Body temperature is an important clinical indicator of health and illness. Many studies of human body temperature have been conducted;however, there are no studies that compare the body temperatures of humans and othe...Body temperature is an important clinical indicator of health and illness. Many studies of human body temperature have been conducted;however, there are no studies that compare the body temperatures of humans and other homeothermic animals. Twenty-six homeothermic animal species, including humans, were selected and characteristics of their internal environment were studied based on previous reports. The studied species were divided into two groups based on habitat (eight aquatic and eighteen terrestrial species) and three groups based on diet (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores). Body temperatures, erythrocyte counts, and lymphocyte percentages were compared between species and between groups. Our results showed that carnivores had lower body temperatures and erythrocyte numbers than herbivores, and lower lymphocyte ratios than both herbivores and omnivores. Aquatic mammals that experienced a second adaptation event during their evolutionary process had lower body temperatures and lymphocyte ratios than terrestrial animals. These results suggest that excessive adaptation induced by stress or a change in environment may result in relative hypothermia and lymphocytopenia, features that aquatic mammals with stressful evolutionary backgrounds share with human cancer patients. However, our study is based on analysis of previous observations and reports, and further research (e.g., larger-scale studies) is needed to support this hypothesis.展开更多
美国的New Scientist杂志最近刊登了一则耸人听闻的消息:一个名为Chew Chew的食肉类的机器人已经诞生。它的发明人Wilkinson幽默地说:…they’ll notice there’s an awful lot of humans running about and try to eat them.
Hair and feathers are composed of keratin and are indigestible, inalimental and unpalatable for carnivores. However, carnivores often ingest hair and feathers during feeding or when grooming. We hypothesized tha...Hair and feathers are composed of keratin and are indigestible, inalimental and unpalatable for carnivores. However, carnivores often ingest hair and feathers during feeding or when grooming. We hypothesized that ingestion of hair and feathers changes species diversity and relative abundance of bacteria in the gut of carnivores. To test this hypothesis, we added disinfected poultry down feathers to the normal diet of captive Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). We then used fluorescently labeled terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) to examine changes in fecal bacterial diversity and abundance. The results showed that the number of bacterial species increased significantly after feather ingestion, but that total abundance was unchanged. This demonstrated that addition of disinfected feathers to the diet stimulated increased production among less abundant bacteria, resulting in a balancing of relative abundance of different bacterial species, or that some newly-ingested microbial species would colonize the gut because a suitable microhabitat had become available. This implies that the overall production of bacterial metabolites would be made up of a greater range of substances after feather ingestion. On one hand, the host’s immune response would be more diverse, increasing the capacity of the immune system to regulate gut microflora. On the other hand, the animal’s physiological performance would also be affected. For wild animals, such altered physiological traits would be subjected to natural selection, and, hence, persistent geographic differences in the character of ingested feathers or fur would drive speciation.展开更多
Background: Two trials were performed to evaluate a partially defatted Hermetia illucens(HI) larvae meal as potential feed ingredient in rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) diets. In the first trial, 360 trout(...Background: Two trials were performed to evaluate a partially defatted Hermetia illucens(HI) larvae meal as potential feed ingredient in rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) diets. In the first trial, 360 trout(178.9 ± 9.8 g of mean initial body weight) were randomly divided into three experimental groups(4 tanks/treatment, 30 fish/tank). The fish were fed for 78 days with isonitrogenous, isolipidic and isoenergetic diets containing increasing levels of HI, on as fed basis: 0%(HI0, control diet), 25%(HI25) and 50%(HI50) of fish meal substitution, corresponding to dietary inclusion levels of 0, 20% and 40%. In the second trial, 36 trout(4 tanks/treatment, 3 fish/tank) were used to evaluate the in vivo apparent digestibility coefficients(ADC) of the same diets used in the first trial.Results: Survival, growth performance, condition factor, somatic indexes, and dorsal fillet physical quality parameters were not affected by diet. The highest dietary inclusion of HI larvae meal increased dry matter and ether extract contents of trout dorsal fillet. The use of HI larvae meal induced a decrease of valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) even if differences were only reported at the highest level of HI inclusion. The insect meal worsened the lipids health indexes of the same muscle. Dietary inclusion of insect meal did not alter the villus height of the fish. No differences were found among treatments in relation to ADC of ether extract and gross energy, while ADC of dry matter and crude protein were higher in HI25 if compared to HI50.Conclusions: The obtained results showed that a partially defatted HI larvae meal can be used as feed ingredient in trout diets up to 40% of inclusion level without impacting survival, growth performance, condition factor, somatic indexes, dorsal fillet physical quality parameters, and intestinal morphology of the fish. However, further investigations on specific feeding strategies and diet formulations are needed to limit the observed negative effects of the insect meal on the FA composition of dorsal muscle.展开更多
The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effecti...The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effective strategies and policies.The present study is an attempt to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the topic of human-wildlife conflict(HWC)for the period of January 1991–February 2023.For carrying out the analysis of the data obtained from Web of Science,the‘Bibliometrix'tool,developed through the R programming language,was used.The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1592 documents have been published on the HWC research topic from January 1991 to February 2023 within 338 sources.It is observed that the number of publications has continuously increased since 1991,with an annual growth rate of 5.16%.A total of 4995 authors have contributed to the targeted research field.Of the 388 sources,the journal‘Biological Conservation'is the most relevant and productive,followed by‘Oryx'and‘Human Dimensions of Wildlife'.Based on the country production analysis,authors from 110 countries have contributed to the field,and the USA has the highest frequency of publications on HWC,followed by the UK and Australia.The USA also has the highest multiple country publications and has collaborated with 88 countries,with the highest frequency of collaboration with the UK,followed by India,Australia,and South Africa.The most frequently used keywords include‘human-wildlife conflict',‘conservation',‘conflict',‘human-wildlife',‘wildlife',‘wildlife management',‘livestock',‘management',‘coexistence',and‘carnivore'.The present study identifies the most prolific authors,sources,institutions,and countries,as well as the study hotspots in the subject of HWC,which may assist researchers in finding the best working and publication platforms.Further,it may also help them identify reliable research partners to acquire the best findings and develop more effective strategies and policies to address the issue.展开更多
Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total...Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total of 390 species have been identified in the country, including 106 species of rodents,104 species of bats, 63 species of even-toed ungulates(including whales and dolphins), 36 species of insectivores and carnivores, 19 species of primates,five species of elephant shrews, four species of hyraxes and odd-toed ungulates, three species of afrosoricids, pangolins, and hares, and one species of aardvark, elephant, sirenian and hedgehog. The number of species in this checklist is expected to increase with additional surveys and as the taxonomic status of small mammals(e.g., bats, shrews and rodents) becomes better understood.展开更多
Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded...Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded:to ensure viable carnivore populations and to secure a sustainable grazing industry.The main instrument is zonation,with carnivore management zones(CMZs)prioritized for reproduction of the large carnivore species separated from other areas prioritized for grazing livestock.The objective of this paper is to describe current knowledge about the impact of the zoning management strategy on the grazing industry.This is done by documenting status and changes in sheep production,losses of livestock to predating carnivores,and the use of grazing areas inside and outside the CMZs.CMZsoffering protection for lynx,wolverine,bear and wolf cover 55%of the Norwegian mainland.30%of the sheep and 50%of the Sami reindeer grazing areas are found inside the CMZs.Livestock(semi-domestic reindeer excluded)is using 59%of the available natural pasture areas outside the CMZs,but only 26%inside the CMZs.The lowest use of available grazing areas was found inside zones for wolves(12%)and brown bears(6%).Livestock in these zones are confined to fenced enclosures,mostly on the farm itself,or moved to pastures outside the management zone for summer grazing.Livestock losses increased in the affected regions during the period when carnivores were reestablished.Later,losses declined when CMZs were established and mitigation efforts were implemented in these zones.The bulk of sheep and reindeer killed by carnivores are now found in boundary areas within 50 km off the CMZs,where sheep are still grazing on open mountain and forest ranges.Therefore,instruments to protect livestock in areas close to the CMZs are also needed.The number of sheep declined inside the CMZs from 1999 to 2014,but increased outside the zones.The reduction in the absolute number of sheep in the CMZs is balanced by a similar increase outside,thus the total sheep production in Norway is maintained.We conclude that although of little consequence for the total food production in Norway,the economic and social impact of the large carnivore management strategy can be serious for local communities and individual farmers who are affected.There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure,better documentation of reindeer losses,and a clearer and stricter practicing of the zoning strategy.Increased involvement of social sciences is important in order to understand the human dimension of the carnivore conflicts.展开更多
The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investiga...The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompete nee) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body con dition, sex, age, seas on, and envir onmental conditi ons with splee n weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findi ngs suggest that splee n weight variation in this species is mostly influe need by lifehistory traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic.展开更多
Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We te...Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We tested whether wild bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis differ in a risktaking behavior (tameness) and whether this trait correlated with appetitive association learning performanee. While our result shows that individuals differed in their tameness, we found no associati on between this personality trait and learning the appetitive association. This result does not support the framework that differe nces in cog nition are associated with differe nces in personality;however, our small sample size does not allow us to assert that pers on ality can not be associated with cog nition in this system. This study highlights that measuri ng cog nition and pers on ality in wild systems presents added difficulty and that correlations found in captive animals may not be evident in their wild counterparts.展开更多
Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of a...Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of analyzing carnivore diets. We used data on δ^13C and δ^15N in wolverine tissues to investigate patterns of seasonal and annual diet variation in a wolverine Gulo gulo population in the western Brooks Range, Alaska, USA. The stable isotope ratios in wolverine tissues generally reflected that of terrestrial carnivores, corroborating previous diet studies on wolverines. We also found variation in δ^13C and δ^15N both between muscle samples collected over several years and between tissues with different assimilation rates, even after correcting for isotopic fractionation. This suggests both annual and seasonal diet variation. Our results indicate that data on δ^13C and δ^15N holds promise for qualitative assessments of wolverine diet changes over time. Such temporal variation may be important indicators of ecological responses to environmental perturbations, and we suggest that more refined studies of stable isotopes may be an important tool when studying temporal change in diets of wolverines and similar carnivores [ Current Zoology 55 （3）： 188- 192, 2009].展开更多
Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the r...Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the rapid expansion of urban areas and the increasing trend for ex-urban development occurring in Mediterranean ecosystems may be major drivers of change in mesocamivore communities. We combined camera trapping and sign surveys to quantify the richness and relative abundance of a set of wild and domestic mesocarnivores. We quantified these variables controlling for the gradient of urbanism, ex-urbanism, and other environmental variables in patches of natural vegetation in the region of Madrid （central Spain）, and a non-urbanized control area -220 km south of Madrid city. Using conditional autoregressive models （CAR） and model selection procedures, we found that urbanization influenced mesocarnivore community composition but this influence was not detrimental for all the species tested. Generalist carnivores such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes were more abundant in urban and ex-urban areas. Ex-urban development creates overlapping areas between wild and domestic species （such as the domestic cat Felis catus and the wildcat Felis silvestris） but contact between wild and domestic carnivores in natural areas is unlikely. Detection of species in the control area was very low. Therefore, the impact of urbanization in causing changes in mesocarnivore communities may be less than other factors such as illegal predator culling [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 793-801, 2015].展开更多
In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positio...In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System （GPS） technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills （n=53）, 59 camera interactions, 11 （17%） of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions （1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M）. Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_＋ 0.3 （standard devi- ation （SD）） interactions/week vs. 0.1 _＋ 0.1 （SD） interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.展开更多
Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have...Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores.To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception,we confirmed bitter taste receptor(T2R)genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores(cow and horse),two omnivores(mouse and rat)and one carnivore(dog).We also identified,for the first time,the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species(ferret,giant panda,polar bear and cat)and detected 17−20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes,including 12−16 intact genes,0−1 partial but putatively functional genes,and 3−8 pseudogenes.Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species,supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes,herbivores an intermediate number,and omnivores the largest T2R gene repertoire.To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity,we constructed a phylogenetic tree,which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree,suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals.Similarly,the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events.Collectively,these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size,diet and habit.展开更多
Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric sim...Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric similarly sized carnivores, misidentification of scats is frequent and can lead to bias in research results. To address the scat identification dilemma, molecular scatology techniques have been developed to extract DNA from the donor cells present on the outer lining of the scat samples. A total of 100 samples were collected in the winter of 2009 and 2011 in Taxkorgan region of Xinjiang, China. DNA was extracted successfully from 88% of samples and genetic species identification showed that more than half the scats identified in the field as snow leopard（Panthera uncia） actually belonged to fox（Vulpes vulpes）. Correlation between scat characteristics and species were investigated, showing that diameter and dry weight of the scat were significantly different between the species. However it was not possible to define a precise range of values for each species because of extensive overlap between the morphological values. This preliminary study confirms that identification of snow leopard feces in the field is misleading. Research that relies upon scat samples to assess distribution or diet of the snow leopard should therefore employ molecular scatology techniques. These methods are financially accessible and employ relatively simple laboratory procedures that can give an indisputable response to species identification from scats.展开更多
Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dog...Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dogs, foxes, and cats)during 2013–2021 were subject to viral sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian analysis were performed using obtained rabies virus(RABV) sequences. All 31 strains of RABV candidate belonged to the Cosmopolitan clade, of which 30strains belonged to steppe-type subclade, and 1 dog strain belonged to Other subclade. The 31 strains did not diverge from RABV strains in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, including Russia, Mongolia, and China, suggesting that animal rabies has close relationship and transmission between borders. Fox-originated strains and cattle strains shared similar sequence signature, and some animal rabies cases had space–time intersection, showing that infected foxes were a major transmission source of cattle rabies in different Kazakhstan regions. Besides, free-roaming dogs played a pivotal role in rabies epizootics of cattle in Kazakhstan. The recent spread of animal rabies presents an increasing threat to public health, and provides updated information for improving current control and prevention strategies at the source for Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.展开更多
Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should...Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores. To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception, we confirmed bitter taste receptor （T2R） genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores （cow and horse）, two omnivores （mouse and rat） and one carnivore （dog）. We also identified, for the first time, the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species （ferret, giant panda, polar bear and cat） and detected 17-20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes, including 12-16 intact genes, 0-1 partial but putatively functional genes, and 3-8 pseudogenes. Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species, supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes, herbivores an intermediate number, and onmivores the largest T2R gene repertoire. To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity, we constructed a phylogenetic tree, which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree, suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals. Similarly, the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events. Collectively, these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size, diet and habit.展开更多
