Effect of guard dogs on the behavior and reproduction of gazelles in cattle enclosures on the Golan Heights

摘要: Cattle on the Golan Heights are kept in enclosures and some of these have guard dogs. We studied effect such dogs behavior breeding success mountain gazelles Gazella gazella living within enclosures. found that both direct indirect effects gazelles. Gazelles with spent more time vigilance running, less resting walking, comparison dog-free In absence dogs, gazelle female herds tended to stay closer cattle, but shunned away from them presence which, turn, remained near cattle. The percentage fawns per was higher without those difference not significant. However, largest which had number gazelles, only an average it. Hence, this enclosure were better able avoid smaller Removing overall calculation revealed a significant negative reproductive success. two four no fawn still survived 6 months after birth, while each did survive age beyond, suggesting themselves may predate fawns.