Contrasting human perceptions of and attitudes towards two threatened small carnivores, Lycalopex fulvipes and Leopardus guigna, in rural communities adjacent to protected areas in Chile

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Published: Apr 26, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4030.10.5.11566-11573
Keywords:
Carnivore conservation, human-small carnivore interaction, Leopardus guigna, livestock and poultry depredation, Lycalopex fulvipes.

Main Article Content

I. Sacristán
Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello
A. Cevidanes
Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello
F. Acuña
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile
E. Aguilar
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile
S. García
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9452-6668
M. J. López
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9646-6483
J. Millán
Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello
C. Napolitano
Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7081-6975

Abstract

The interaction between humans and small carnivores is a phenomenon especially frequent in rural fringes, as is the case of communities surrounding natural areas.  In Chile, two species of threatened carnivores, the Darwin’s Fox and the Guigna, have increased their contact with humans due to human-induced changes in their habitat. The objective of this study was to characterize the interactions of these species with humans by assessing human perceptions and attitudes toward them, and to assess livestock and poultry ownership and management practices in local communities to evaluate their possible roles in the phenomenon.  We conducted semi-structured interviews in rural communities adjacent to natural protected areas of two different regions in southern Chile.  We found that people have a more positive perception of Darwin’s Foxes than Guignas, but both species are considered damaging due to poultry attacks.  Livestock and poultry management was generally deficient. Improvements in animal management and education programs could lead to a significant decrease in negative interactions. 

 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 10 No. 5 (2018)
Section
Communications

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Author Biographies

I. Sacristán, Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello

Irene Sacristán (IS) obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2011 (Universidad de Extremadura, Spain), and her MSc degree in Wildlife Management in 2013 (Universidad de Murcia, Spain). Actually she is a PhD candidate at the PhD Program in Conservation Medicine at Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile). Her research focuses on wildlife epidemiology and anthropization effects on Leopardus guigna conservation. She is an active member of the Wildlife Disease Association and Wild Felid Association.

A. Cevidanes, Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello

Aitor Cevidanes (AC) obtained his degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2012 (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain). Later, he obtained his MSc degree in Terrestrial Ecology and Biodiversity Management in 2014 (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain). He is a PhD candidate at the PhD Program in Conservation Medicine at Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile). His research interest focuses in vector-borne diseases at the wildlife/human interface.

 

F. Acuña, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile

Francisca Acuña (FA) is currently a student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Chile (Chile). She is developing her final degree thesis within the framework of the Guigna Conservation Project. Specifically, she is working on parasites that affect guignas.

E. Aguilar, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile

Emilio Aguilar (EA) is currently a student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Chile (Chile). He is developing his final degree thesis within the framework of the Guigna Conservation Project. Specifically, he is working on  hematological parameters of this species.

S. García, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile

Sebastián García (SG) is currently a student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Chile (Chile). He is developing his final degree thesis within the framework of the Guigna Conservation Project. Specifically, he is working on reproductive parameters of this species.

M. J. López, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile

María José López (MJL) obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine at the Universidad de Chile (Chile) in 2018. She developed her final degree thesis within the framework of the Guigna Conservation Project, investigating the spatial ecology of domestic cats in rural areas and their possible interaction with wild guignas.

J. Millán, Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello

Javier Millán (JM) is full Professor and Director of the PhD Program in Conservation Medicine at Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile. He is an active member of the WDA and Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health). His research focuses in the epidemiology of parasitic and infectious diseases in wild carnivores and mammals in general. 

C. Napolitano, Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile

Constanza Napolitano (CN) is an Associate Researcher in the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity at University of Chile and the Director of the Guigna Conservation Project. Her research is focused on the impacts of human landscape perturbation on wild felid populations, pathogens transmitted by domestic cats and genetic diversity of immune genes. She is member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group and Coordinator of the Andean Cat Global Genetics Project.

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