The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acu...The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acute phase proteins in zoo animals,particularly in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores was evaluate.Results showed that hCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measure CRP and SAA in Haplorhini.There was a highly signifcant correlation between both parameters with remarkably high correlation coefcient.A higher proportion of Bonnet macaques in Haplorhini,and the linear regression with good correlation between hCRP and vSAA levels were observed.Reference values in healthy Bonnet macaques were hCRP(46.86±30.97 nmol/L)and vSAA(9.06±1.95μg/mL).Although Ring-tailed lemur,which belonging to Strepsirrhini,showed low vSAA concentrations(reference values:1.08±0.47μg/mL),vSAA in patients was apparently elevated.The vCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measurements of CRP and SAA in feline carnivores for highly signifcant correlation between both parameters.Theses two methods were also been deteded in lions,tigers and cheetahs.vSAA assays can be applied to measure SAA levels in other carnivores and herbivores.In conclusion,vSAA systems have potential utility as diagnostic tools for health screening and prediction in zoo animals.展开更多
Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great...Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great taxonomic value and make these animals acclimatize in a wide range of geographical landscapes from hilly areas to patchy gardens and thin forests of the low land (Terai) located in or near the human settlement areas. The range of Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL) in Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. distinguishes civets from felids. The study of civets was carried out by direct observation and videos and/or photographs were taken in the sighted places with the record of geological coordinates as evidence. For the record of civets, four wards (i.e. 7, 10, 11 and 12) were selected from Bharatpur Metropolitan City by lottery methods from the purposively selected 15 wards out of 29. These selected wards were visited randomly once or upon call in a month riding on a motorbike at the speed of 10 to 20 kilometer per hour in average speed and was crossed 2400 kilometers during four years beginning from January, 2016 to December, 2019. As a result, 11 civets of three Species, six Subspecies and two genera (i.e. Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp.) were recorded. Among these animals, four subspecies were from Paradoxurinae and two were from Viverrinae subfamilies. Likewise, Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus were reported, 9.09% (n = 1);Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor, 9.09% (n = 1);Paradoxurus hermaphtoditus pallasii, 54.55% (n = 6);Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus, 9.09% (n = 1); Viverricula indica baptistae, 9.09% (n = 1);and Viverricula indica mayori, 9.09% (n = 1). Conclusively, the first records of the civet Species and Subspecies from thin gardens of fruiting trees and human houses or settlement areas in the city of Bharatpur, Chitwan, have created a great field to explore ecology and population status. However, human-civet conflicts have been created by the potential harm to poultry and pets as well as possible reservoir hosts of parasitic zoonoses and Covid-19 Viruses. Consequently, the population of civets is declining in an alarming rate due to the threats of vehicle and electric accidents, snaring and random killing by the people.展开更多
The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758), which belongs to the Canidae family, is an opportunist carnivore in the Gaza Strip (365 square kilometers). The current study aims at giving notes on the occurrence and...The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758), which belongs to the Canidae family, is an opportunist carnivore in the Gaza Strip (365 square kilometers). The current study aims at giving notes on the occurrence and some ecological aspects of the species in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The study, which lasted 14 years (2007-2020), is descriptive and cumulative in its style. It was based on frequent field visits, direct observations and meetings and discussions with wildlife hunters, farmers and other stakeholders. The findings of the study show that Gazans are familiar with the Golden Jackal to the extent that a Gazan family holds the Arabic name of the animal, which is “Wawi”. The Golden Jackal was sometimes encountered and hunted in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, which are characterized by the presence of wilderness areas, intensive agriculture, poultry pens and solid waste landfills. Like other a few mammalian faunas, the adult Golden Jackals enter the Gaza Strip through gaps in or burrows beneath the metal borders separating the Gaza Strip from the rest of the Palestinian Territories and Egypt. Gaza zoos were found to harbor tens of Golden Jackals trapped or hunted by clever wildlife hunters using different means such as wire cages known locally as “maltash” and foothold traps with metal jaws that may cause lesions to the trapped animals. Poisoning and shooting were also common methods used to control the jackals and other carnivores causing harm to agriculture and livestock. The animal was known among the Gazans as an omnivore, feeding on wild and domestic animals in addition to plant materials, garbage and carrions. In conclusion, the study recommends the need to raise ecological awareness to preserve the Golden jackal and to adopt safe control measures for jackals and other carnivores, including the construction of protective fences for agricultural fields and animal pens.展开更多
文摘Body temperature is an important clinical indicator of health and illness. Many studies of human body temperature have been conducted;however, there are no studies that compare the body temperatures of humans and other homeothermic animals. Twenty-six homeothermic animal species, including humans, were selected and characteristics of their internal environment were studied based on previous reports. The studied species were divided into two groups based on habitat (eight aquatic and eighteen terrestrial species) and three groups based on diet (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores). Body temperatures, erythrocyte counts, and lymphocyte percentages were compared between species and between groups. Our results showed that carnivores had lower body temperatures and erythrocyte numbers than herbivores, and lower lymphocyte ratios than both herbivores and omnivores. Aquatic mammals that experienced a second adaptation event during their evolutionary process had lower body temperatures and lymphocyte ratios than terrestrial animals. These results suggest that excessive adaptation induced by stress or a change in environment may result in relative hypothermia and lymphocytopenia, features that aquatic mammals with stressful evolutionary backgrounds share with human cancer patients. However, our study is based on analysis of previous observations and reports, and further research (e.g., larger-scale studies) is needed to support this hypothesis.
