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Response to: “Acknowledging Andean Condor predation on livestock, a first step in addressing the human-condor conflict: A commentary to Estrada Pacheco et al 2020”
... In Argentina, the Andean condor is threatened (MAyDS and AA 2017) and currently its main conservation problem is the use of toxic baits used as a livestock practice (Estrada Pacheco et al. 2020a). In recent years, massive deaths of this species have been recorded in the country due to the consumption of poisoned baits used by ranchers, mainly to kill cougars (Puma concolor ), foxes (Lycalopex sp.) and dogs (Canis familiaris) (Estrada Pacheco et al. 2020b). ...
Massive deaths of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) prompted a National Strategy Against the Use of Toxic Baits in Argentina, based on 6 lines of action: 1) delivery of kits and unified intervention protocols in cases of wildlife poisoning, 2) community education programs, 3) surveys of rural people, 4) training courses and participatory construction workshops, 5) toxicology studies, and 6) an academic-scientific committee made up of specialists in toxicology. The strategy was developed in the 14 provinces of the country where the Andean condor is distributed. 554 people from 166 institutions have participated in the trainings and workshops, reporting 200 poisoning events involving more than 21000 individuals from 61 species. Birds and mammals were the groups most affected, and further, human victims show the impact on public health. 19 toxic substances were identified, mainly insecticides. This study proved that carbofuran is the toxic most used. Analysis of bait types suggests a significant conflict with carnivores. 195 surveys revealed that almost half of the farmers know people who use toxic baits and that the negative perception towards some species could determine their use. The strategy began to address the problem of the use of toxic baits in Argentina in a strategic, participatory and regional way, through the management of public policies and scientific research. We propose actions to work on the causes that lead to the application of this dangerous practice. Given its extensive use, we believe that this strategy can be adapted and applied in other countries in the region.
Buechley and Sekercioglu introduce vultures, the supreme avian scavengers that now face multiple threats.
Available for free @ http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)00134-2
In this comment, we emphasize the need to acknowledge that Andean Condors occasionally depart from their scavenging habits to injure or kill young livestock as an important first step to accepting the existence of a human-condor conflict. Estrada Pacheco et al. (2020) briefly admit a localized “strong conflict with the condor” due to perceived predation of cattle, however, throughout the bulk of the article, they treat the condor as a non-conflictive species accidentally killed in conflicts involving carnivorous predators. To stop Andean Condor mass poisonings in Argentina, the authors recommended two measures: (1) instating a National Law of Traceability and prescription of pesticides, and (2) engaging all stakeholders to resolve the human-carnivore (i.e., wild mammals) conflict. However, we are deeply concerned that denial of the underlying cause of the specific human-condor conflict leads to criminalizing illegal persecution and to ignoring calls for interdisciplinary research and management to tackle the conflict at its roots.
Highlights
• Pesticide poisoning is currently the greatest threat to the Andean condor.
• Poisonings affect adult condors more than immature ones.
• The most commonly used poison is Carbofuran, and to a lesser extent Palation.
• Condor poisonings have reached alarming levels that could lead to extinction.
Predators and scavengers are frequently persecuted for their negative effects on property, livestock and human life. Research has shown that these species play important regulatory roles in intact ecosystems including regulating herbivore and mesopredator populations that in turn affect floral, soil and hydrological systems. Yet predators and scavengers receive surprisingly little recognition for their benefits to humans in the landscapes they share. We review these benefits, highlighting the most recent studies that have documented their positive effects across a range of environments. Indeed, the benefits of predators and scavengers can be far reaching, affecting human health and well-being through disease mitigation, agricultural production and waste-disposal services. As many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline, we argue that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation. Furthermore, instead of assessing the costs of predators and scavengers only in economic terms, it is critical to recognize their beneficial contributions to human health and well-being. Given the ever-expanding human footprint, it is essential that we construct conservation solutions that allow a wide variety of species to persist in shared landscapes. Identifying, evaluating and communicating the benefits provided by species that are often considered problem animals is an important step for establishing tolerance in these shared spaces.
Human–wildlife conflict is one of the most critical threats facing many wildlife species today, and the topic is receiving increasing attention from conservation biologists. Direct wildlife damage is commonly cited as the main driver of conflict, and many tools exist for reducing such damage. However, significant conflict often remains even after damage has been reduced, suggesting that conflict requires novel, comprehensive approaches for long-term resolution. Although most mitigation studies investigate only the technical aspects of conflict reduction, peoples' attitudes towards wildlife are complex, with social factors as diverse as religious affiliation, ethnicity and cultural beliefs all shaping conflict intensity. Moreover, human–wildlife conflicts are often manifestations of underlying human–human conflicts, such as between authorities and local people, or between people of different cultural backgrounds. Despite evidence that social factors can be more important in driving conflict than wildlife damage incurred, they are often ignored in conflict studies. Developing a broader awareness of conflict drivers will advance understanding of the patterns and underlying processes behind this critical conservation issue. In this paper, I review a wide variety of case studies to show how social factors strongly influence perceptions of human–wildlife conflict, and highlight how mitigation approaches should become increasingly innovative and interdisciplinary in order to enable people to move from conflict towards coexistence.
Acknowledging Andean Condor predation on livestock, a first step in addressing the human-condor conflict: A commentary to Estrada Pacheco et al. 2020
- C H E R Buechley
- Sekercioglu
("Zuluaga et al") Acknowledging Andean Condor predation on livestock, a first step in
addressing the human-condor conflict: A commentary to Estrada Pacheco et al.
2020. Biol. Conserv.
[Buechley and Sekercioglu, 2016] E R Buechley, C H Sekercioglu, Vultures. Curr. Biol.
26 (2016) R560-R561, doi:10.1016/
j.cub.2016.01.052.