Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorHoffmann, Timmen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCristescu, Bogdanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLutchminarayan, Kirtanyaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-27T04:10:17Z
dc.date.available2015-05-27T04:10:17Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and caracal (Felis caracal) commonly inhabit agricultural landscapes in southern Africa, threatening goat and sheep herds. The communal area of Paulshoek, in the Northern Cape of South Africa provided a model system to study this, as farmers in this region are dependent on livestock farming as a livelihood. 47 farmers were interviewed monthly from 1998-2013, to record the number of goats and sheep lost to predators and this formed the basis of the long-term dataset. Furthermore, predation levels for each animal age class and animal condition category were investigated, and predation levels were linked to rainfall, herd size and farmer herding strategies. On-farm personal interviews with 20 of the farmers were conducted in 2014 to evaluate perceptions of predation and to gain insight into their herding strategies. It was established that 1,495 animals were reportedly lost to predators over the study period whilst an average of 3.1% of goats and 5.4% of sheep in all Paulshoek herds were lost to predators each year. Predation levels varied annually, and were linked to annual rainfall patterns. There were differences in monthly predation levels with the highest predation occurring in the late autumn- early winter months (April-June). Herd size was an important variable affecting predation as larger herds were reported as having noticeably higher predation levels than smaller herds. Younger animals were also identified as prime targets of predators whilst few older animals were lost due to predation. There were significant differences between animal condition and rainfall for the five different animal condition classes as animals in poor condition were most highly predated. Little variation in predation levels was observed within and between farmers, and the number of hours worked by farmers did not affect predation levels. Herding was recognized as an ancient practice in Paulshoek and is perceived as a means of protection of livestock from predators. This study provides valuable insight into the impacts of livestock predation in Paulshoek by investigating predator behaviour in communal areas and providing insight into farmer livelihoods, both of which could be useful for future research and communal farm management.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationLutchminarayan, K. (2014). <i>Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12926en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationLutchminarayan, Kirtanya. <i>"Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12926en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLutchminarayan, K. 2014. Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Lutchminarayan, Kirtanya AB - The black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and caracal (Felis caracal) commonly inhabit agricultural landscapes in southern Africa, threatening goat and sheep herds. The communal area of Paulshoek, in the Northern Cape of South Africa provided a model system to study this, as farmers in this region are dependent on livestock farming as a livelihood. 47 farmers were interviewed monthly from 1998-2013, to record the number of goats and sheep lost to predators and this formed the basis of the long-term dataset. Furthermore, predation levels for each animal age class and animal condition category were investigated, and predation levels were linked to rainfall, herd size and farmer herding strategies. On-farm personal interviews with 20 of the farmers were conducted in 2014 to evaluate perceptions of predation and to gain insight into their herding strategies. It was established that 1,495 animals were reportedly lost to predators over the study period whilst an average of 3.1% of goats and 5.4% of sheep in all Paulshoek herds were lost to predators each year. Predation levels varied annually, and were linked to annual rainfall patterns. There were differences in monthly predation levels with the highest predation occurring in the late autumn- early winter months (April-June). Herd size was an important variable affecting predation as larger herds were reported as having noticeably higher predation levels than smaller herds. Younger animals were also identified as prime targets of predators whilst few older animals were lost due to predation. There were significant differences between animal condition and rainfall for the five different animal condition classes as animals in poor condition were most highly predated. Little variation in predation levels was observed within and between farmers, and the number of hours worked by farmers did not affect predation levels. Herding was recognized as an ancient practice in Paulshoek and is perceived as a means of protection of livestock from predators. This study provides valuable insight into the impacts of livestock predation in Paulshoek by investigating predator behaviour in communal areas and providing insight into farmer livelihoods, both of which could be useful for future research and communal farm management. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa TI - Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12926 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12926
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationLutchminarayan K. Predation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12926en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherZoologyen_ZA
dc.titlePredation impacts on livestock in a communal area of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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