文摘美国的New Scientist杂志最近刊登了一则耸人听闻的消息:一个名为Chew Chew的食肉类的机器人已经诞生。它的发明人Wilkinson幽默地说:…they’ll notice there’s an awful lot of humans running about and try to eat them.
文摘Hair and feathers are composed of keratin and are indigestible, inalimental and unpalatable for carnivores. However, carnivores often ingest hair and feathers during feeding or when grooming. We hypothesized that ingestion of hair and feathers changes species diversity and relative abundance of bacteria in the gut of carnivores. To test this hypothesis, we added disinfected poultry down feathers to the normal diet of captive Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). We then used fluorescently labeled terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) to examine changes in fecal bacterial diversity and abundance. The results showed that the number of bacterial species increased significantly after feather ingestion, but that total abundance was unchanged. This demonstrated that addition of disinfected feathers to the diet stimulated increased production among less abundant bacteria, resulting in a balancing of relative abundance of different bacterial species, or that some newly-ingested microbial species would colonize the gut because a suitable microhabitat had become available. This implies that the overall production of bacterial metabolites would be made up of a greater range of substances after feather ingestion. On one hand, the host’s immune response would be more diverse, increasing the capacity of the immune system to regulate gut microflora. On the other hand, the animal’s physiological performance would also be affected. For wild animals, such altered physiological traits would be subjected to natural selection, and, hence, persistent geographic differences in the character of ingested feathers or fur would drive speciation.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by the University of Turin(ex 60%)grant(Es.fin.2015–2016)
文摘Background: Two trials were performed to evaluate a partially defatted Hermetia illucens(HI) larvae meal as potential feed ingredient in rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) diets. In the first trial, 360 trout(178.9 ± 9.8 g of mean initial body weight) were randomly divided into three experimental groups(4 tanks/treatment, 30 fish/tank). The fish were fed for 78 days with isonitrogenous, isolipidic and isoenergetic diets containing increasing levels of HI, on as fed basis: 0%(HI0, control diet), 25%(HI25) and 50%(HI50) of fish meal substitution, corresponding to dietary inclusion levels of 0, 20% and 40%. In the second trial, 36 trout(4 tanks/treatment, 3 fish/tank) were used to evaluate the in vivo apparent digestibility coefficients(ADC) of the same diets used in the first trial.Results: Survival, growth performance, condition factor, somatic indexes, and dorsal fillet physical quality parameters were not affected by diet. The highest dietary inclusion of HI larvae meal increased dry matter and ether extract contents of trout dorsal fillet. The use of HI larvae meal induced a decrease of valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) even if differences were only reported at the highest level of HI inclusion. The insect meal worsened the lipids health indexes of the same muscle. Dietary inclusion of insect meal did not alter the villus height of the fish. No differences were found among treatments in relation to ADC of ether extract and gross energy, while ADC of dry matter and crude protein were higher in HI25 if compared to HI50.Conclusions: The obtained results showed that a partially defatted HI larvae meal can be used as feed ingredient in trout diets up to 40% of inclusion level without impacting survival, growth performance, condition factor, somatic indexes, dorsal fillet physical quality parameters, and intestinal morphology of the fish. However, further investigations on specific feeding strategies and diet formulations are needed to limit the observed negative effects of the insect meal on the FA composition of dorsal muscle.
文摘The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effective strategies and policies.The present study is an attempt to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the topic of human-wildlife conflict(HWC)for the period of January 1991–February 2023.For carrying out the analysis of the data obtained from Web of Science,the‘Bibliometrix'tool,developed through the R programming language,was used.The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1592 documents have been published on the HWC research topic from January 1991 to February 2023 within 338 sources.It is observed that the number of publications has continuously increased since 1991,with an annual growth rate of 5.16%.A total of 4995 authors have contributed to the targeted research field.Of the 388 sources,the journal‘Biological Conservation'is the most relevant and productive,followed by‘Oryx'and‘Human Dimensions of Wildlife'.Based on the country production analysis,authors from 110 countries have contributed to the field,and the USA has the highest frequency of publications on HWC,followed by the UK and Australia.The USA also has the highest multiple country publications and has collaborated with 88 countries,with the highest frequency of collaboration with the UK,followed by India,Australia,and South Africa.The most frequently used keywords include‘human-wildlife conflict',‘conservation',‘conflict',‘human-wildlife',‘wildlife',‘wildlife management',‘livestock',‘management',‘coexistence',and‘carnivore'.The present study identifies the most prolific authors,sources,institutions,and countries,as well as the study hotspots in the subject of HWC,which may assist researchers in finding the best working and publication platforms.Further,it may also help them identify reliable research partners to acquire the best findings and develop more effective strategies and policies to address the issue.
基金supported by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre,Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201612)
文摘Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total of 390 species have been identified in the country, including 106 species of rodents,104 species of bats, 63 species of even-toed ungulates(including whales and dolphins), 36 species of insectivores and carnivores, 19 species of primates,five species of elephant shrews, four species of hyraxes and odd-toed ungulates, three species of afrosoricids, pangolins, and hares, and one species of aardvark, elephant, sirenian and hedgehog. The number of species in this checklist is expected to increase with additional surveys and as the taxonomic status of small mammals(e.g., bats, shrews and rodents) becomes better understood.
基金funded by the Norwegian Research Council as part of project no.267982/E50 Grazing resources,carnivores and local communities(Local Carnivore)
文摘Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded:to ensure viable carnivore populations and to secure a sustainable grazing industry.The main instrument is zonation,with carnivore management zones(CMZs)prioritized for reproduction of the large carnivore species separated from other areas prioritized for grazing livestock.The objective of this paper is to describe current knowledge about the impact of the zoning management strategy on the grazing industry.This is done by documenting status and changes in sheep production,losses of livestock to predating carnivores,and the use of grazing areas inside and outside the CMZs.CMZsoffering protection for lynx,wolverine,bear and wolf cover 55%of the Norwegian mainland.30%of the sheep and 50%of the Sami reindeer grazing areas are found inside the CMZs.Livestock(semi-domestic reindeer excluded)is using 59%of the available natural pasture areas outside the CMZs,but only 26%inside the CMZs.The lowest use of available grazing areas was found inside zones for wolves(12%)and brown bears(6%).Livestock in these zones are confined to fenced enclosures,mostly on the farm itself,or moved to pastures outside the management zone for summer grazing.Livestock losses increased in the affected regions during the period when carnivores were reestablished.Later,losses declined when CMZs were established and mitigation efforts were implemented in these zones.The bulk of sheep and reindeer killed by carnivores are now found in boundary areas within 50 km off the CMZs,where sheep are still grazing on open mountain and forest ranges.Therefore,instruments to protect livestock in areas close to the CMZs are also needed.The number of sheep declined inside the CMZs from 1999 to 2014,but increased outside the zones.The reduction in the absolute number of sheep in the CMZs is balanced by a similar increase outside,thus the total sheep production in Norway is maintained.We conclude that although of little consequence for the total food production in Norway,the economic and social impact of the large carnivore management strategy can be serious for local communities and individual farmers who are affected.There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure,better documentation of reindeer losses,and a clearer and stricter practicing of the zoning strategy.Increased involvement of social sciences is important in order to understand the human dimension of the carnivore conflicts.
文摘The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompete nee) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body con dition, sex, age, seas on, and envir onmental conditi ons with splee n weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findi ngs suggest that splee n weight variation in this species is mostly influe need by lifehistory traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic.
文摘Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We tested whether wild bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis differ in a risktaking behavior (tameness) and whether this trait correlated with appetitive association learning performanee. While our result shows that individuals differed in their tameness, we found no associati on between this personality trait and learning the appetitive association. This result does not support the framework that differe nces in cog nition are associated with differe nces in personality;however, our small sample size does not allow us to assert that pers on ality can not be associated with cog nition in this system. This study highlights that measuri ng cog nition and pers on ality in wild systems presents added difficulty and that correlations found in captive animals may not be evident in their wild counterparts.
