased inflammatory and immune responses to the snare injury and/or a decreased ability to travel the long distances necessary to feed on migratory herbivores. ![]() "Our analysis shows that, even beyond immediate mortalities, indiscriminate snaring may have unintended yet profound effects on hyena populations as females who survive being caught in a wire snare with significant injuries have smaller litters which are less likely to survive," Dr. Last but not least, injured females did produce smaller litters than non-snared females: In the absence of being snared, 56% of the litters were twin litters, whereas among the snared females only 36% of the litters were twins. In the control group from the team's long-term Serengeti data set, 51% of the cubs survived to one year, whereas only 42% of the cubs from females with debilitating snare injuries reached their first birthday. When looking at the effect of snares on the survival of offspring, the percentage of cubs surviving to one year of age was reduced. They gave birth to their first litter at around 4.5 years, which is a delay of more than eight months compared to non-snared females (3.8 years). A small number of female hyenas suffered from debilitating snare injuries before they had their first litter. "What we did find, on the other hand, is a clear negative effect of these injuries on female reproductive success," adds Kaidatzi. "We found that females with these kinds of snare injuries did not differ from non-snared females in terms of longevity," explains Benhaiem. Incidences classified as debilitating injuries in female spotted hyenas from three closely monitored study clans were investigated in detail. The scientists reported a total of 208 sublethal incidences of 193 hyenas with snares, snare-specific injuries or scars-mostly in the neck region-between 19 in the Serengeti NP. Sarah Benhaiem and Sara Kaidatzi from the Leibniz-IZW Department of Ecological Dynamics. "Using long-term data from individually known female spotted hyenas we assessed the consequences of debilitating snare injuries on four components of their performance: longevity, age at first reproduction, litter size and offspring survival," say first authors Dr. Yet, even when death is not the immediate consequence, the injuries and their effects on the individual's life may be severe. Some hyenas manage to escape snares by gnawing through the snare's tethering wire. East and Prof Heribert Hofer, senior authors of the study. "This is because the main prey of spotted hyenas are migratory herbivores and hyenas throughout the park regularly travel long distances from their clan territories to forage in areas containing large aggregations of migratory herbivores before returning to their territory," explain Dr. ![]() In the center of the Serengeti National Park (NP), the annual risk was estimated at 8%. 1, 2015.Although not directly targeted by bushmeat hunters, spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) face a substantial risk of dying in a snare. This section does not apply to any incidental interference arising from lawful activity by public or private land users or to landowners or operators interfering with hunters on land owned or operated by that individual. Except for department personnel, the individual setting the trap or snare, or that individual's agent, another individual may not remove or tamper with a trap or snare legally set to take fur-bearing animals or unprotected wild animals or remove the fur-bearing animal or unprotected wild animal from a trap or snare. The individual may not use an aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator on public or private land to intentionally interfere with the lawful taking of wildlife by another individual or intentionally harass, drive, or disturb any wildlife for the purpose of disrupting a lawful hunt. This section does not apply to any incidental interference arising from lawful activity by public or private land users or to landowners or operators interfering with hunters on land owned or operated by that individual.Īn individual may not intentionally interfere with the lawful taking of wildlife on public or private land by another or intentionally harass, drive, or disturb any wildlife on public or private land for the purpose of disrupting a lawful hunt. Also, no person may remove with or tamper with a legally set trap. Under the law, no person may intentionally interfere with the lawful taking of wildlife on public or private land by another or intentionally harass, drive, or disturb any wildlife on public or private land for the purpose of disrupting a lawful hunt. This law reflects North Dakota's hunter harassment provision. ![]()
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