ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL STUDY OF DESERT

Transcription

1 insitu research and cnservatin prgram in the kingdm f Mrcc ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL STUDY OF DESERT MAMMALIAN CARNIVORES IN MOROCCAN SAHARA Prgram presentatin written by Grégry Bretn and Alexander Sliwa in April 2015 g.bretn@parcdesfelins.cm / sliwa@kelnerz.de Table f cntents 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Gal f the prgram and animal species cncerned Place f study and methds Invlved peple and institutins Expeditins dates and prgram duratin Funding Immediate applicatins Lngterm applicatins References Cntact 1

2 1) Gal f the prgram and animal species cncerned The gal f this prgram is t study the eclgical and behaviural bilgy f the Mammalian desert Carnivres f the kingdm f Mrcc and t develp measures t ensure their cnservatin. The pririty species fr research is the sand cat r desert cat (Felis margarita), a rare species, classified as «vulnérable» in Mrcc (Cuzin, 1996). The ther Carnivres species existing in the same habitat in Mrcc, such as the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica), the fennec (Vulpes zerda) and the Rüppell s fx (Vulpes rueppellii) will als be studied. Sand cat (pht: G. Bretn) African wild cat (Pht: G. Bretn) Fennec (Pht: D. Oudjani) Rüppell s fx (Pht: A. Sliwa) Understanding the eclgy and behaviural bilgy f these species means t learn abut their activity rhythms and rest perids, determining the size f their hme ranges and territry all year rund, the distances they cver every day, and als identifying the prey species they hunt, their different hunt methds, scial and reprductive behaviurs, the threats they face (predatin, diseases, human disturbances), their ppulatin s dynamic, the intraguild relatinships (avidance, cmpetitin, predatin ), etc. T cnduct this study and answer these questins, while using specialized equipment is essential, mainly camera traps (t phtgraph the animals entering r exiting their dens) and VHF and GPScllars, antennas and receivers (t lcalise the psitin f the animals at specific times). There are specific equipment built fr small carnivres research, Bushnell and Recnyx camera traps and ATS, CmSpec, Sirtrack and Ltek cllars are the mst well knwn fr their reliability. 2

3 2) Place f study and methds In Mrcc, the distributin area f the sand cat is still unclear and nly few specimens have been bserved in the wild between 1971 and 2000 (Cuzin, 1996 & 2003). Hwever, since 2005, the presence f this species is cnfirmed with a grwing number f sightings in the regin f the Mrccan Sahara, where 16 animals have been bserved between 2005 and 2013 (Chevalier, Tevent & Bergier, 2012; Webb, Blincw & Gdgame, 2012; Sliwa, Bretn & Chevalier, 2013) versus 3 in the Nrth f the cuntry in 29 years (Cuzin, 2003). During a prspecting trip fully selffinanced in AprilMay 2013, we (the authrs f this dcument) have bserved 3 sand cats (and als 58 fennecs and 13 Rüppell s fxes) and we are cnvinced that we can capture these animals t equip them with GPS and VHFcllars. The results f this first trip were published in CAT NEWS, the IUCN Cat Specialist Grup s newsletter (Sliwa et al., 2013). We have nw received the research permit frm the HautCmmissariat aux Eaux et Frêts et à la Lutte Cntre la Désertificatin (HCEFLCD) and we will carry n ur study in the Mrccan Sahara t try t sn cllar sme specimens t btain significant results. Hwever, the aim f the prgram is t expand this research wrk t the whle cuntry in different lcalities where the presence f the sand cat is assumed and was cnfirmed in the past. In the field, we apply the fllwing methd: We actively search fr the animals, with 4x4 vehicle, driving at lw speed (2030 km/h), at night, frm dusk (8:00 pm) t 4:00 am, cvering each side f the tarmac rads and tracks, shining a 100 W spt lamp (Lightfrce 240L) in a sweeping mtin t detect the eyeshine reflectin f carnivres. Then we try t capture with a net the animals, which have taken refuge in bushes t fasten the GPS and VHFcllars, t take bld sample and measure bdy size parameters. We als plan t use livecapture traps t imprve ur capture rate. Once specimens are fitted with cllars, we will fllw them with the antenna and receiver t determine their mvements. Female sand cat phtgraphed in May 2013, clse t the rad between Dakhla and Ausserd G. Bretn 3