基金support fromthe U.S. National Park Service,the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Siléns FoundationHunters in the Kotzebue area kindly provided us with harvest materialon wolverines,caribou and moose+1 种基金Dan Stevenson and the local staff at the U.S.National Park Service office in Kotzebue for logistical supportto Gene Peltola for help during aninitial stage of the Noatak wolverine project
文摘Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of analyzing carnivore diets. We used data on δ^13C and δ^15N in wolverine tissues to investigate patterns of seasonal and annual diet variation in a wolverine Gulo gulo population in the western Brooks Range, Alaska, USA. The stable isotope ratios in wolverine tissues generally reflected that of terrestrial carnivores, corroborating previous diet studies on wolverines. We also found variation in δ^13C and δ^15N both between muscle samples collected over several years and between tissues with different assimilation rates, even after correcting for isotopic fractionation. This suggests both annual and seasonal diet variation. Our results indicate that data on δ^13C and δ^15N holds promise for qualitative assessments of wolverine diet changes over time. Such temporal variation may be important indicators of ecological responses to environmental perturbations, and we suggest that more refined studies of stable isotopes may be an important tool when studying temporal change in diets of wolverines and similar carnivores [ Current Zoology 55 （3）： 188- 192, 2009].
文摘Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the rapid expansion of urban areas and the increasing trend for ex-urban development occurring in Mediterranean ecosystems may be major drivers of change in mesocamivore communities. We combined camera trapping and sign surveys to quantify the richness and relative abundance of a set of wild and domestic mesocarnivores. We quantified these variables controlling for the gradient of urbanism, ex-urbanism, and other environmental variables in patches of natural vegetation in the region of Madrid （central Spain）, and a non-urbanized control area -220 km south of Madrid city. Using conditional autoregressive models （CAR） and model selection procedures, we found that urbanization influenced mesocarnivore community composition but this influence was not detrimental for all the species tested. Generalist carnivores such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes were more abundant in urban and ex-urban areas. Ex-urban development creates overlapping areas between wild and domestic species （such as the domestic cat Felis catus and the wildcat Felis silvestris） but contact between wild and domestic carnivores in natural areas is unlikely. Detection of species in the control area was very low. Therefore, the impact of urbanization in causing changes in mesocarnivore communities may be less than other factors such as illegal predator culling [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 793-801, 2015].
文摘In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System （GPS） technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills （n=53）, 59 camera interactions, 11 （17%） of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions （1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M）. Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_＋ 0.3 （standard devi- ation （SD）） interactions/week vs. 0.1 _＋ 0.1 （SD） interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.
基金This work was supported by the Key Project(30930015)General Project(31271329)from National Natural Science Foundation of China。
文摘Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores.To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception,we confirmed bitter taste receptor(T2R)genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores(cow and horse),two omnivores(mouse and rat)and one carnivore(dog).We also identified,for the first time,the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species(ferret,giant panda,polar bear and cat)and detected 17−20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes,including 12−16 intact genes,0−1 partial but putatively functional genes,and 3−8 pseudogenes.Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species,supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes,herbivores an intermediate number,and omnivores the largest T2R gene repertoire.To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity,we constructed a phylogenetic tree,which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree,suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals.Similarly,the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events.Collectively,these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size,diet and habit.
基金supported by the Second National Survey of Terrestrial Wildlife in China,State Forestry Administration of Chinathe Darwin Inititivethe Robertson Foundation
文摘Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric similarly sized carnivores, misidentification of scats is frequent and can lead to bias in research results. To address the scat identification dilemma, molecular scatology techniques have been developed to extract DNA from the donor cells present on the outer lining of the scat samples. A total of 100 samples were collected in the winter of 2009 and 2011 in Taxkorgan region of Xinjiang, China. DNA was extracted successfully from 88% of samples and genetic species identification showed that more than half the scats identified in the field as snow leopard（Panthera uncia） actually belonged to fox（Vulpes vulpes）. Correlation between scat characteristics and species were investigated, showing that diameter and dry weight of the scat were significantly different between the species. However it was not possible to define a precise range of values for each species because of extensive overlap between the morphological values. This preliminary study confirms that identification of snow leopard feces in the field is misleading. Research that relies upon scat samples to assess distribution or diet of the snow leopard should therefore employ molecular scatology techniques. These methods are financially accessible and employ relatively simple laboratory procedures that can give an indisputable response to species identification from scats.
基金supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AR08053353)the National Key Research Program and Developments of China (2020YFE0203400)。
文摘Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dogs, foxes, and cats)during 2013–2021 were subject to viral sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian analysis were performed using obtained rabies virus(RABV) sequences. All 31 strains of RABV candidate belonged to the Cosmopolitan clade, of which 30strains belonged to steppe-type subclade, and 1 dog strain belonged to Other subclade. The 31 strains did not diverge from RABV strains in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, including Russia, Mongolia, and China, suggesting that animal rabies has close relationship and transmission between borders. Fox-originated strains and cattle strains shared similar sequence signature, and some animal rabies cases had space–time intersection, showing that infected foxes were a major transmission source of cattle rabies in different Kazakhstan regions. Besides, free-roaming dogs played a pivotal role in rabies epizootics of cattle in Kazakhstan. The recent spread of animal rabies presents an increasing threat to public health, and provides updated information for improving current control and prevention strategies at the source for Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
基金supported by the Key Project (30930015)General Project (31271329) from National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores. To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception, we confirmed bitter taste receptor （T2R） genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores （cow and horse）, two omnivores （mouse and rat） and one carnivore （dog）. We also identified, for the first time, the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species （ferret, giant panda, polar bear and cat） and detected 17-20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes, including 12-16 intact genes, 0-1 partial but putatively functional genes, and 3-8 pseudogenes. Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species, supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes, herbivores an intermediate number, and onmivores the largest T2R gene repertoire. To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity, we constructed a phylogenetic tree, which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree, suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals. Similarly, the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events. Collectively, these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size, diet and habit.
