Scale dependence of felid predation risk: identifying predictors of livestock kills by tiger and leopard in Bhutan

摘要: Livestock predation by tiger and leopard in Bhutan is a major threat to the conservation of these felids. Conflict mitigation planning would benefit from an improved understanding spatial pattern livestock kills two predators. We aimed identify landscape features that predict throughout Bhutan. Our goals were to: (1) predictors have largest influence determining kills, (2) assess scale across different evaluated at which each was most important. used obtained compensation records (n = 326) (n = 377) between 2003 2012 run risk models with MaxEnt algorithm, using multi-scale modeling approach (1, 2, 4, 8 16 km). Human-presence (density settlements roads) land-cover (percentage tree cover meadow patches) main variables contributing both species. likely driven trade-off density predator ecology, balance this varied scale. Risk maps revealed hotspots for analysis showed species preferentially killed equids over other types. results highlight importance evaluating when investigating attributes leopard. findings provide guidance reducing conflict humans large felids country.