4 3) Invlved peple and institutins This prgram was initiated and is clead by Alexander Sliwa and Grégry Bretn, bth internatinally recgnized as mammalian carnivre specialists and mre specifically felids. ALEXANDER SLIWA 50 years ld, German natinal. PhD in zlgy (1996) frm University f Pretria, Suth Africa. Curatr at Clgne Z (Germany). Field researcher, initiatr and leader since 1992, f the nly eclgical and behaviural study n the blackfted cat (Felis nigripes) in Suth Africa. Multiple wrldwide field experiences, including raditracking Grdn s wild cats (Felis silvestris grdni) in the United Arab Emirates. Internatinal Studbk Keeper f Grdn s wild cat and frmerly Black- fted Cat. Chairman f the Felid TAG (Taxn Advisry Grup) f the EAZA (Eurpean Assciatin f Zs and Aquaria). Invited Member f the Cat Specialist Grup (CSG) f the IUCN (Internatinal Unin fr the Cnservatin f Nature). GRÉGORY BRETON 36 years ld, French natinal. Master 2 in EcEthlgy (2001). Hlder f the French Licence ( certificat de capacité ) t lk after and display t visitrs, in a zlgical park, all mammalian terrestrial carnivres and Lemuridae. Curatr fr 12 years at Parc des Félins, Nesles (lcated 50km East f Paris), the largest cat cllectin in the wrld. Sand Cat EEP Crdinatr and Internatinal Studbk Keeper. Vicechair f the Felid TAG f the EAZA. Scientific expert fr the SOS Félins & C. assciatin. Frmer temprary teacher at the French Natinal Educatin bdy. Varius field experiences (India, Sri Lanka, Chile, Suth Africa, Kenya, ) The invlved institutins in this prgramme are: Parc des Félins Dmaine de la Frtelle LumignyNeslesOrmeaux France Private zlgical park, unique in the wrld, with 160 felids (frm 26 species) living in large natural enclsures. Attendance visitrs / years Directr: Mr Patrick Jardin Assciatin SOS Félins & C. Dmaine de la Frtelle LumignyNeslesOrmeaux France Assciatin linked t the Parc des Félins and which financially supprt 12 cnservatin and research insitu prgrams 300 members Chairman: Mrs Mnika Köhler Sciété Jardin Zlgique Natinal Annexe 23 ème (Ceinture verte), Cité Yacub El Mansur, Rabat Mrcc State zlgical park, under the presidency f Mr. the Directr f the HautCmmissariat des Eaux et Frêts et à la Lutte Cntre la Désertificatin (HCEFLCD) Attendance visitrs / year President and CEO: Dr Abdeladim LhafiAFI 4