文摘The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acute phase proteins in zoo animals,particularly in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores was evaluate.Results showed that hCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measure CRP and SAA in Haplorhini.There was a highly signifcant correlation between both parameters with remarkably high correlation coefcient.A higher proportion of Bonnet macaques in Haplorhini,and the linear regression with good correlation between hCRP and vSAA levels were observed.Reference values in healthy Bonnet macaques were hCRP(46.86±30.97 nmol/L)and vSAA(9.06±1.95μg/mL).Although Ring-tailed lemur,which belonging to Strepsirrhini,showed low vSAA concentrations(reference values:1.08±0.47μg/mL),vSAA in patients was apparently elevated.The vCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measurements of CRP and SAA in feline carnivores for highly signifcant correlation between both parameters.Theses two methods were also been deteded in lions,tigers and cheetahs.vSAA assays can be applied to measure SAA levels in other carnivores and herbivores.In conclusion,vSAA systems have potential utility as diagnostic tools for health screening and prediction in zoo animals.
文摘Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great taxonomic value and make these animals acclimatize in a wide range of geographical landscapes from hilly areas to patchy gardens and thin forests of the low land (Terai) located in or near the human settlement areas. The range of Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL) in Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. distinguishes civets from felids. The study of civets was carried out by direct observation and videos and/or photographs were taken in the sighted places with the record of geological coordinates as evidence. For the record of civets, four wards (i.e. 7, 10, 11 and 12) were selected from Bharatpur Metropolitan City by lottery methods from the purposively selected 15 wards out of 29. These selected wards were visited randomly once or upon call in a month riding on a motorbike at the speed of 10 to 20 kilometer per hour in average speed and was crossed 2400 kilometers during four years beginning from January, 2016 to December, 2019. As a result, 11 civets of three Species, six Subspecies and two genera (i.e. Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp.) were recorded. Among these animals, four subspecies were from Paradoxurinae and two were from Viverrinae subfamilies. Likewise, Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus were reported, 9.09% (n = 1);Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor, 9.09% (n = 1);Paradoxurus hermaphtoditus pallasii, 54.55% (n = 6);Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus, 9.09% (n = 1); Viverricula indica baptistae, 9.09% (n = 1);and Viverricula indica mayori, 9.09% (n = 1). Conclusively, the first records of the civet Species and Subspecies from thin gardens of fruiting trees and human houses or settlement areas in the city of Bharatpur, Chitwan, have created a great field to explore ecology and population status. However, human-civet conflicts have been created by the potential harm to poultry and pets as well as possible reservoir hosts of parasitic zoonoses and Covid-19 Viruses. Consequently, the population of civets is declining in an alarming rate due to the threats of vehicle and electric accidents, snaring and random killing by the people.
文摘The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758), which belongs to the Canidae family, is an opportunist carnivore in the Gaza Strip (365 square kilometers). The current study aims at giving notes on the occurrence and some ecological aspects of the species in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The study, which lasted 14 years (2007-2020), is descriptive and cumulative in its style. It was based on frequent field visits, direct observations and meetings and discussions with wildlife hunters, farmers and other stakeholders. The findings of the study show that Gazans are familiar with the Golden Jackal to the extent that a Gazan family holds the Arabic name of the animal, which is “Wawi”. The Golden Jackal was sometimes encountered and hunted in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, which are characterized by the presence of wilderness areas, intensive agriculture, poultry pens and solid waste landfills. Like other a few mammalian faunas, the adult Golden Jackals enter the Gaza Strip through gaps in or burrows beneath the metal borders separating the Gaza Strip from the rest of the Palestinian Territories and Egypt. Gaza zoos were found to harbor tens of Golden Jackals trapped or hunted by clever wildlife hunters using different means such as wire cages known locally as “maltash” and foothold traps with metal jaws that may cause lesions to the trapped animals. Poisoning and shooting were also common methods used to control the jackals and other carnivores causing harm to agriculture and livestock. The animal was known among the Gazans as an omnivore, feeding on wild and domestic animals in addition to plant materials, garbage and carrions. In conclusion, the study recommends the need to raise ecological awareness to preserve the Golden jackal and to adopt safe control measures for jackals and other carnivores, including the construction of protective fences for agricultural fields and animal pens.
