People and Wildlife: Non-lethal techniques for reducing depredation

摘要: INTRODUCTION Ever since humans domesticated the first animals several thousand years ago, there have been conflicts with large carnivores attacking livestock (Kruuk 2002). Every year, thousands of cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or farmed fish are killed by wild worldwide (Thirgood et al ., Chapter 2) (Table 4.1). The farmers, in turn, kill predators. Lethal control stock-raiders is common all cultures and has a devastating impact on many populations (Woodroffe 1). Retaliatory killing was most important reason for historic eradication areas (Breitenmoser 1998). In addition to predators, herdsmen tried protect their livestock, mainly because lethal alone rarely reduced depredation an acceptable level. For traditional society, investment terms labour resources protection high Rural consequently adopted combination non-lethal measures, – strongly varying between acceptance losses. application techniques matter technology cost–benefit considerations. From perspective modern two more reasons propagate preventive measures: conservation (lethal threatens carnivore populations), ethical arguments (moral reservation against predators being exposed pain suffering).