5 4) Expeditins dates and prgram duratin We wuld like t study these species fr several years in rder t cllect data n their activity patterns and behaviurs, thrughut their life and ideally cvering several generatins. But the duratin f this prgram in time will mainly depend n funds prvided by the partners, spnsrs and dnrs that will supprt ur wrk. We are currently preparing the next expeditin fr fall We plan travel there again either in late September 2015 r late Nvember 2015 and almst 70% f the ttal estimated budget (8,000 ) is already cvered. We wuld als like t plan sn anther expeditin fr January r February The funds fr this secnd expeditin wuld be substantially lwer since we will nt buy mre telemetry r GPS equipment (r ne r tw additinal units nly if the first expeditin is a cmplete success). 5) Funding The telemetry and GPS equipment aside, this type f research and cnservatin prgram is nt expensive at this stage. We nly need funds fr plane tickets, 4x4 vehicles renting, petrl and drivers service. There is n accmmdatin t pay since we sleep in tents in the desert and petrl and fd are much mre reasnably priced than in Eurpe. T cver the expeditin f fall 2015 (10 days n field), a ttal budget f 8,000 is necessary. As mentined abve, we need t buy telemetry and GPS equipment (3 GPS cllars and 4 VHF cllars with antennas and receivers) and this is the mre expensive pst (60% f the ttal budget). A detailed estimated budget is available upn request. We currently have 70% f the funds needed. The first spnsrs are the assciatin SOS Félins & C., France (5.000 ) and the Zlgical Park f the City f Lyn, France (500 ). Other spnsrs are required t cver the rest f the budget (2,500 ). The Z f Rabat will prvide a lgistical supprt. T plan the next expeditin f January/February 2016 and t develp this prgram in the lng term (see next parts), we must find additinal funding surces, and we will ask ther zlgical parks (which hld r d nt hld the sand cat r fennec fx), ther Felid assciatins and large cmpanies t help. Fr a relevant and highstandard lngterm prgram, we estimate we will need 15,000 t 30,000 per year, depending n the fact sme years, new equipment is necessary and ld ne has t be exchanged/repaired. 6) Immediate applicatins Such a prgram has multiple immediate applicatins. Once several cllared animals are successfully fllwed, it is fully pssible t: expand the study n these animals n the whle cuntry t determine the areas where the species are living in high, medium and lw density and where there are missing, fllw and train students and/r lcal emplyees mtivated by the study and the field wrk that includes recrding the psitins f the cllared animals mst days per year and backing up the memry cards f the camera traps, spread the results and knwledge learned during cnferences, meetings and media events, 5

6 develp a partnership with lcal schl t speak in class and and praise the lcal fauna and flra t schl children, etc. (all ideas are welcme!) One the first significant results gathered, the aim is als t publish them in peertpeer jurnals and carnivres dedicated newsletters. Will be cauthrs the cleaders f the prject and the unpaid peple wh will cntribute in gathering the data and/r writing each article. 7) Lngterm applicatins Once the prgram is crrectly established, it is fully pssible t develp ambitius new gals such as: Defining the bidiversity htspts f the cuntry and t prmte this in media, schls and internatinally, Establishing cnservatin plans where the studied species are declining, Expand the research t ther carnivre species, particularly the Atlas Muntain lepard (Panthera pardus) and the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), very rare in Mrcc if nt vanished, Reinfrcing the ppulatins and/r reintrducing sme flagship species that disappeared frm Mrcc, Develping schl prgrams and large cultural events with media cverage. 8) References Chevalier F., Tevent M. & Bergier P Ntes sur quelques mammifères terrestres bservés près de Dakhla, Oued AdDeheb. GSuth Bull. (2012), 9, rg/08_g_suthbulletin/gsb_9_16.pdf. Cuzin F., Répartitin actuelle et statut des grands mammifères sauvages du Marc (Primates, Carnivres, Artidactyles). Mammalia 60 (1): Cuzin F., Les grands mammifères du Marc méridinal (Haut Atlas, Anti Atlas et Sahara): Distributin, éclgie et cnservatin. Dctral thesis in animal eclgy, University f Mntpellier. 349 pp. Webb R., Blincw J. & Gdgame N Saharan predatrs. Field reprt Mrcc & West Sahara 1526 December pp. suth.rg/09_tripreprts/ R280_2012_12_webb.pdf. Sliwa A., Bretn G. & Chevalier F Sand cat sightings in Mrccan Sahara. Cat News 59, pp: ) Cntact Grégry Bretn Pstal address: Phne: Fax: g.bretn@parcdesfelins.cm Le Parc des Félins Dmaine de la Frtelle Nesles France + 33 (0) (direct) / + 33 (0) (peratr) + 33 (0) (direct) / + 33 (0) (peratr) Dr. Alexander Sliwa sliwa@kelnerz.de Pstal address: Kölner Z AG, Riehler Stra. 173, Köln, Germany Phne: Fax: